Hula (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Hula is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Sidama Zone
, Hula is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
, on the southwest by Dara
, on the west by Aleta Wendo
, on the northwest by Dale
, on the north by Shebedino
, on the northeast by Arbegona
, and on the east by Bensa
. The major town in Hula is Hagere Selam.
A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 59.6% is arable or cultivable, 36.2% pasture, 2.3% forest, and the remaining 1.8% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Important cash crops include corn
, wheat
, barley
, local varieties of cabbage
, and potato
es. According to a 2004 report, Hula had 110 kilometers of all-weather roads and 8 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 274 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 253,540, of whom 126,597 are men and 126,943 are women; 8,491 or 3.35% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 583.76 square kilometers, Hula has an estimated population density of 434.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 430.03. The dominant ethnic group in this woreda is the Sidama people
; only 2% report as belonging to all other groups.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 178,644, of whom 89,489 were men and 89,155 women; 4,686 or 2.62% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Hula were the Sidama
(93.77%), the Amhara
(4.43%), and the Oromo
(0.84%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.96% of the population. Sidamo
is spoken as a first language by 95.48% of the inhabitants, 3.63% speak Amharic
, and 0.56% Oromiffa
; the remaining 0.33% spoke all other primary languages reported. 55.83% of the population said they were Protestants
, 28.08% observed traditional religions, 6.29% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 3.93% were Catholic
, and 2.58% were Muslim
.
According to a 2004 survey, none of the inhabitants have access to drinkable water
, and are forced to use unprotected wells.
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 Sidama Zone
Sidama Zone
Sidama is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Sidama people, whose homeland is located in this zone...
, Hula is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the southwest by Dara
Dara (woreda)
Dara is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Dara is bordered on the south by the Gedeo Zone and on either side of it by the Oromia Region, on the northwest by Aleta Wendo, and on the northeast by Hula...
, on the west by Aleta Wendo
Aleta Wendo (woreda)
Aleta Wendo is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Aleta Wendo is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west and north by Dale, on the east by Hula, and on the southeast by Dara...
, on the northwest by Dale
Dale (woreda)
Dale is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Dale is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the southwest by Lake Abaya, on the west by the Wolayita Zone, on the north by...
, on the north by Shebedino
Shebedino
Shebedino is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shebedino is bordered on the south by Dale, on the west by the Bilate River which separates it from the Semien Omo Zone, on the...
, on the northeast by Arbegona
Arbegona (woreda)
Arbegona is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Arbegona is bordered on the southwest by Hula, on the west by Dale, on the northwest by Shebedino, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Bensa...
, and on the east by Bensa
Bensa
Bensa is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone that extends into the Oromia Region like a peninsula, Bensa is bordered on the southeast and north by the Oromia Region, with Hula on the west and Arbegona on the...
. The major town in Hula is Hagere Selam.
A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 59.6% is arable or cultivable, 36.2% pasture, 2.3% forest, and the remaining 1.8% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Important cash crops include corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, local varieties of cabbage
Cabbage
Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
, and potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es. According to a 2004 report, Hula had 110 kilometers of all-weather roads and 8 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 274 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
Population
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 253,540, of whom 126,597 are men and 126,943 are women; 8,491 or 3.35% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 583.76 square kilometers, Hula has an estimated population density of 434.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 430.03. The dominant ethnic group in this woreda is the Sidama people
Sidama people
The Sidama people of southern Ethiopia are an ethnic group whose homeland is in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. They number 2,966,474 of whom 149,480 are urban inhabitants, the fifth most populous nation in Ethiopia...
; only 2% report as belonging to all other groups.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 178,644, of whom 89,489 were men and 89,155 women; 4,686 or 2.62% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Hula were the Sidama
Sidama people
The Sidama people of southern Ethiopia are an ethnic group whose homeland is in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. They number 2,966,474 of whom 149,480 are urban inhabitants, the fifth most populous nation in Ethiopia...
(93.77%), 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...
(4.43%), and 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...
(0.84%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.96% of the population. Sidamo
Sidamo language
Sidamo is an Afro-Asiatic language, belonging to the Cushitic branch, part of the Highland East Cushitic group. It is spoken in parts of southern Ethiopia....
is spoken as a first language by 95.48% of the inhabitants, 3.63% 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...
, and 0.56% 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...
; the remaining 0.33% spoke all other primary languages reported. 55.83% of the population said they 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...
, 28.08% observed traditional religions, 6.29% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 3.93% were Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
, and 2.58% 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...
.
According to a 2004 survey, none of the inhabitants have access to drinkable water
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...
, and are forced to use unprotected wells.