Ezhana Wolene
Encyclopedia
Ezhana Wolene is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. This woreda is named after two of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet
Gurage, the Ezha and the Wolene-Worriro. Part of the Gurage Zone
, Ezhana Wolene is bordered on the south by Gumer
, on the west by Cheha
, on the north by Goro
, on the northeast by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
, and on the east by Meskanena Mareko
. The major town in Ezhana Wolene is Agenda.
.
The completion of a potable water
improvement project in this woreda was announced 19 December 2006. Costing over 230,000 Birr
, contributed jointly by the Ethiopian and Chinese
governments, the project is expected to benefit the inhabitants of three rural kebele
s.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 232,220, of whom 121,703 are men and 110,517 are women; 4,569 or 1.97% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 815.63 square kilometers, Ezhana Wolene has an estimated population density of 284.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 164,126 of whom 78,126 were men and 86,000 were women; 2,522 or 1.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Ezhana Wolene were the Sebat Bet Gurage (97.21%), the Silte (1.18%), the Kebena (0.92%), and the Amhara
(0.48%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.21% of the population. Sebat Bet Gurage
is spoken as a first language by 97.27% of the population, 1.16% Silte, 0.94% speak Kebena, and 0.49% speak Amharic
; the remaining 0.14% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants observed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 70.85% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 27.93% were Muslim
, and 0.66% were Protestants
. Concerning education
, 24.76% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 19.06% of children aged 7–12 were in primary school, 3.19% of the children aged 13–14 were in junior secondary school, and 2.81% of the inhabitants aged 15–18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 12.96% of the urban houses and 8.08% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 15.23% of the urban and 1.9% of all houses had toilet facilities.
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 Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region 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...
. This woreda is named after two of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet
Sebat Bet Gurage language
Sebat Bet is a Gurage language, spoken in several dialects found in the western Gurage Zone:*Chaha is spoken in Cheha woreda, and is the best studied of these dialects;*Ezha is spoken in Ezhana Wolene woreda,...
Gurage, the Ezha and the Wolene-Worriro. Part of the Gurage Zone
Gurage Zone
Gurage is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named for the Gurage people, whose homeland lies in this zone. Gurage is bordered on the south by Hadiya on the west north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Silte. Its highest...
, Ezhana Wolene is bordered on the south by Gumer
Gumer
Gumer is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Gumer...
, on the west by Cheha
Cheha
Cheha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Cheha...
, on the north by Goro
Goro, SNNPR (woreda)
Goro is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Goro...
, on the northeast by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
Kokir Gedebano Gutazer is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Kokir Gedebano Gutazer is bordered on the south by Ezhana Wolene, on the west by Goro, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Meskanena...
, and on the east by Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Meskanena Mareko is bordered on the south by Silte, on the southwest by Gumer, on the west by Ezhana Wolene, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer, on the...
. The major town in Ezhana Wolene is Agenda.
Overview
Bodies of water in this woreda include Lake Bozebar, which is 10 hectares in area. Local landmarks include Trer Falls which is 70 meters in height and is located 2 kilometers from Agenda, Fokra Falls which is 30 meters in height and 10 kilometers from Agenda, and Muhur Eyesus monastery which according to tradition was founded by Abba Zena Markos during the reign of Emperor Yekuno AmlakYekuno Amlak of Ethiopia
Emperor Yekuno Amlak was of Ethiopia and founder of the Solomonic dynasty. He traced his ancestry through his father, Tasfa Iyasus, to Dil Na'od, the last King of Axum.-Rise to power:...
.
The completion of a potable water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
improvement project in this woreda was announced 19 December 2006. Costing over 230,000 Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
, contributed jointly by the Ethiopian and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
governments, the project is expected to benefit the inhabitants of three 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...
s.
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 232,220, of whom 121,703 are men and 110,517 are women; 4,569 or 1.97% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 815.63 square kilometers, Ezhana Wolene has an estimated population density of 284.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 164,126 of whom 78,126 were men and 86,000 were women; 2,522 or 1.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Ezhana Wolene were the Sebat Bet Gurage (97.21%), the Silte (1.18%), the Kebena (0.92%), and 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...
(0.48%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.21% of the population. Sebat Bet Gurage
Sebat Bet Gurage language
Sebat Bet is a Gurage language, spoken in several dialects found in the western Gurage Zone:*Chaha is spoken in Cheha woreda, and is the best studied of these dialects;*Ezha is spoken in Ezhana Wolene woreda,...
is spoken as a first language by 97.27% of the population, 1.16% Silte, 0.94% speak Kebena, and 0.49% speak 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...
; the remaining 0.14% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants observed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 70.85% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 27.93% 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...
, and 0.66% were Protestants
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
. Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 24.76% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 19.06% of children aged 7–12 were in primary school, 3.19% of the children aged 13–14 were in junior secondary school, and 2.81% of the inhabitants aged 15–18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, 12.96% of the urban houses and 8.08% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 15.23% of the urban and 1.9% of all houses had toilet facilities.