jebena and its use in the buna is unclear and there are conflicting myths and legends on the initial origin of the jebena in the buna. The buna and jebena are endemic in the Horn of Africa region, with different regions having different rituals surrounding both, specifically Eritrea and Ethiopia. The jebena holds a significant place in Ethiopian and Eritrean culture. Families will usually have only one, and it is normally passed down from generation to generation as a practical, ornate heirloom. The jebena can be described as an 'artifact', as opposed to a tool, as it represents significant shared cultural experience and status in Ethiopian and Eritrean culture. Prevalence Ethiopia Brewing coffee is tied closely to womanhood in Ethiopia and in the Horn of Africa. When brewing coffee with the jebena, the youngest woman of the family is always the one to initiate the process. Brewing coffee in the jebena is also a distinctly social event, where during the time it takes to prepare the beans and brew the coffee, families will socialise. The ornate nature of a jebena makes it a coveted item for a family, with potters in Ethiopia often not having access to tools such as pottery wheels. As a result, a highly decorated jebena is a sign of wealth and status amongst families in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In Ethiopian culture, when coffee is being made for the buna in the jebena, it is time for women to socialise and gather away from men. This has created a close association between woman-hood and coffee making. Women are expected to take great pride in their coffee ceremony and in taking care of their jebena, and great social expectation is placed upon the apparatus used in the ritual. Because of the ritualistic nature of the buna, if a jebena is not used to prepare and boil the coffee, by all accounts, a 'buna' is not taking place. It is considered rude for a guest to have any less than three cups of coffee from the jebena when a buna is taking place and it is considered good luck for a participant to consume all three cups of coffee in the buna. A household will usually participate in the buna three times a day, preparing a pot of coffee in the jebena each time. On each occasion, the woman preparing the buna will announce to all persons in the