Hamer Bena
Encyclopedia
Hamer Bena is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Debub Omo Zone
, Hamer Bena is bordered on the south by Kenya
, on the southwest by Kuraz
, on the northwest by the Usno River
which separates it from Selamago
, on the north by Bako Gazer
, on the northeast by the Konso special woreda
, and on the east by the Oromia Region
; the Weito River
separates it from Konso and the Oromia Region and the Neri River
defines part of the boundary with Bako Gazer. Hamer Bena includes part of Lake Chew Bahir
along its southeastern border. The administrative center is Dimeka; other towns in Hamer Bena include Arbore, Key Afer, and Turmi
.
This woreda is located in part of the semi-arid lowlands which support agro-pastoral groups who are at various stages of transition from nomadic to sedentary livelihoods. Part of the northwestern corner is included in the Omo National Park
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 84,293, of whom 42,077 were men and 42,216 were women; 4,171 or 4.95% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 8,850.94 square kilometers, Hamer Bena has an estimated population density of 9.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.1.
In the 1994 national census Hamer Bena had a population of 59,181, of whom 29,614 were men and 29,567 women; 2,303 or 3.89% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Hamer (70.36%), the Tsamai
(14.21%), the Arbore
(5.77%), the Aari (5.18%), and the Amhara
(2.07%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.41% of the population. Hamer was spoken as a first language by 71.4% of the inhabitants, 13.2% spoke Tsamai
, 5.79% spoke Arbore
, 5.13% spoke Aari
, and 2.61% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 1.87% spoke all other primary languages reported. The Hamer people have their homeland in the western part, the Arbore in the eastern, and the Tsamai live in the northeastern; the remaining members of Birale people live in a few villages within the territory of Hamer people. Other groups dwelling in Hamer Bena who were not counted in the 1994 national census, yet mentioned in the report of a UNDP officer, were the Bena and Kara people
s. Concerning education
, 3.4% of the population were considered literate. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 58% of the urban and 5% of the total 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...
. Part of the Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . Debub Omo is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by the Ilemi Triangle, on the west by Bench Maji, on the northwest by Keficho Shekicho, on the north by Semien Omo, on the northeast by the...
, Hamer Bena is bordered on the south by Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, on the southwest by Kuraz
Kuraz
Kuraz is a woreda in the extreme south of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Kuraz is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle , on the north by Selamago, and on the east by the Omo River which separates it from...
, on the northwest by the Usno River
Usno River
The Usno River is a tributary of the Omo in Ethiopia. Formed by the confluence of the Magi and the Neri, it flows south past the Nyalibong Hills before it enters the Omo at . Almost all of its course is inside the boundaries of the Mago National Park....
which separates it from Selamago
Selamago
Selamago is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Selamago is bordered on the south by Kuraz, on the west and north by the Omo River which separates it from the Bench Maji and the Keficho Shekicho Zones and the...
, on the north by Bako Gazer
Bako Gazer
Bako Gazer is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Bako Gazer is bordered on the south by Hamer Bena, on the west by the Mago River which separates it from Selamago, and on the north by the Basketo special woreda,...
, on the northeast by the Konso special woreda
Konso special woreda
Konso is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Konso is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This woreda is named after the Konso...
, and on the east by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
; the Weito River
Weito River
The Weito River is a river in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia...
separates it from Konso and the Oromia Region and the Neri River
Neri River
Neri River is a river in southern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Mago River, which itself is a tributary of the Omo River....
defines part of the boundary with Bako Gazer. Hamer Bena includes part of Lake Chew Bahir
Lake Chew Bahir
Lake Chew Bahir or Lake Istifanos, also called Stefanie, Basso Naebor and Chuwaha, is a lake in Southern Ethiopia on the boundary between the Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regions. When the lake is filled, it stretches into northern Kenya...
along its southeastern border. The administrative center is Dimeka; other towns in Hamer Bena include Arbore, Key Afer, and Turmi
Turmi
Turmi is a market town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, the town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 925 metres above sea level....
.
This woreda is located in part of the semi-arid lowlands which support agro-pastoral groups who are at various stages of transition from nomadic to sedentary livelihoods. Part of the northwestern corner is included in the Omo National Park
Omo National Park
Omo National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the west bank of the Omo River, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa; across the Omo is the Mago National...
.
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 84,293, of whom 42,077 were men and 42,216 were women; 4,171 or 4.95% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 8,850.94 square kilometers, Hamer Bena has an estimated population density of 9.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.1.
In the 1994 national census Hamer Bena had a population of 59,181, of whom 29,614 were men and 29,567 women; 2,303 or 3.89% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Hamer (70.36%), the Tsamai
Tsamai people
The Tsamai people are an ethnic group of southwestern Ethiopia. They speak an East Cushitic language called Tsamai, which is one of the Dullay languages, and thus related to the Bussa and Gawwada languages.According to the 1998 Ethiopian census, the Tsamai number 9,702...
(14.21%), the Arbore
Arbore people
The Arbore are an ethnic group living southern Ethiopia, near Lake Chew Bahir.The Arbore speak a Cushitic languages....
(5.77%), the Aari (5.18%), 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...
(2.07%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.41% of the population. Hamer was spoken as a first language by 71.4% of the inhabitants, 13.2% spoke Tsamai
Tsamai language
Tsamai is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Ethiopia. Tsamai is a member of the Dullay dialect continuum.- References :* Ethnologue information on...
, 5.79% spoke Arbore
Arbore language
Arbore is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in southern Ethiopia in a few settlements of Hamer Bena woreda near Lake Chew Bahir.-Further reading:...
, 5.13% spoke Aari
Aari language
Aari is an Omotic language of Ethiopia. The speakers of this language have been known as Shankilla , a name which is considered derogatory...
, and 2.61% 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...
; the remaining 1.87% spoke all other primary languages reported. The Hamer people have their homeland in the western part, the Arbore in the eastern, and the Tsamai live in the northeastern; the remaining members of Birale people live in a few villages within the territory of Hamer people. Other groups dwelling in Hamer Bena who were not counted in the 1994 national census, yet mentioned in the report of a UNDP officer, were the Bena and Kara people
Kara people
The Kara are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting South Sudan. They speak the Gula language, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family.The Kara practice animism and shamanism. As a population, they exceed 100,000 members. They mainly live in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state.-Daily...
s. 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...
, 3.4% of the population were considered literate. 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...
, about 58% of the urban and 5% of the total had toilet facilities.