Kelala (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Kelala is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. The name Kelala was derived from the Amharic
word "tkelele". Part of the Debub Wollo Zone
, Kelala is bordered on the south by the Semien Shewa Zone, on the southwest by the Walaqa River
which separates it from the Oromia Region
, on the west by Wegde
, on the north by Legambo
, on the northeast by Were Ilu
, and on the east by Jama
. Towns in Kelala include Kelala and Liguama.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 136,545, an increase of 16.69% over the 1994 census, of whom 67,929 are men and 68,616 women; 7,640 or 5.60% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,422.15 square kilometers, Kelala has a population density of 96.01, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 32,815 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.16 persons to a household, and 31,497 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 117,011 in 27,422 households, of whom 58,069 were men and 58,942 were women; 4,060 or 3.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Kelala were the Amhara
(87.24%), and the Oromo
(12.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.12% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 90.72%, and 9.2% spoke Oromiffa
; the remaining 0.08% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 95.53% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 4.33% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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...
. The name Kelala was derived from the 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...
word "tkelele". Part of 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...
, Kelala is bordered on the south by the Semien Shewa Zone, on the southwest by the Walaqa River
Walaqa River
Walaqa River, a tributary of the Blue Nile, is an Ethiopian river in the Amhara Region. Wegde is located to its north. Mida Woremo and Dera are to the south, while Kelala is to the northeast. The Walaqa River may have been the northern boundary of the historical province of Walaqa.-External links:* *...
which separates it from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Wegde
Wegde
Wegde is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Wegde is bordered on the south by the Walaqa River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the west by the Abay River which separates it from the Misraq Gojjam Zone, on the north by Debre Sina, and...
, on the north by Legambo
Legambo
Legambo is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named for one of the "Houses" or subgroups of the Wollo Oromo, who was located there...
, on the northeast by Were Ilu
Were Ilu (woreda)
Were Ilu is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Were Ilu is bordered on the southwest by Jama, on the west by Kelala, on the northwest by Legambo, on the north by Dessie Zuria, on the east by the Oromia Zone, and on the southeast by the Wanchet...
, and on the east by Jama
Jama (woreda)
Jama is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Jama is bordered on the south and east by the Qechene River which separates it from the Semien Shewa Zone, on the west by Kelala, and on the north by Were Ilu...
. Towns in Kelala include Kelala and Liguama.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national census conducted 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...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 136,545, an increase of 16.69% over the 1994 census, of whom 67,929 are men and 68,616 women; 7,640 or 5.60% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,422.15 square kilometers, Kelala has a population density of 96.01, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 32,815 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.16 persons to a household, and 31,497 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 117,011 in 27,422 households, of whom 58,069 were men and 58,942 were women; 4,060 or 3.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Kelala were 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...
(87.24%), 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...
(12.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.12% of the population. 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 90.72%, and 9.2% spoke 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 0.08% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants 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...
, with 95.53% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 4.33% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.