Melokoza
Encyclopedia
Melokoza is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone
, Melokoza is bordered on the south by Basketo special woreda, on the southwest by the Debub (South) Omo Zone
, on the northwest by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Dawro Zone
, and on the east by Loma Bosa
; the Omo River
defines its northwestern boundary separating the woreda from Konta and the Dawro Zone. The major town in Melokoza is Leha.
A September 2007 landslide in Melokoza was reported to have killed three people, displaced 42 households, and damaged 15 hectares of crops.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 106,086, of whom 53,221 were men and 52,865 were women; 2,448 or 2.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,614.85 square kilometers, Melokoza has an estimated population density of 65.7 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 74,992 of whom 37,349 were males and 37,573 were females; 1,351 or 1.8% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Melokoza were the Goffa (49.75%), the Melo (24.74%), the Basketo
(21.9%), the Amhara
(1.99%), and the Dime (0.75%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.87% of the population. Goffa is spoken as a first language by 40.49%, 30.94% Basketo
, 26.33% Melo
, and 0.85% speak Amharic
; the remaining 1.39% 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 Goffa people, although in the same report he notes that "Laha is one of the main places in the Melo area, and the variety [of language] spoken there is similar to Gofa". Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 37.47% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 29.04% were Protestants
, and 28.03% observed traditional religions.
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 Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Gamo and Gofa peoples, whose homelands lie in this Zone...
, Melokoza is bordered on the south by Basketo special woreda, on the southwest by the Debub (South) Omo Zone
Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . Debub Omo is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by the Ilemi Triangle, on the west by Bench Maji, on the northwest by Keficho Shekicho, on the north by Semien Omo, on the northeast by the...
, on the northwest by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Dawro Zone
Dawro Zone
Dawro is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . it is named for the Welayta people, whose homeland lies in this Zone...
, and on the east 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...
; 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...
defines its northwestern boundary separating the woreda from Konta and the Dawro Zone. The major town in Melokoza is Leha.
Overview
Food crops in Melokoza include enset, sweet potatoes and yams, maize and horse beans, while coffee and the cardamom-like spice aframomum are significant cash crops. According to a 2004 report, this woreda had no reported roads or tracks.A September 2007 landslide in Melokoza was reported to have killed three people, displaced 42 households, and damaged 15 hectares of crops.
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 106,086, of whom 53,221 were men and 52,865 were women; 2,448 or 2.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,614.85 square kilometers, Melokoza has an estimated population density of 65.7 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 74,992 of whom 37,349 were males and 37,573 were females; 1,351 or 1.8% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Melokoza were the Goffa (49.75%), the Melo (24.74%), the Basketo
Basketo people
The Basketo people are an Omotic-speaking ethnic group whose homeland lies in the southern part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region . The Basketo special woreda is named after this ethnic group...
(21.9%), 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...
(1.99%), and the Dime (0.75%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.87% of the population. Goffa is spoken as a first language by 40.49%, 30.94% Basketo
Basketo language
Basketo is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in the Basketo special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, which is part of Ethiopia. The speakers refer to the language as "Masketo", while their neighbors refer to it as "Basketo." It has said to consist of two dialects,...
, 26.33% Melo
Melo language
Melo is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region in Ethiopia....
, and 0.85% 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...
; the remaining 1.39% 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 Goffa people, although in the same report he notes that "Laha is one of the main places in the Melo area, and the variety [of language] spoken there is similar to Gofa". Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 37.47% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 29.04% 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...
, and 28.03% observed traditional religions.