From: The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Ethiopians/John Sorenson
Over seventy languages are spoken in Ethiopia. Oromiffa, the language of the Oromos, is numerically the most widespread although the country’s official language is Amharic. Both Amharic and Tigrinya (spoken in Eritrea and Tigray) are derived from Ge’ez, which is now restricted to use in Orthodox Christian church services. Communities do attempt to retain traditional languages, and Amharic, Oromiffa, and Tigrinya classes are held in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Edmonton, typically led by volunteers.
Most Ethiopian families prefer traditional foods and women prepare the round, flat breads and spicy stews characteristic of Ethiopian highland cuisine. The music, dance, and costume of various ethnic groups are displayed at regular community events. Soccer is a popular sport and an annual tournament links various communities throughout North America.
In contrast to Ethiopia, where literary productions include oral and written poetry and novels, in Canada most published material has focused on analysis of homeland politics. This includes native-language materials directed towards Ethiopians and English-language material for the general public. Ethiopian Life (Toronto, 1992– ) is an Amharic/English magazine, and there is a weekly Amharic radio broadcast in that city. Computer programs in Amharic and Tigrinya have been developed and computer networks link Ethiopians in Canada with other communities in the United States. Ethiopian intellectuals and political activists have organized a number of conferences and meetings in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver to address current issues in the Horn of Africa.
