Many Ethiopians have come to Yemen and started their livelihood from what could be of their interests and part of their culture. They transformed their basics traditional goods into money-making businesses. “I’m from Ethiopia and I’ve been living in Yemen for more than ten years. I started this business with basic Ethiopian goods and in a small scale. It’s been five years now and gradually it’s been becoming profitable,” says Ali, an Ethiopian shop owner.

The Ethiopian markets in Sana’a might not greatly resonate with the Yemenis but it greatly does with the Ethio-yemenis majority. Yemenis with Ethiopian origins are the most buyers. One customer frequents to Ethio-shops to buy injara. “I always come to these shops to buy Ethiopian goods. I’m Yemeni but my grandmother comes from Ethiopia so we are very familiar with the Ethiopian traditions and goods.”

Injera is the most popular sold good and increasingly figures prominently in Yemeni cuisine. Injera, which is an Ethiopian pancake-like bread, is traditionally eaten in Ethiopia and also in Yemen, where it is known as lahoh. Many Yemenis buy it due to its similarity with the local one. The second popular good is the hot spices.

The goods are originally from Ethiopia or made in Ethiopia. Some of the markets goods are hot and normal spices, coffee, cooking materials, traditional Ethiopian clothes, shoes, music CDs, Injera and film CDs.

“Increasingly, Ethiopian goods are getting popular so I recently opened my second branch to have more customers.” Ali concludes.