Semien Omo Zone
Encyclopedia
Semien Omo was a Zone in the Ethiopia
n Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). It was named after the Omo River
, which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three zones: Dawro
, Gamo Gofa
, and Wolayita
; and Basketo and Konta became special woredas.
Semien Omo is bordered on the south by Debub Omo
, on the west by Keficho Shekicho
, on the northwest by the Oromia Region
, on the north by Kembata Tembaro, on the northeast by part of the Oromia Region
, on the east by the Bilate River
which separates it from Sidama
and another part of the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by the Amaro
and Dirashe special woreda
s. The highest point in Semien Omo is Mount Guge (3568 m), west of Chencha
. The administrative center of Semien Omo is Arba Minch
; other towns include Areka
, Boditi
, Sawla
and Sodo
.
(CSA) reported that 8,364 tons of coffee
were produced in Semien Omo in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 7.27% of the SNNPR's output and 3.7% of Ethiopia's total output.
The Semien Omo Zone was established in 1987 by the Derg
, who created the administrative unit from parts of Gamu-Gofa
, Sidamo
and Kaffa
, based on the conclusion that the four ethnic groups—the Goffa, Gamo
, Kullo and Welayta
-- all spoke minor variants of the same language and shared other aspects of their cultures. The only changes the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
made to it after assuming power, were to remove Konso special woreda
from the Zone and add Basketo
. However friction between these groups, which was often blamed on the Welayta for "ethnic chauvinism" and despite the efforts of the ruling party to emphasize the need to co-ordinate, consolidate, and unify the smaller ethnic units to achieve the "efficient use of scarce government resources", eventually led to the division of the Zone in 2000 into three new Zones and two special woredas. Despite the central government conceding to this demand, Sarah Vaughan notes, "this may not be the end of the story": a formal request has been made by the Gofa to form their own Zone from the Gamo Gofa Zone, and the Oyda who live in that zone, in June 2002 petitioned for the creation of their own special woreda.
In the 1994 Census Semien Omo had a population of 2,603,057, in 554,618 households, of whom 1,289,763 were men and 1,313,294 women; 176,339 or 6.77% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic groups reported in this Zone included the Welayta (44.17%), the Gamo (26.65%), the Kullo (10.15%), the Gofa (9.12%), the Basketo
(1.87%), the Konta (1.86%), and the Amhara
(1.84%); all other ethnic groups made up 4.34% of the population. Welayta
is spoken as a first language by 44.27% of the inhabitants, 25.88% speak Gamo, 10.22% Kullo, 8.86% Gofa, 2.27% Amharic
, 2.14% Basketo
, and 1.8% Konta; the remaining 4.56% spoke all other primary languages reported. 39.02% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 35.75% were Protestants
, 18.58% observed traditional religions, and 2.88% embraced Catholicism
.
According to a 24 May 2004 World Bank
memorandum, 4% of the inhabitants of Semien Omo have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 36.4 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 0.4 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.89 for the SNNPR) the equivalent of 0.4 heads of livestock. 29.7% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 32%. 67% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 21% in secondary schools. 83% of the zone is exposed to malaria
, and 28% to Tsetse fly
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 322.
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...
n Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). It was named after 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...
, which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three zones: Dawro
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...
, Gamo Gofa
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...
, and Wolayita
Wolayita Zone
Wolayita 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 Basketo and Konta became special woredas.
Semien Omo is bordered on the south by Debub Omo
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 west by Keficho Shekicho
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...
, on the northwest by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the north by Kembata Tembaro, on the northeast by part of the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the east by the Bilate River
Bilate River
The Bilate is a river of south-central Ethiopia. It rises on the southwestern slopes of Mount Gurage near , flowing south along the western side of the Great Rift Valley, to empty into Lake Abaya at...
which separates it from Sidama
Sidama Zone
Sidama is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Sidama people, whose homeland is located in this zone...
and another part of the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by the Amaro
Amaro special woreda
Amaro is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Amaro is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
and Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Dirashe is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
s. The highest point in Semien Omo is Mount Guge (3568 m), west of Chencha
Chencha
Chencha is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, 37 kilometers north of Arba Minch, Chencha has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation of 2732 meters above sea level.Based on figures from the Central...
. The administrative center of Semien Omo is Arba Minch
Arba Minch
Arba Minch is a city in southern Ethiopia; less common names for this city include Ganta Garo and Minghi. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level...
; other towns include Areka
Areka
Areka is a town in southern part of Ethiopia. Located in the Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region some 300 kilometers southwest of the capital, Addis Ababa. This town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1774 meters above sea level...
, Boditi
Boditi
Boditi is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2050 meters above sea level. It the administrative center of Damot Gale woreda. permanent postal service is...
, Sawla
Sawla
Sawla is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an altitude of 1395 meters above sea level...
and Sodo
Sodo
Sodo or Wolaita Sodo is a town in south-central Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, Sodo has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation between 1600 and 2100 meters above sea level...
.
Overview
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...
(CSA) reported that 8,364 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 Semien Omo in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 7.27% of the SNNPR's output and 3.7% of Ethiopia's total output.
The Semien Omo Zone was established in 1987 by the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
, who created the administrative unit from parts of Gamu-Gofa
Gamu-Gofa
Gamu-Gofa was a province in the southern part of Ethiopia, named after two of the ethnic groups living within its boundaries, the Gamo and the Goffa. First incorporated into Ethiopia by Emperor Menelik II in the 1880s , its capital was first at Chencha, then around 1965 the capital was moved to...
, Sidamo
Sidamo Province
Sidamo was a province in the southern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Irgalem, and after 1978 at Awasa. It was named after an ethnic group native to Ethiopia, called the Sidamo, or more particularly, Sidama, who are located in the south-central part of that country...
and Kaffa
Kaffa Province, Ethiopia
Kaffa was a province on the southwestern side of Ethiopia; its capital city was Jimma. It was named after the former Kingdom of Kaffa.Kaffa was bordered on the west by Sudan, on the northwest by Illubabor, on the north by Walega, on the northeast by Shewa, on the east by Sidamo, and on the...
, based on the conclusion that the four ethnic groups—the Goffa, Gamo
Gamo people
Gamo is the name of the Ethiopian ethnic group who speak the Gamo language. The name "Gamo" means a lion, which refers to their legacy; along with the Goffa, they gave their names to the former Gamo-Gofa province of Ethiopia. The 2007 Ethiopian national census reported that 1,107,163 people ...
, Kullo and Welayta
Welayta people
Wolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
-- all spoke minor variants of the same language and shared other aspects of their cultures. The only changes the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
Transitional Government of Ethiopia
The Transitional government of Ethiopia was established immediately after the fall of the Dergue regime. It was led by Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Zenawi remains the prime minister of Ethiopia to this day....
made to it after assuming power, were to remove Konso special woreda
Konso special woreda
Konso is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Konso is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This woreda is named after the Konso...
from the Zone and add Basketo
Basketo
Basketo is one of the 79 woredas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Because Basketo is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. It is named after the Basketo...
. However friction between these groups, which was often blamed on the Welayta for "ethnic chauvinism" and despite the efforts of the ruling party to emphasize the need to co-ordinate, consolidate, and unify the smaller ethnic units to achieve the "efficient use of scarce government resources", eventually led to the division of the Zone in 2000 into three new Zones and two special woredas. Despite the central government conceding to this demand, Sarah Vaughan notes, "this may not be the end of the story": a formal request has been made by the Gofa to form their own Zone from the Gamo Gofa Zone, and the Oyda who live in that zone, in June 2002 petitioned for the creation of their own special woreda.
Demographics
Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 3,741,304, of whom 1,853,003 are men and 1,888,301 are women; 319,493 or 8.5% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 23,911.03 square kilometers, Semien Omo has an estimated population density of 156.47 people per square kilometer.In the 1994 Census Semien Omo had a population of 2,603,057, in 554,618 households, of whom 1,289,763 were men and 1,313,294 women; 176,339 or 6.77% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic groups reported in this Zone included the Welayta (44.17%), the Gamo (26.65%), the Kullo (10.15%), the Gofa (9.12%), 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...
(1.87%), the Konta (1.86%), 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...
(1.84%); all other ethnic groups made up 4.34% of the population. Welayta
Welayta language
Wolaytta is an Omotic language spoken in the Wolaita Zone and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. The number of speakers of this language is estimated at 2,000,000 ; it is the native language of the Welayta people...
is spoken as a first language by 44.27% of the inhabitants, 25.88% speak Gamo, 10.22% Kullo, 8.86% Gofa, 2.27% 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...
, 2.14% 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,...
, and 1.8% Konta; the remaining 4.56% spoke all other primary languages reported. 39.02% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 35.75% 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...
, 18.58% observed traditional religions, and 2.88% embraced Catholicism
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
.
According to a 24 May 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, 4% of the inhabitants of Semien Omo have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 36.4 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 0.4 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.89 for the SNNPR) the equivalent of 0.4 heads of livestock. 29.7% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 32%. 67% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 21% in secondary schools. 83% 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 28% 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 322.
Woredas
- Arba Minch ZuriaArba Minch ZuriaArba Minch Zuria is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Basketo (Now the Basketo special woreda.)
- Boloso SoreBoloso SoreBoloso Sore is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Boloso Sore is bordered on the south by Sodo Zuria, on the southwest by Kindo Koysha, on the west by the Dawro Zone, on the north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - BonkeBonkeBonke is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Bonke is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the west by the Weito River which separates it from Kemba, on the north by Dita Dermalo, and on the...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Boreda AbayaBoreda AbayaBoreda Abaya is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Boreda Abaya is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the southwest by Chencha, on the west by Kucha, on the north by Humbo, and on the east by Lake...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - ChenchaChencha (woreda)Chencha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Chencha is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the west by Dita Dermalo, on the north by Kucha, and on the east by Boreda Abaya...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Damot GaleDamot GaleDamot Gale is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Damot Gale is bordered on the south by Sodo Zuria, on the west by Boloso Sore, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, and on the east by Damot Weyde...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - Damot WeydeDamot WeydeDamot Weyde is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Damot Weyde is bordered on the south by Humbo, on the west by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Damot Gale, on the north by the...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - Dita DermaloDita DermaloDita Dermalo is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Dita Dermalo is bordered on the south by Bonke, on the southwest by Kemba, on the west by Zala Ubamale, on the north by Kucha, and on the east by Chencha. Towns...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Ela (Now the Konta special woreda.)
- Gofa ZuriaGofa ZuriaGofa Zuria is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Gofa Zuria is bordered on the south by Zala Ubamale, on the southwest by the Debub Omo Zone, on the west by the Basketo special woreda, on the northwest by...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - HumboHumboHumbo is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Humbo is bordered on the south by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the southwest by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - Isara TochaIsara TochaIsara 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...
(Now part of the Dawro Zone.) - KembaKemba (woreda)Kemba is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Kemba is bordered on the southwest by the Debub Omo Zone, on the west by Zala Ubamale, on the north by Dita Dermalo, on the east by Bonke, and on the southeast by the...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Kindo KoyshaKindo KoyshaKindo Koysha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Kindo Koysha is bordered on the south by Offa, on the west by the Dawro Zone, on the north by Boloso Sore, and on the east by Sodo Zuria...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - KuchaKucha (woreda)Kucha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Kucha is bordered on the south by Dita Dermalo, on the southwest by Zala Ubamale, on the west by Gofa Zuria, on the northwest by the Dawro Zone, on the north by the...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - Loma BosaLoma BosaLoma 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...
(Now part of the Dawro Zone.) - Mareka GenaMareka GenaMareka Gena is one of the 77 woredas 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...
(Now part of the Dawro Zone.) - MelokozaMelokozaMelokoza is one of the 77 woredas 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 Omo Zone, on the northwest by the Konta special woreda, on the north by...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.) - OffaOffa (woreda)Offa is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Offa is bordered on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by the Dawro Zone, on the northwest by Kindo Koysha, on the northeast by Sodo Zuria, and on the east by...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - Sodo ZuriaSodo ZuriaSodo Zuria is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Sodo Zuria is bordered on the southwest by Offa, on the west by Kindo Koysha, on the north by Boloso Sore, on the northeast by Damot Gale, and on the east by Damot...
(Now part of the Wolayita Zone.) - Zala UbamaleZala UbamaleZala Ubamale is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Zala Ubamale is bordered on the south and west by the Debub Omo Zone, on the northwest by Gofa Zuria, on the northeast by Kucha, on the east by Dita Dermalo and...
(Now part of the Gamo Gofa Zone.)