Ethiopian culture is beginning to present itself as a distinct contrast between the communal and the private. While so many things in Ethiopian life are approached with a shared mentality, others aspects are closely guarded secrets. Eating and meals are notably a communal experience. When sitting down for traditional food, you will be served on a single round plate, injera on the bottom and small portions of meat and vegetable dishes lumped around the side. Everyone eats from the central dish and traditionally use only their right hand. People have told us that they get more pleasure from this experience of sharing than from the food itself.
The idea of sharing is also applied to money in day to day life. As a foreigner, the begging and being constantly approached for money can be a touchy subject. In many countries I have visited, these advances are almost solely directed at those seen as visitors and as a result as extremely wealthy. In Ethiopia however, locals are approached and share their wealth often more freely than those of us not native to the country. As there are few support systems in place for the elderly for example, many individuals see it as their responsibility to share when they can with those in need. I have been told that it comes down to religion. In the west we are not obligated to share our wealth by the strong presence of the church. Here in Addis however, where so much of the population is Orthodox Christian, the concept of sharing what you have with those less fortunate than yourself is standard.

In contrast, the idea of sharing knowledge and information appears to exist at the opposite end of the spectrum. Having requested several forms of GIS data from several sources, I received almost none of it. None of the data was highly sensitive; in fact, none was data that I didn’t already possess. I only requested a newer version. In one case, I was given the information, but only on paper (entirely useless) and in another instance, I was flat out denied. Perhaps it is because guidelines for data sharing are so hazy; no one wants to break a rule that they are unsure exists. All in all though, it seems to be opposite the core cultural value of sharing what you have if you have more than others.