Visiting Tigray, The Worst War You've Never Heard Of ( 

It's been real Ethiopia. Back to slightly more mundane locations in the next one.

I'm an Eritrean and it saddens me to see what the people of Tigray are going through. Politics is politics but in the end, we're all human. I wish them prosperity, peace, healing, and blessings.

Tommy, you are not doing a travel VLOG but making history lesson and showing the beauty around the world. Awesome content

I was Mekelle University student when they war was happening. I am not from Tigray region. I am from southern nation. I have seen what war looks like in my eyes. It made me really to hate war. I am really so sorry for Tigrayans, Amharans and others Ethiopians. These greedy politicians are making us to fight with each other. It didn't benefit us. Thanks for showing us what's happening there. It has been 2 years since i left Mekelle.

Greetings from Kenya Tommy. The rain at the end of your video was a sign of blessings. At least in most parts of Africa it is. If it were not for the language barrier, so many of the locals would have told you a lot more about the distant and modern history of Axum/Ethiopia. Stay blessed.

I feel bad for the people. None of them look happy, they just looked shell-shocked. Even the kids look scared. God bless all of them.

for a nation that has just been through a war, these people are really friendly and nice. I wouldve expected a lot more hostility and problems in a region like that. Great video!

I learn so much from watching your vlog, Tommy. I think I learn more from you than I did in any world history class at university.

Thanks for visiting Tigray. Just to note Tigray is a safe place even after this devastating war that was imposed on the people of Tigray. Tegarus are hardworking people with a great history! We learnt the hard way on who to trust, we have now awoken, Tigray first. God bless Tigray and it’s people.

Actually, Tigray used to be the safest region in Ethiopia when it comes to mugging. Now that it is rife with illegal weapons and poverty, illegal activity have spiked. And why your luggage was misplaced is because the federal government still looks through stuff that moves to Tigray thoroughly. The official reconciliation never happened yet. Every passenger of Ethiopian airlines that travels Tigray faces this. It's sad. But what can you do. Your closing remark is awesome 👌

I am a Kenyan, we respect and love Ethiopians. We see them as our brothers. I wish them Peace and unity for a prosperous Ethiopia.

The “You guys stop fighting” to me 😢! Tigray didn’t deserved this devastating situation,I hope this wonderful region will be back to normal and get recovered soon.

You are a brave man. Even Ethiopian reporters barely do ground reports around the northern area. There is a very dangerous tension brewing and people have lost trust in the leadership and institutions including the military. But the sights and people are beautiful. The message resonates

Excellent work Tommy. I really appreciate all your hard work, research, filming and interviewing that go into your videos. Superb - thank you.

I am glad no one in Tigray tried hostelling you for money. I love my people they are always humble and honest.

I genuinely love how you take time to show places and issues you care about and feel like should be more visible to the general public much love and keep up the great work Tommy

Sabbatical, I am very happy to watch your videos on Ethiopia. You are a great eye witness for the people who are far away, like me Ethiopian Diaspora living in USA. Thank you also for your true genuine brotherly comments and advice to Ethiopians in general. STOP FIGHTING, I heard you loud and clear. May Ethiopians prayer for your safe journey be heard and may God protect you with his angels every where you go. Be safe and God bless you.

thank you SO much for providing on the ground reporting for a hellish war, the "media" (lol) doesnt cover, love you bro

Wow ART OF THE COVENANT. Glad to hear that it's in Ethiopia. I'm definitely going to visit this place one day. Thanks for your video and stay safe. ❤❤❤

Thank you for speaking out some facts & showing Tigray!

Once again I am blown away by your abilities to learn new languages and interact with native speakers in different countries as you explore and travel from place to place - creating a captivating, yet informative narrative! Love you're work Sabbatical, and truthfully I would follow you anywhere - even into the abyss!

Love your content big brother . Love ❤️ from Ghana 🇬🇭

Thank you for the remarks and advice, man. IT IS GENUINE and beautiful.

Beautiful country. They do deserve peace there. Man you are so chill. That must really help you getting along in such situations.

Tigray must prevail and justice ⚖️ must be served ⚖️

Your reporting was way better than CNN and BBC combined. Normally the other journalists are reporting about the war there while they are in Nairobi, Kenya or Johannesburg, SA.

🎉❤Thank you for showing us clearly to those who don't know the war of Tigray, which no one really understands. The past 2 years have been a very frustrating and difficult time. We have lost many of our families😢. Thank God for everything

Tommy's Journey getting more and more worrying (on his safety) these days! Stay safe buddy! and thank you for the videos, love em so much!

In addition to the monks being virgins, there’s 1 person within that church that they bring meals to who supposedly never leaves. Great video, this is one of those historical places id love to see myself

Great video. Wonderful people, all Ethiopian immigrants I have met are humble, peaceful, great people. You are living the life my friend.

Great video. I am from The Netherlands, have written Dutch newspapers about the matter. One national newspaper published my article on Tigray, but published the reaction of another reader as well, in which he says the Tigray genocide is all because of the TPLF. An editor of another national newspaper wrote the biggest humanitarian disaster takes place in Ukraine, completely ignoring Tigray. Letesenbet Gidey, a world class long distance runner (triple world record holder, 10K world champion in 2022, olympic bronze medal 10K), is from Tigray. She donated food in December last year. In the past couple of months, she hasn't been in the mood to prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris, due to what's happening with her people. She is trying to get in shape now. She lives in Addis Ababa right now, and has to keep her mouth shut, otherwise they might not select her for the olympic 10K.

As with so many conflicts, it is the government, not the people. In Ethiopia, whomever is in charge (Tigrayan, Amhara, Oromo) the others feel (rightly or not) they are not represented and are being oppressed. When we were in Addis in 2012, an Amhara person we know had a small business but left for USA because of (perceived or otherwise) discrimination and lost his business. We were in Mekelle for 2 days. We had a lovely group of people we were staying with who took us around the town. Most had almost nothing, but always a smile by the Tigrayans. We left our hearts there and hopefully will go back someday. But it is difficult to travel with the uncertainty. Thank you for going there and filming a part of that breathtakingly beautiful, complex and amazing country and its people. Their story is, as you say, going unnoticed by virtually everyone except those whose hearts are broken by the turmoil. Praying for peace there...

Just watching you walk around brought so much memories. I left because of the war and it’s nice to be able to see it again.

That was so interesting and informative. You should offer this collection to schools in the USA. I think your message is very important to the world to understand the world strive. Very informative on how many countries try to take advantage of smaller countries. You opened my eyes and I hope people learn the message in Ethiopia is so strong. Thank you for sharing!

Amazing. Thank you and your participants for sharing this unique straightforward honest view of Tigray. I'll be reflecting on this one for a while.

Beautiful message, irmão. To the Great Ethiopian people. Hug from Brazil.

Thank you! You’re absolutely right! Together we are stronger! We appreciate your interest and support of our beloved country! We will see you on your next video👏🏾👍😀

Good to see you again, Tommy You are looking well. Thanks for all you do to bring us the truth in the world . Mike

Thank you for the warm impressions of the soil of my ancestors. Through every misery, our people become even stronger. Long live the spirit of the Tigraians ❤💛❤💛

You’re the best Tommy. Thanks for all the excellent work you do.

Man, you're awesome showing us the roads less travelled. Nuff respect for your hustle. Bless up 🙏🙏❤️ Safe travels

I have very good friends deeply affected by this war. It saddens me greatly and i appreciate ypu showing and speaking of these issues

Legend as usual. Don't forget the war in Sudan equally horrible and ongoing...the Chinese flooded Ethiopia with workers ...I have a lot of experience in these areas ...beautiful people and ancient cultures..we need to stop the madness of war

32:16 is the message that put me to tears. We need to be united as Ethiopian! We need it desperately more than ever now. Thank you very much for your inspiration. Good luck brother. From Ethiopia 🇪🇹

Appreciate your way of messaging for unity of 🇪🇹

Wow , the landscapes are so incredible . The contrasts are like night and day . The mountains push out of the ground like spear heads. Great video ! Thanks ...

God bless you brother for the beautiful message at the end. A foreigner that really gets it. You’re a rare beautiful soul who spoke kindly about a beautiful nation with so much history!

WELCOME TO TIGRAY STATE BROTHER. THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR LAND.

*Tigray are very beautiful nice People. I Love Tigrayan and i Wish nothing but the best for my beloved neighbors. 🇪🇷🤝❤️💛*

Thank you for visiting and sharing your candid experience and very helpful advice for peace. Some of the narration on the origin of the conflict is in contrast to events that transpired in the last 3 to 5 years. The party peacefully transferred power in Addis because of ongoing protests mainly in the Oromia region. Abiy dissolve the coalition party and created a new party. The PP gov in Addis decided to extend the elections that were regularly held every 5 years. When the party in Tigrai held it's 5 year elections, the gov in Addis used it as an excuse to campaign and wage a war along with it's friends on Eritrea of course the endless drones of Turkey, China, Iran, and UAE.

Thank you for educating us again. Especially on such an interesting and important area of the world

Tigray people’s are very kind and Undefeated I know them well because I lived with them. I like your powerful message at the end. Thank you for sharing your experience and our history. Peace be upon us 🤲. One love Ethiopia 🇪🇹

You’re absolutely right everyone needs to unite I respect your ending 🇪🇹🏁

Hi Tommy my name is tsegabrhan and I'm from tigray still serving my country as TDF. thanks for showing the world the truth

The Tigrayan girl who accompanied you has a good vibe and free spirited. Love from Asmara Eritrea

I love my Tigray too much ❤❤ also our language is really the best language in the world. Trust me learn it a few weeks & you will be amazed by its beauty

I think my Tigray friend died during the war. He was posting a lot on Facebook criticizing the government then suddenly no news. He hasn't posted anything in over a year and a half.

I really like your message to Ethiopians, reminding them how great they were and inspired many people around the world in the past. and they can still do more greater things than the past if they unite.

Wow man this was heartbreaking, I am Italian, I am so ashamed about what our grandfathers did there. This place is so beautiful , I hope they will stop fight and start build their own independent future soon.

Great video Tommy. Id live to see you hit Argentina again. The people are really going through it now and it would be great to watch you sharing the streetview of what life is like there now. Bon voyage.

Tommy you make me speechless. Thank you for everything you are doing .

Thanks for your content

I've sworn off RU-vid and hadn't seen you for awhile Tommy. This is not a sabbatical, this is a modus operendi. This outro brought tears. I love you and your work!

Excellent stuff Tommy :)

Was in Mekelle 8 years ago, was a great city, so heartbreaking to see it like this now😢😢😢

You are so correct Tommy. Very few in the Western nations could give a hoot about what goes on in the African continent

Wishing peace to Ethiopia and its wonderful people

Hello. Love your channels and very down to earth presentations of different regions and cultures. Am learning a lot. Many thanks

The only correction is that the Tigray region was never prosperous. However, the Tigrayans were in power for 30 years, during which time they stole close to 100 billion dollars from Ethiopians. Some of the money was used to develop their region, but most of it was taken out to Western countries. It is sad what they did to Ethiopia. They had the opportunity to change history, but instead, they plunged Ethiopia into ethnic politics and conflicts. Also, the Amharas did not go into Tigray. What I find amazing it was only in Lalibela your were not haggled for money. In fact when little kids asked you money, a man came and chased them away. I am proud of my people! 💕

This blog felt rushed but I adored it bro this could of been 2 part to 4 part series keep safe always

Thank you 🙏🏿 Tommy we appreciate you a lot you showed us our holy land Tigray every tings will buck to normal soon

Heartbreaking yet signs of hope. Hopefully more people will visit Ethiopia. Tigray is specially important to all Ethiopians and Africans as a whole.

I loved your outro on this one. You are truly amazing! I travel alone, immerse myself in different cultures, but have never gone to Africa.

all you fearless kids...going everywhere and talking to anybody. i love it.

man i need to get out there! The people and sights are so beautiful! and I love how you are getting doses of the situation for random locals. Everyone seems kinda shell shocked. When I moved to New Orleans and would ask about Hurricane Katrina I got a lot of the same faces. a horrible time in life that they cant shake! asking about it gives me weird feelings because we just want to know what happened from their perspective, however it wont cause warm and fuzzies for those who endured the situation.

Thank you for visiting Tigray and show the world what has happened to the people of Tigray.

Tigray is the land of Axumites. We will rise up like the Phoenix. May God bless Tigray Adey.

the history input is great. Love your videos

Nice reminder and outro pal. Ethiopia, you have to stop fighting each other. You are an inspiration to an entire continent. You have a beautiful country whose potential is limitless. Don't deranged leaders take you into endless wars, famine, and destruction. Stay on the path of peace, reconciliation, progress, and harmony. Ethiopia, you are unique, full of rich culture and history. Your time to shine is yet to come once to you learn from your mistakes and avoid future wars and conflicts. Ethiopia, you are full of beauty!!

Indiana Tom on his way to the Ark of the Covenant 🙏🏾‼️🙂. Safe travels brother‼️

Back in 2005 I spent 5 weeks touring around Ethiopia. Ironically one of the biggest takeaways from that trip was how safe it felt! I knew about the four-way civil war that had taken place in the country's recent past but, at least at a surface level, that all seemed resolved. This video is a sad reminder of a much more grim reality. Sabbatical, I was really moved by your summation of recent (relatively speaking) Ethiopian history. It's an unexpected blend of triumph and tragedy. Great video. I hope to see more of this caliber.

Hey Sabbatical, stay safe out there! I know you were in China recently - there has been an update to the Fake Paris that you visited in Hangzhou... I recently went there. They've blocked the whole thing off now. Keep up the great work man.

Ethiopia has a very deep rooted ancient strong Christian population. May our lord bless them all

You are doing a real job Tom thank you

Thank you so much Tommy , from Tigray ❤️

✨🌎🇺🇸 That was exceptional overview of little known history of Ethiopia 🇪🇹, fun exploring the real roots & culture of a humble & Noble People & Tribes 🤙

I'm oromo I really saddened for every atrocities happen to tigray people I was proudly against that war from the beginning majority of oromo people we are against tigray war sorry tigray

Nice one Tommy, love the outro, good advice given with much respect. Sad to see a country so rich in land and resources full of struggling people. "Organize and centralize..." was a message from HIM, Africa Unite, a song by Bob Marley, united we stand divided we fall. Messi your guide and the waitress at IQ examples of beautiful Ethiopian women. Bless up.

Certainly a different view than I thought it would have been. People like you really are a treasure to these nations you visit.

I've heard rumors about a war in Africa somewhere but didn't get the full picture of it all. It's crazy to me how many of these still ongoing wars aren't even at least being reported.

Good job Tommy! I love the message at the end! Insightful and informative presentation

Your message for peace along with the stunning, breathtaking background is just stunning to see . Also, some religions do believe that rain is a blessing from above. Beautiful ending to your video.

keep em coming!

I have spent some time in Ethiopia and I saw you had chebchebsa for breakfast. My two favorite breakfasts in Ethiopia are special chebchebsa and special ful. I really like your videos of Ethiopia!!

Nicely expressed, my friend! This serves as a valuable lesson for all Ethiopians: unity knows no bounds. Let's channel our efforts towards combating illiteracy and poverty instead of internal strife.

It is hard to imagine the destruction brought about by the war. I hope the Miskin people of Tigray and Ethiopia have a better tomorrow.

So sad! I remember visited Makalle in 2007, i was too young. I slept in a hotel called millennium. Just memory may God bless Ethiopians and gives them peace, reconciliation, prosperity. Long live Ethiopia 🇪🇹

Such a beautiful city 🥺

Agreed, it is a beautiful country. Thanks for doing this and sharing with everyone

Crazy to think that Rimbaud was selling weapons to Melenik II at that time.