In Photos: The Ancient Kingdom of Ethiopia

The festival of Timqat (Epiphany)

Ethiopia adopted Christianity in the early fourth century. Today, the Timqat festival is the most important of Ethiopia’s nine major Christian feasts, taking place on 19 January to commemorate Christ’s baptism. In this celebration in the northern town of Lalibela, the tabots, or tablets of law, are seen being taken from various churches – wrapped in rich cloth and carried on the heads of priests – to a place of blessing.

All photographs: Ethiopia – The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom (published by The American University in Cairo Press (£75)