The city came into existence in 1886 as a mineral springs resort for Ethiopia’s royal family and nobility: the empress Taitu, wife of Emperor Menilek II, persuaded him to in the area near the hot springs to members of the nobility. Thereafter, the city was founded and named Addis Ababa (“New Flower”), but only since the late 19th century has Addis Ababa been the capital of the Ethiopian state due to the extreme cold and an acute shortage of firewood in the area of the previous capital, Entoto. Addis Ababa then became the capital of Italian East Africa from 1936 to 1941, a period during which modern houses were built and many roads paved. After the country’s independence, Addis Ababa continued to modernize and became a center of higher education. Several international organizations have their headquarters in the city, such as the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Eastern Africa
Addis Ababa
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