IES Ethnographic Museum (Addis Ababa University)

Visits to the museum start at the main hall of the museum, which features a section dedicated to temporary exhibits and a permanent display of ethnographic objects, organized to reflect the life cycle of a human, from birth until death. From here, guests are directed into Selassie's imperial bedrooms, before heading up another flight of stairs to an upper level, where crosses, icons, and musical instruments are on display.

The museum is among the most important attractions in Addis Ababa, and many private and group city tours and museum tours include a stop here.

• The Ethnographic Museum is a must-visit for travelers who are interested in Haile Selassie, Ethiopia’s last emperor and the central holy figure for Rastafarians.
• The museum is not wheelchair-accessible and visitors should prepare to walk up and down several sets of stairs.
• On-site amenities include restrooms and a small gift shop.

The Ethnographic Museum is located in the northern part of the city on the Addis Ababa University Campus, which also houses the Modern Art Museum, a 10-minute walk away. The best way to get there is by taking a local taxi or by joining a private or group tour that includes transportation.

The museum is open every day of the week. It's usually at its busiest on weekends and late morning on weekdays, so it’s wise to come right when they open or in the midafternoon if you are trying to avoid crowds.

The last emperor to rule over Ethiopia, Haile Selassie reined from 1930 until 1974. He was known for reforming the country quite drastically, abolishing slavery and introducing a constitution. He's also considered a messiah figure by most practitioners of Jamaica's Rastafarian faith—in fact, the word Rastafari stems from Ras (which roughly translates to “duke” or “prince”) and Selassie's given name at birth: Tafari.