Ethnological Museum — Attraction in Sidist Kilo

The Ethiopian Ethnological Museum, located within the historic Genete Leul Palace on the Sidist Kilo campus of Addis Ababa University, offers visitors a captivating journey through Ethiopia's rich cultural and historical heritage. Originally the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie I, this museum is both a treasure trove of ethnological artifacts and a testament to the country's past.

One of the highlights of the museum is its impressive collection of Emperor Haile Selassie I’s personal belongings. These items offer rare insights into the life of Ethiopia's iconic leader, with rooms preserved from the days when the emperor resided there. Visitors can walk through the emperor’s bedroom, bathroom, and even his modest study, gaining a tangible connection to this pivotal figure in Ethiopian history.

Beyond its royal artifacts, the museum presents an incredible array of displays that reflect Ethiopia's ethnic diversity, spiritual traditions, and artistic expressions. The exhibitions include traditional clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, and household items, each piece telling the story of a different Ethiopian community. The museum's layout guides visitors chronologically through Ethiopia's history, allowing them to experience both the everyday life and the extraordinary customs of Ethiopia's diverse population.

The Ethiopian Ethnological Museum is not only a cultural institution but also an essential destination for anyone interested in understanding the nation’s heritage. Its serene gardens, historical architecture, and astonishing collections make it a must-visit for those exploring Addis Ababa and seeking an authentic glimpse into...

The museum itself was great. 100birr per person. However the museum is located within the university, which would have been fine if the guard at the gates didn’t insist on keeping my partner’s ID. Given all we had given him was a driver’s licence. But if we hadn’t brought that along, we would have had to give him a passport. This guard just sits at the gate, not even slightly secure behind a counter, there was no technology to photocopy the ID and he insisted on hanging onto it. I was incredibly unhappy with that and had left a sour taste as we headed in. What was worse was when we decided to let him keep it, we came across a couple foreigners who told us they had taken a cab straight into the University and were not asked to present any ID let alone had to leave it with someone who had no way of securing it. We went back to the guard and demanded our ID back with those foreigners, and he still wouldn’t give it back to us. So, pro tip, if you want to go in, go with a cab, DO NOT walk in unless if you want to risk having your passport taken from you and just left lying around on a chair next to him where anyone could have just taken like we had seen most foreign IDs were when we left.

I would not support the museum for this reason and I urge the university to change their policy. Photocopy the ID if you have to, but foreigners should not be handing in their passport just to enter...

Set within Haile Selassie’s former palace, and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of the university’s main campus, is the enthralling Ethnological Museum. Even if you’re not a museum fan, this one is worth a bit of your time – it’s easily one of the finest museums in Africa, showing the full sweep of Ethiopia's cultural and social history across two floors.

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Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the best of Addis...