Mareka Gena
Encyclopedia
Mareka Gena is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Omo Zone
, Mareka Gena is a triangle-shaped area located south of the confluence of the Omo River
and its east-flowing tributary the Gojeb River
, bordered on the southeast by Loma Bosa
, on the west by Isara Tocha
, and on the north by the Oromia Region
. Towns in Mareka Gena include Wacca
and Weldehane.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 125,532, of whom 63,723 were men and 61,809 were women; 8,405 or 6.70% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 875.78 square kilometers, Mareka Gena has an estimated population density of 143.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 87,786 of whom 43,234 were males and 44,552 were females; 4,639 or 5.28% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Mareka Gena were the Kullo (96.57%), and the Amhara
(1.12%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.31% of the population. Kullo was spoken as a first language by 97.42% of the inhabitants; the remaining 2.58% spoke all other primary languages reported. However, Ralph Siebert's local research in 1995 led him to believe that this woreda was predominantly inhabited by the Dawro people. Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 41.85% of the population said they observed traditional religions, 37.95% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 19.44% were Protestants
.
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 Semien Omo Zone
Semien Omo Zone
Semien Omo was a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It was named after the Omo River, which flows in the western area of the former zone...
, Mareka Gena is a triangle-shaped area located south of the confluence of the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
and its east-flowing tributary the Gojeb River
Gojeb River
The Gojeb River is eastward-flowing tributary of the Omo River in Ethiopia. It rises in the mountains of Guma, flowing in almost a direct line its confluence with the Omo at....
, bordered on the southeast by Loma Bosa
Loma Bosa
Loma Bosa is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Loma Bosa is bordered on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by Isara Tocha, on the northwest by Mareka Gena, on the north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on...
, on the west by Isara Tocha
Isara Tocha
Isara Tocha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Isara Tocha is bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates this woreda from the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by the Konta special woreda, on the north by...
, and on the north by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. Towns in Mareka Gena include Wacca
Wacca
Waka is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Dawro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2220 meters above sea level. It is the larger of two towns in Mareka Gena woreda.Wacca is reported as having a...
and Weldehane.
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 125,532, of whom 63,723 were men and 61,809 were women; 8,405 or 6.70% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 875.78 square kilometers, Mareka Gena has an estimated population density of 143.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 87,786 of whom 43,234 were males and 44,552 were females; 4,639 or 5.28% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Mareka Gena were the Kullo (96.57%), 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...
(1.12%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.31% of the population. Kullo was spoken as a first language by 97.42% of the inhabitants; the remaining 2.58% spoke all other primary languages reported. However, Ralph Siebert's local research in 1995 led him to believe that this woreda was predominantly inhabited by the Dawro people. Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 41.85% of the population said they observed traditional religions, 37.95% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 19.44% 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...
.