Darolebu
Encyclopedia
Darolebu is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone
, Darolebu is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River
which separates it from the Bale Zone
, on the west by the Arsi Zone
, on the northwest by Guba Koricha
, on the north by the Habro
, and on the east by Boke
. Towns in Darolebu include Machara and Micheta.
Coffee
is an important cash crop of this woreda. Over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop.
Darolebu was selected in 2006 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
as an area for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas. Along with Boke
and Kuni
, Darolebu became the new home for 3308 families.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 155,644, of whom 75,300 were males and 80,344 were females; 13,360 or 8.58% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.6%. With an estimated area of 4,388.91 square kilometers, Darolebu has an estimated population density of 35.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 101.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 110,199, of whom 57,097 were men and 53,102 women; 7,463 or 6.77% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. (This total also includes an estimate for the inhabitants of one rural kebele
, which was not counted; they were estimated to have 849 inhabitants, of whom 444 were men and 405 women.) The four largest ethnic groups reported in Darolebu were the Oromo
(88.44%), the Somali
(5.2%), the Amhara
(4.64%), and the Argobba
(0.56%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.16% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 87.79%, 6.82% spoke Amharic
, and 5.2% spoke Somali
; the remaining 0.19% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Moslem
, with 93.16% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 6.58% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone
Mirab Hararghe Zone
Mirab Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Mirab Hararghe takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Mirab Harerge is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the southwest by Arsi, on the northwest by the Afar Region, on...
, Darolebu is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River
Shebelle River
The Shebelle River begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal...
which separates it from the Bale Zone
Bale Zone
Bale is one of the 17 zones in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Bale is named for the former kingdom of Bale, which was in approximately the same area...
, on the west by the Arsi Zone
Arsi Zone
Arsi is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. Arsi is also the name of a former province. Both the Zone and the former province are named after a subgroup of the Oromo, who inhabit both...
, on the northwest by Guba Koricha
Guba Koricha
Guba Koricha is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Guba Koricha, according to the OCHA map is bordered on the south by Darolebu, on the southwest by the Arsi Zone, on the west by the Afar Region, on the north by Mieso, on the northeast by...
, on the north by the Habro
Habro
Habro is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the former awraja of the same name. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, the woreda is bordered on the south by Darolebu, on the west and north by Guba Koricha, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the southeast by Boke...
, and on the east by Boke
Boke (woreda)
Boke is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Boke is bordered on the south by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Darolebu, on the northwest by Habro, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the east by the...
. Towns in Darolebu include Machara and Micheta.
Coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is an important cash crop of this woreda. Over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop.
Darolebu was selected in 2006 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
as an area for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas. Along with Boke
Boke (woreda)
Boke is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Boke is bordered on the south by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Darolebu, on the northwest by Habro, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the east by the...
and Kuni
Kuni (woreda)
Kuni is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Kuni is bordered on the south by Boke, on the west by Habro, on the northeast by Chiro, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from the Misraq Hararghe Zone...
, Darolebu became the new home for 3308 families.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 155,644, of whom 75,300 were males and 80,344 were females; 13,360 or 8.58% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.6%. With an estimated area of 4,388.91 square kilometers, Darolebu has an estimated population density of 35.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 101.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 110,199, of whom 57,097 were men and 53,102 women; 7,463 or 6.77% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. (This total also includes an estimate for the inhabitants of one rural kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
, which was not counted; they were estimated to have 849 inhabitants, of whom 444 were men and 405 women.) The four largest ethnic groups reported in Darolebu were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(88.44%), the Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
(5.2%), the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(4.64%), and the Argobba
Argobba people
The Argobba are a Muslim people group that is spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeast and east of Ethiopia. The Argobba have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area...
(0.56%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.16% of the population. Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
was spoken as a first language by 87.79%, 6.82% spoke Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
, and 5.2% spoke Somali
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
; the remaining 0.19% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Moslem
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
, with 93.16% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 6.58% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.