Who is Amhara?

Ethiopia is home to many ethnic groups and nationalities, yet some have more recognition than others and some traditionally see themselves as superior to others. Before the 1974 revolution, discussions on ethnicity and nationalism were confined to certain groups of student unions and radical groups in exile, particularly in Europe and North America. After 1991 the current regime brought the subject of ethnicity into the open. The central argument of this article is to question and define the ethnic group Amhara. Some identify Amhara and national consciousness. However, others still argue, as long as the Amharic language exists, Amhara exists as a distinct ethnic group. This paper will examine Amhara identity and Ethiopian nationalism in Ethiopia and in the diaspora.