Dude, I'm not trying to buy a couple of heads of cattle for a bride, would really like to visit the region but scared. Dudes are docile like puppies in the states but always in wars in Africa, organize violent gangs in Europe and are always rolling up on battleships in paddle boats. Like a Pitbull, can't figure out what triggers them! That's insane.
Perfection
The world is not what you see on your TV. Go anywhere near the front lines of an active conflict and you'll find the worst of human nature, but it's not an indication of any population as a whole.
I've been to Ethiopia twice and it's one of my favourite places. Addis is a really nice, modern and clean city. Parks are well kept and full of families. Most of the people speak perfect English and many are well educated. Quite a lot of the women look like the one in the photo you posted. When African women are wearing traditional dress, it's almost always for special occasions - no different to Scottish guys wearing kilts at weddings. I went out most nights, wandered the streets alone or sometimes with a local female friend - no issues. It's a great country.
I could give similar writeups for most places I've been in East and South Africa - Somalia and Kenya aside. Kenya, for the most part, is still safe and where most diplomats/NGO-types spend their leave when working in the region. With poverty comes petty crime, but that's the same everywhere. If you're a pervert sex tourist visiting red-light areas and hanging around prostitutes, then yeah, you are likely going to get what you deserve, but most people have great experiences visiting these places.
