These were Christians. Ethiopia has been Christian for most of the Christian period. It's the traditionalism coupled with lack of education and lack of seeing other opportunities because of both that continue a lot of what goes on.
I don't think their conversion, if any of these people were actually personally converted to Christianity, made them abandon their previously barbaric or anti-Christian behavior. It sounds similar to the weird brand of Catholicism that some in Latin America (e.g. Dominican Republic) practice, which fuses pagan witchcraft and the like with Catholic rituals.
Also, to say that "Ethiopia is Christian" is a meaningless statement, just FYI. Being a Christian is about a personal relationship with Christ, not something you inherit because you are born into a "Christian" country. To say Ehtiopia is Christian is like saying Hollywood is Christian.
Bottom line, these people need the gospel preached to them in their native language, then need education so that they can read the Bible and understand the folly of their ways. This is an ongoing process.
Faith is sustained through hearing and reading and living by the word of God, not through birth in a tribe labeled as Christian.
agreed!