Masha Anderacha
Encyclopedia
Masha Anderacha is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Keficho Shekicho Zone
, Masha Anderacha is bordered on the south by Yeki
, on the west and north by the Oromia Region
, and on the east by Gesha
. Towns in Masha Anderacha include Gecha and Masha
, as well as the village and former capital of the Kingdom of Kaffa
, Anderaccha
.
This woreda is notable for its relatively high forest cover as compared to other parts of Ethiopia, accounting in 2001 for about 56% of the country’s total forested area; this woodland is primarily governed by a form of tenure known as Kobo, which promotes the existence of woodland for hunting and beekeeping
. However this resource is threatened by the growth of tea
and coffee
plantations. Important cash crops include corn
, teff
, wheat
, pulses and enset.
(EPRDF) threatened to take away the land in the woreda occupied by eight farmers, who were supporters of the United Ethiopia Democratic Party (UEDP). The EPRDF cadres told the farmers that opposition party members were not entitled to land and demanded that they cease their support for the UEDP. When the farmers refused to comply with this demand, they were evicted from their land. The following month, two teachers were fired for being members of UEDP.
Masha Anderacha was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 512 heads of households and 2048 total family members.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 67,972, of whom 35,276 are men and 32,696 are women; 13,210 or 19.43% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.7%. With an estimated area of 1,524.69 square kilometers, Masha Anderacha has an estimated population density of 44.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 81.9.
In the 1994 national census Masha Anderacha had a population of 46,165, of whom 22,214 were men and 23,951 women; 7,290 or 15.79% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Mocha (85.3%), the Oromo
(5.63%), the Amhara
(3.78%), the Kafficho (3.37%), and the Sheko (0.93%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.99% of the population. Mocha was spoken as a first language by 89.24% of the inhabitants, 5.2% spoke Oromo
, 2.68% Amharic
, 1.51% Kafa
, and 0.93% spoke Sheko
; the remaining 0.44% spoke all other primary languages reported.Concerning education
, 43.65% of the population were considered literate; 33.59% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 15.31% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 12.50% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 40.96% of the urban houses and 7.63% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 33.58% of the urban and 7.84% 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 Keficho Shekicho Zone
Keficho Shekicho Zone
Keficho Shekicho is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . While in their latest population estimates the Central Statistical Agency includes it as a single Zone, the list of second administrative level bodies maintained by the United Nations Geographic...
, Masha Anderacha is bordered on the south by Yeki
Yeki
Yeki is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Keficho Shekicho Zone, Yeki is bordered on the south by the Bench Maji Zone, on the west by the Gambela Region, on the north by Masha Anderacha, on the northeast by Gesha, and on the...
, on the west and north by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, and on the east by Gesha
Gesha
Gesha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Keficho Shekicho Zone, Gesha is bordered on the south by Chena, on the southwest by Yeki, on the west by Masha Anderacha, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Ginbo...
. Towns in Masha Anderacha include Gecha and Masha
Masha (SNNPR)
Masha is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Sheka Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region , this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2223 meters above sea level...
, as well as the village and former capital of the Kingdom of Kaffa
Kingdom of Kaffa
The Kingdom of Kaffa was an early modern state located in what is now Ethiopia, with its capital at Bonga. The Gojeb River formed its northern border, beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the Konta and Kullo peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo River; to the south...
, Anderaccha
Anderaccha
Anderaccha is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Keficho Shekicho Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, at the confluence of the Guma River with the Gichey, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1629 meters above sea level...
.
This woreda is notable for its relatively high forest cover as compared to other parts of Ethiopia, accounting in 2001 for about 56% of the country’s total forested area; this woodland is primarily governed by a form of tenure known as Kobo, which promotes the existence of woodland for hunting and beekeeping
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. A beekeeper keeps bees in order to collect honey and other products of the hive , to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers...
. However this resource is threatened by the growth of tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
plantations. 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...
, teff
Teff
Eragrostis tef, known as teff, taf , or khak shir , is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa....
, 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...
, pulses and enset.
History
In September 2003, cadres of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic FrontEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) threatened to take away the land in the woreda occupied by eight farmers, who were supporters of the United Ethiopia Democratic Party (UEDP). The EPRDF cadres told the farmers that opposition party members were not entitled to land and demanded that they cease their support for the UEDP. When the farmers refused to comply with this demand, they were evicted from their land. The following month, two teachers were fired for being members of UEDP.
Masha Anderacha was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 512 heads of households and 2048 total family members.
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 67,972, of whom 35,276 are men and 32,696 are women; 13,210 or 19.43% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.7%. With an estimated area of 1,524.69 square kilometers, Masha Anderacha has an estimated population density of 44.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 81.9.
In the 1994 national census Masha Anderacha had a population of 46,165, of whom 22,214 were men and 23,951 women; 7,290 or 15.79% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Mocha (85.3%), 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...
(5.63%), 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...
(3.78%), the Kafficho (3.37%), and the Sheko (0.93%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.99% of the population. Mocha was spoken as a first language by 89.24% of the inhabitants, 5.2% spoke Oromo
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...
, 2.68% 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...
, 1.51% Kafa
Kafa language
Kaffa is an Afroasiatic language spoken in Ethiopia around Bonga in the Keficho Shekicho Zone. The language is also called Kafi nono.- Further reading :...
, and 0.93% spoke Sheko
Sheko language
Sheko is an Omotic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken in the area between Tepi and Mizan Teferi in western Ethiopia, in the Sheko district in the Bench Maji Zone...
; the remaining 0.44% spoke all other primary languages reported.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...
, 43.65% of the population were considered literate; 33.59% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 15.31% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 12.50% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. 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 40.96% of the urban houses and 7.63% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 33.58% of the urban and 7.84% of the total had toilet facilities.