Sodo (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Sodo is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Gurage Zone
, Sodo is bordered on the south by Meskanena Mareko
, and on the west, north and east by the Oromia Region
. The administrative center of Sodo is Bue; other towns include Kela.
Landmarks in this woreda include Medrekebd Abo monastery, which is located 22 kilometers from Bue. This 15th century monastery is a burial place of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church martyr, Abuna Gabra Manfas Qeddus
. Although the relics of the monastery were taken to an island in Lake Ziway where they escaped the destruction of Imam Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century, the monastery itself was looted by the Italians during their occupation
. Another local landmark are the Geyet Gereno Stelae, a complex of about 100 stones located 14 kilometers from Bue with similarities to the stelae field in Tiya
, which is also located in this woreda.
In the early 1990s, during the period of the Transitional Government
, under the influence of the Sodd Jida Democratic Action Group a group of kebele
s in Sodo chose through referendum to unite with the Oromia Region. This led to an angry population in Sodo to create its own opposition organization.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 155,055, of whom 77,428 were males and 77,627 were females; 11,332 or 7.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 830.63 square kilometers, Sodo has an estimated population density of 186.7 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 108,280 of whom 54,308 were males and 53,972 were females; 6,253 or 5.77% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Sodo were the Sodo Gurage (85.25%), the Oromo
(11.58%), and the Amhara
(1.47%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.7% of the population. Soddo Gurage is spoken as a first language by 91.06%, 5.17% speak Oromiffo
, and 2.54% speak Amharic
; the remaining 1.23% spoke all other primary languages reported. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity was practiced by 96.74% of the population, and 2.28% said they were Muslim
. Concerning education
, 21.48% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 5.66% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 0.49% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.62% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 82.24% of the urban houses and 12.45% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 25.15% of the urban and 3.15% of all houses 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 Gurage Zone
Gurage Zone
Gurage is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named for the Gurage people, whose homeland lies in this zone. Gurage is bordered on the south by Hadiya on the west north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Silte. Its highest...
, Sodo is bordered on the south by Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Meskanena Mareko is bordered on the south by Silte, on the southwest by Gumer, on the west by Ezhana Wolene, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer, on the...
, and on the west, north and east by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. The administrative center of Sodo is Bue; other towns include Kela.
Landmarks in this woreda include Medrekebd Abo monastery, which is located 22 kilometers from Bue. This 15th century monastery is a burial place of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church martyr, Abuna Gabra Manfas Qeddus
Gabra Manfas Qeddus
Gabra Manfas Qeddus was an Ethiopian Christian saint, and the founder of the monastery of Zuqualla. The fifth day of every month in the Ethiopian calendar is dedicated to this saint....
. Although the relics of the monastery were taken to an island in Lake Ziway where they escaped the destruction of Imam Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century, the monastery itself was looted by the Italians during their occupation
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
. Another local landmark are the Geyet Gereno Stelae, a complex of about 100 stones located 14 kilometers from Bue with similarities to the stelae field in Tiya
Tiya
Tiya is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa, the town has a latitude and longitude of ....
, which is also located in this woreda.
In the early 1990s, during the period of the Transitional Government
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....
, under the influence of the Sodd Jida Democratic Action Group a group of kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s in Sodo chose through referendum to unite with the Oromia Region. This led to an angry population in Sodo to create its own opposition organization.
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 155,055, of whom 77,428 were males and 77,627 were females; 11,332 or 7.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 830.63 square kilometers, Sodo has an estimated population density of 186.7 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 108,280 of whom 54,308 were males and 53,972 were females; 6,253 or 5.77% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Sodo were the Sodo Gurage (85.25%), 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...
(11.58%), 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...
(1.47%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.7% of the population. Soddo Gurage is spoken as a first language by 91.06%, 5.17% speak Oromiffo
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...
, and 2.54% 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 1.23% spoke all other primary languages reported. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity was practiced by 96.74% of the population, and 2.28% said they 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...
. 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...
, 21.48% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 5.66% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 0.49% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.62% 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...
, 82.24% of the urban houses and 12.45% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 25.15% of the urban and 3.15% of all houses had toilet facilities.