Illubabor Zone
Encyclopedia
Illubabor is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor
. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region
, on the west by Misraq Welega
, on the north by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Jimma
. Towns and cities in Illubabor include Bedele
, Gore
and Metu
.
The Central Statistical Agency
(CSA) reported that 14,855 tons of coffee
were produced in this zone in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 12.9% of the Region's output and 6.5% of Ethiopia's total output.
Historically, Illubabor has been considered one of the food-exporting areas of Ethiopia, but beginning in 1997 poor crops harvests and the appearance of crop diseases such as Grey leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis (not previously common in Ethiopia) led to a deterioration in conditions. By 1999, signs of the seriousness of the situation included empty household granaries, people begging and committing crimes in the hope they will be fed in jail, sending children to live with relatives or friends, and reduced student enrollment in schools.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 847,048 in 187,867 households, of whom 416,456 were men and 430,592 women; 80,290 or 9.48% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Illubabor were the Oromo
(85.4%), the Amhara
(7.34%), and the Tigrayan
(1.26%); all other ethnic groups made up 6% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 89.86%, 6.26% Amharic
, and 1.09% spoke Tigrinya
; the remaining 2.79% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 45.81% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 42.63% of the population said they were Muslim
, 9.78% were Protestant
, and 1.3% held traditional beliefs.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
memorandum, 9% of the inhabitants of Illubabor have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 43.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region) and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 14.7% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. Concerning education
, 84% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 23% in secondary schools. Concerning health
, 94% of the zone is exposed to malaria
, and 100% to Tsetse fly
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 296.
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...
. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor
Illubabor Province
Illubabor was a province in the south-western part of Ethiopia, along the border with Sudan. The name Illubabor is said to come from two Oromo words, "Illu" and "Abba Bor". "Illu" is a name of a clan, and "Abba Bor" was the horse name of Chali Shone, who founded the ruling family of the area when...
. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
, on the west by Misraq Welega
Misraq Welega Zone
Misraq Welega is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone acquired its name from the former province of Welega...
, on the north by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Jimma
Jimma Zone
Jimma is one of the 17 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Jimma is named for the former Kingdom of Jimma, which was absorbed into the former province of Kaffa in 1932...
. Towns and cities in Illubabor include Bedele
Bedele
Bedele is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation between above sea level. It is the larger of two towns in Bedele woreda....
, Gore
Gore, Ethiopia
Gore is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located south of Metu in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2085 meters....
and Metu
Metu
Metu is a market town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region along the Sor River, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 1605 meters...
.
The Central Statistical Agency
Central 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...
(CSA) reported that 14,855 tons of coffee
Coffee production in Ethiopia
The coffee production in Ethiopia is critical to the Ethiopian economy with about 25% of the population depending directly or indirectly on coffee for its livelihood...
were produced in this zone in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 12.9% of the Region's output and 6.5% of Ethiopia's total output.
Historically, Illubabor has been considered one of the food-exporting areas of Ethiopia, but beginning in 1997 poor crops harvests and the appearance of crop diseases such as Grey leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis (not previously common in Ethiopia) led to a deterioration in conditions. By 1999, signs of the seriousness of the situation included empty household granaries, people begging and committing crimes in the hope they will be fed in jail, sending children to live with relatives or friends, and reduced student enrollment in schools.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this Zone has a total population of 1,271,609, an increase of 50.12% over the 1994 census, of whom 636,986 are men and 634,623 women; with an area of 15,135.33 square kilometers, Illubabor has a population density of 84.02. While 124,428 or 12.16% are urban inhabitants, a further 68 persons are pastoralists. A total of 272,555 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.67 persons to a household, and 263,731 housing units.The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 847,048 in 187,867 households, of whom 416,456 were men and 430,592 women; 80,290 or 9.48% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Illubabor 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...
(85.4%), 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...
(7.34%), and the Tigrayan
Tigray-Tigrinya people
Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in the southern, central and northern parts of Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopia's Tigray province. They also live in Ethiopia's former provinces of Begemder and Wollo, which are today mostly part of Amhara Region, though a few regions...
(1.26%); all other ethnic groups made up 6% 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 89.86%, 6.26% 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 1.09% spoke Tigrinya
Tigrinya language
Tigrinya , also spelled Tigrigna, Tigrnia, Tigrina, Tigriña, less commonly Tigrinian, Tigrinyan, is a Semitic language spoken by the Tigrinya people in central Eritrea , where it is one of the two main languages of Eritrea, and in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia , where it...
; the remaining 2.79% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 45.81% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 42.63% 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...
, 9.78% were Protestant
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...
, and 1.3% held traditional beliefs.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
memorandum, 9% of the inhabitants of Illubabor have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 43.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region) and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 14.7% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 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...
, 84% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 23% in secondary schools. Concerning health
Health in Ethiopia
Metrics of health in Ethiopia are among the world's worst. According to the U.S. government, Ethiopia's health care system is wholly inadequate, even after recent improvements. The Ethiopian government has launched a campaign to improve the health care system....
, 94% of the zone is exposed to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, and 100% to Tsetse fly
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 296.