Dawuntna Delant
Encyclopedia
Dawuntna Delant is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Wollo Zone
, Dawuntna Delant is bordered on the south by the Checheho River
which separates it from the Debub Wollo Zone
, on the west by the Debub Gondar Zone
, on the north by Wadla
, and on the east by Guba Lafto
. The deep valley of the Zhit'a river, which runs through Wadla and along part of the northern border, effectively isolates much of Dawuntna Delant from the rest of Semien Wollo. This woreda is named after two historical districts, Dawunt to the east and Delanta to the west. The major town in Dawuntna Delant is Wegeltena
.
Landmarks in this woreda include the church of Yaddiba Maryam, notable for its wall paintings that David Buxton has dated to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries "before the massive impact of external influences that occurred in the seventeenth century." Subjects depicted in these paintings include the Biblical Kings David
with a harp and Solomon
with a sword, and the Christian martyr Mammes
"riding a rather comical lion."
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 197,372, of whom 98,296 are men and 99,076 are women; 7,205 or 3.65% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 1,583.46 square kilometers, Dawuntna Delant has an estimated population density of 124.6 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 105.59.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 145,401 in 35,527 households, of whom 73,832 were men and 71,569 were women; 4,166 or 2.87% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Dawuntna Delant was the Amhara
(99.96%). Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.96%. 89.04% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 10.94% of the population said they were Muslim
.
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 Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
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 Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Semien Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo. Semien Wollo is bordered on the south by Debub Wollo, on the west by Debub Gondar, on the north by Wag Hemra, and on the northeast and east by the Afar Region; part of its...
, Dawuntna Delant is bordered on the south by the Checheho River
Checheho River
The Checheho River is a small river located in north-central Ethiopia. Part of the watershed of the Abay River, it rises to the east of Debre Zebit to flow south to join the Bashilo River. Its major tributary is the Zhit'a, which enters the Checheho on the left side....
which separates it from the Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. It acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semien Wollo and on the...
, on the west by the Debub Gondar Zone
Debub Gondar Zone
Debub Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This zone is named for the city of Gondar, which was the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, and has often been used as a name for the local province....
, on the north by Wadla
Wadla
Wadla is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia; it is named for the former district which lay roughly in the same area. Part of the Semien Wollo Zone, Wadla is bordered on the south and east by Dawuntna Delant, on the west by the Checheho River which separates it from the Debub...
, and on the east by Guba Lafto
Guba Lafto
Guba Lafto is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Wollo Zone, Guba Lafto is bordered on the south by the Debub Wollo Zone, on the west by Dawuntna Delant, on the northwest by Meket, on the north by Gidan, on the northeast by the Logiya River which separates...
. The deep valley of the Zhit'a river, which runs through Wadla and along part of the northern border, effectively isolates much of Dawuntna Delant from the rest of Semien Wollo. This woreda is named after two historical districts, Dawunt to the east and Delanta to the west. The major town in Dawuntna Delant is Wegeltena
Wegeltena
Wegeltena is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2555 meters above sea level....
.
Overview
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 700 to 3900 meters above sea level. The eastern part has been described as "a mass of columnar basalt between the rivers Jitta and Beshilo, with its surface upwards of 9000 feet above the level of the sea." Notable peaks include Amba Koheit, Amba Nebiet, and Mount Constantina. Dawuntna Delant, as well as the other seven rural woredas of this Zone, has been grouped amongst the 48 woredas identified as the most drought prone and food insecure in the Amhara Region.Landmarks in this woreda include the church of Yaddiba Maryam, notable for its wall paintings that David Buxton has dated to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries "before the massive impact of external influences that occurred in the seventeenth century." Subjects depicted in these paintings include the Biblical Kings David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
with a harp and Solomon
Solomon
Solomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
with a sword, and the Christian martyr Mammes
Mammes of Caesarea
Saint Mammes of Caesarea ; is a semi-legendary child-martyr of the 3rd century. He was martyred at Caesarea. His parents, Theodotus and Rufina, were also martyred.-Life:...
"riding a rather comical lion."
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 197,372, of whom 98,296 are men and 99,076 are women; 7,205 or 3.65% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 1,583.46 square kilometers, Dawuntna Delant has an estimated population density of 124.6 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 105.59.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 145,401 in 35,527 households, of whom 73,832 were men and 71,569 were women; 4,166 or 2.87% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Dawuntna Delant was 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...
(99.96%). 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...
was spoken as a first language by 99.96%. 89.04% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 10.94% of the population said they were Muslim
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...
.