Prior to Christianity, Ethiopia, like other parts of Africa, had its own traditional religions which still maintains a strong expression among many of its people. A strong Isis following remained common to both Egypt and Ethiopia. There also seems to have been a strong Jewish tradition based on pre-Talmudic Judaism in which governor-high-priests ruled over the people.

After these priest there appeared kings known as Malkanas, who later took the name negashi—which meant treasures and collectors; later this name became Negus Negast, which is translated today as King of Kings. Ethiopian Christianity is a unique mixture of the old and the new, continuing from the fourth century A.D. to the present.