In a digital age when nearly everything—friendship, work, and love—moves online, one app has emerged to fill a niche often overlooked: bringing together Ethiopians and Eritreans across borders, cultures, and time zones.

Meet Jebena, the dating-and-connection platform built specifically for the Habesha (Ethiopian and Eritrean) diaspora and beyond — a space where shared culture meets modern connection.

A Digital Coffee Ceremony for the Diaspora

The name “Jebena” (pronounced je-beh-na) comes from the traditional coffee pot used during Ethiopian and Eritrean coffee ceremonies — a powerful symbol of togetherness, culture, and community. Just as families gather around a jebena to share stories and laughter, the app aims to brew connections among people separated by geography but linked by heritage.

Launched in April 2020, Jebena quickly resonated with the community, amassing over 50,000 users and 115,000 matches within its first year. Since then, the numbers have continued to grow as more Habesha singles — from Addis Ababa to Atlanta, Asmara to Amsterdam — look for love and companionship online.

The idea for Jebena was born out of personal experience. Its founders, themselves members of the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora, faced a familiar challenge: “Who do you meet, and where, when you’re away from your home community?”  Traditional ways of meeting — through weddings, community gatherings, or mutual friends — became harder as people moved abroad. Jebena’s mission emerged from that gap. This vision, paired with a strong tech background and cultural understanding, helped shape Jebena into one of the most recognizable Habesha dating apps today.

How Jebena Works

Using Jebena is simple and intuitive, even for first-time dating app users.

1. Download the App: Available on both iOS and Android, Jebena can be found on the App Store and Google Play.

2. Create Your Profile: Sign up using your phone number or email. Add a photo, short bio, and details about your interests — from favorite musicians to shows — to let your personality shine.

3. Browse and Match: You can “like” profiles for free. If both users like each other, it’s a match — and you can start chatting right away.

4. Send a Heart: Want to show stronger interest? The “Heart” feature is part of Jebena’s premium plan and lets you stand out to potential matches.

5. Stay Safe: The app includes built-in safety tools, like blocking or reporting, to keep conversations respectful and genuine.

Unlike other dating apps that restrict matches to nearby users, Jebena doesn’t limit connections by distance — making it perfect for the globally scattered Habesha diaspora.

One of Jebena’s biggest priorities is trust. The app checks photo quality and authenticity to ensure people are using their real images. In-app reporting and moderation tools help maintain respectful interactions — a vital feature in any online dating space.

The founders emphasize that Jebena is not only about finding love but also about creating a safe, inclusive environment where the Habesha community can connect meaningfully.

For a generation of young Ethiopians and Eritreans living between cultures, Jebena has become more than a dating platform — it’s a symbol of modern identity.It proves that cultural connection and technology can blend beautifully. It allows users to stay rooted in who they are, even while building relationships that span continents.

Jebena is more than just “another dating app.” It stands out by focusing on a cultural community—Ethiopians and Eritreans—and attempting to combine identity, diaspora, connection and tech into a meaningful platform. It reflects how digital tools can serve specific communities with nuance, rather than offering generic experiences.

If you’re part of the Habesha diaspora (or even living in Ethiopia/Eritrea) and looking for someone who shares your background, values and cultural touchpoints, Jebena could be a worthwhile space to try. That said: it’s still a tool—not magic. Your own clarity, authenticity and communication matter as much as the app itself.