Ramadan, a month of deep spiritual reflection and cultural significance for Muslims in Ethiopia, arrives this year under altered circumstances for many residents of Addis Ababa.
For Toffic Hugera, a father of three from the neighborhood commonly known as 22-Mazoria, the holy month is unfolding far from the home and community he knew for decades. In recent weeks, his house and small business were demolished as part of the city’s Corridor Development Project, a sweeping urban renewal initiative stretching from Edna Mall to 22-Mazoria.
“Ramadan has always been about faith, patience, and being together,” Toffic said. “This year feels different.”
Traditionally marked by fasting, prayer, and acts of charity, Ramadan is also a time when social bonds are renewed. For families like Toffic’s, displacement has complicated those rituals. Though he is careful to note that he does not oppose the broader goals of urban redevelopment, the loss of familiar surroundings has cast a shadow over the season.
“I am not against the project,” he said. “But not spending this time with the people I’ve known for years is a disappointment.”
For Toffic, the disruption is less about material loss than the erosion of a shared social fabric — the neighbors who gathered each evening, the routines shaped over years, and the sense of belonging that defined past observances.
He believes others facing similar displacement, including Christian residents preparing for the upcoming Easter holiday, may experience a comparable sense of dislocation. “Holidays are about community,” he said. “When that changes, the feeling changes too.”
Still, adaptation is underway. Amid the upheaval of relocation, Toffic has tried to preserve a sense of normalcy for his family. In recent days, he has been buying new clothes and small gifts for his wife and children — gestures that remain central to the holiday’s spirit.
Ramadan, observed during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is defined by fasting from dawn to sunset, spiritual discipline, and acts of generosity. In Ethiopia, daily routines begin with suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, and conclude with iftar — also known locally as afur — when families and neighbors gather to break the fast, often with dates, water, and traditional dishes such as sambusa, genfo, and injera with stews.
Evening prayers, particularly the Taraweeh held in mosques, remain central to the observance. In cities like Harar, the month is marked by lantern-lit streets, coffee ceremonies, and communal gatherings that blend faith with long-standing cultural practices.
Markets across the country typically see a surge in activity ahead of the holiday, as families prepare by purchasing food, clothing, and gifts. The greeting “Ramadan Kareem” — “Generous Ramadan” — reflects both the spiritual aspirations of the month and its emphasis on giving.
Religious leaders have repeatedly underscored these values. The late Grand Mufti Abubaker Ahmed once described Ramadan as a period defined not only by prayer and fasting, but by social responsibility and compassion. More recently, Sheikh Haji Ibrahim Tufa, president of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, has called on Muslims to embrace unity, forgiveness, and support for those in need.
Highlighting Ramadan as a season of spiritual discipline, mercy, and charity, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) drew a parallel between the endurance required during the fast and the perseverance necessary for Ethiopia’s “democratic journey.” In his social media post, the Prime Minister argued that just as the blessings of Eid succeed the rigors of Ramadan, Ethiopia’s current struggles will yield a “bright era” if the citizenry remains committed to peace and unity.
“Just as we have arrived at the Eid al-Fitr holiday after completing the fast of Ramadan, it is a gateway for us as a country to transition into a bright era after passing through years of democratic thirst and challenges,” he stated.
Such messages resonate strongly in a year marked by transition for many urban residents.
Even as bulldozers reshape parts of the capital, the rhythms of Ramadan endure — in shared meals, and small acts of generosity. For families like Toffic’s, the setting may have changed, but the essence of the month remains.
