Teltele (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Teltele is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. It is named after the administrative center, Teltele. Located in the southwest corner of the Borena Zone
, Teltele is bordered on the southwest by Kenya
, on the west and north by the Sagan River
, the only river in this woreda, which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the northeast by Yabelo
, and on the southeast by Dire
.
, 20% shrub and brush, and the remaining 2% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Lake Chew Bahir
is a notable local landmark. Sorghum
, corn
, teff
, haricot beans, chickpea
s, wheat
and barley
are important crops.
Industry in the woreda includes 8 grain mills. There were 14 Farmers Associations and 2 Farmers Service Cooperatives; most of the farmers as pastoralists. Teltele has 65 kilometers of dry-weather road, for an average road density of 6.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers; at the time the Oromia Regional government wrote its report, an additional 100 kilometers of gravel road was under construction to link the towns of Teltele and Yabelo
. About 26.6% of the rural and 13.9% of the urban population has access to drinking water
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 49,638, of whom 24,156 are men and 25,482 are women; 5,956 or 12.00% of its population are urban dwellers, which is roughly equal to the Zone average of 11.6%. With an estimated area of 10,627.82 square kilometers, Teltele has an estimated population density of 4.7 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.1. Although the Borena Oromo are the predominant ethnic group in this woreda, members of the Konso
, Arbore
and Hamer peoples also reside there.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 35,128, of whom 18,084 were men and 17,044 women; 3,328 or 9.47% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Teltele were the Oromo
(67.14%), the Konso (28.98%), the Amhara
(1.4%), and the Burji (1.13%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.35% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 74.94%, 24.07% spoke Konso
, and 0.47% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 4.39% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced traditional beliefs, with 67.36% of the population reported having beliefs that fell under that classification, while 8.21% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 6.81% were Muslim
, and 2.23% were Protestant
.
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 Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
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...
. It is named after the administrative center, Teltele. Located in the southwest corner of the Borena Zone
Borena Zone
Borena is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Borena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by Guji and on the east by the Somali Region. The...
, Teltele is bordered on the southwest by Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, on the west and north by the Sagan River
Sagan River
The Sagan River is a seasonal river in southern Ethiopia. Rising in the mountains east of Lake Chamo to flow south then west to join the Weito River at , this river defines part of the boundary between the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region and the Oromia Region.Tributaries of the...
, the only river in this woreda, which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the northeast by Yabelo
Yabelo (woreda)
Yabelo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, named after its administrative center, Yabelo. Part of the Borena Zone, Yabelo is bordered on the south by Dire, on the west by Teltele, on the north by Hagere Mariam, and on the east by Arero....
, and on the southeast by Dire
Dire (woreda)
Dire is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the southern part of the Borena Zone, Dire is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by Teltele, on the north by Yabelo, on the northeast by Arero, and on the east by Moyale...
.
Overview
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 710 to 1460 meters above sea level; the landscape consists mainly of lowlands and isolated hills. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 25% is arable (2.5% was under cultivation), 48% pasture, 5% forestForestry in Ethiopia
In the late nineteenth century, about 30% of Ethiopia was covered with forest. The clearing of land for agricultural use and the cutting of trees for fuel gradually changed the scene, and today forest areas have dwindled to less than 4% of Ethiopia's total land. The northern parts of the highlands...
, 20% shrub and brush, and the remaining 2% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable. Lake Chew Bahir
Lake Chew Bahir
Lake Chew Bahir or Lake Istifanos, also called Stefanie, Basso Naebor and Chuwaha, is a lake in Southern Ethiopia on the boundary between the Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regions. When the lake is filled, it stretches into northern Kenya...
is a notable local landmark. Sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, 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....
, haricot beans, chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s, 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...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
are important crops.
Industry in the woreda includes 8 grain mills. There were 14 Farmers Associations and 2 Farmers Service Cooperatives; most of the farmers as pastoralists. Teltele has 65 kilometers of dry-weather road, for an average road density of 6.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers; at the time the Oromia Regional government wrote its report, an additional 100 kilometers of gravel road was under construction to link the towns of Teltele and Yabelo
Yabelo
Yabelo is a town in southern Ethiopia. An alternative name for this town is Obda, which is also the name of a nearby mountain. Located northwest of Moyale in the Guji Zone of the Oromia Region , this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1857 meters above sea level...
. About 26.6% of the rural and 13.9% of the urban population has access to drinking water
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...
.
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 49,638, of whom 24,156 are men and 25,482 are women; 5,956 or 12.00% of its population are urban dwellers, which is roughly equal to the Zone average of 11.6%. With an estimated area of 10,627.82 square kilometers, Teltele has an estimated population density of 4.7 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.1. Although the Borena Oromo are the predominant ethnic group in this woreda, members of the Konso
Konso people
The Konso or Konzo people are an ethnic group in south-central Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, they numbered 250,430 of whom 10,470 or 4.18% are urban dwellers. Over 87% live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region....
, Arbore
Arbore people
The Arbore are an ethnic group living southern Ethiopia, near Lake Chew Bahir.The Arbore speak a Cushitic languages....
and Hamer peoples also reside there.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 35,128, of whom 18,084 were men and 17,044 women; 3,328 or 9.47% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Teltele were 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...
(67.14%), the Konso (28.98%), 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...
(1.4%), and the Burji (1.13%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.35% of the population. Oromiffa
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...
was spoken as a first language by 74.94%, 24.07% spoke Konso
Konso language
The Konso language is an East Cushitic language spoken in southwest Ethiopia. Native speakers of Konso number about 200,000...
, and 0.47% spoke 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 4.39% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced traditional beliefs, with 67.36% of the population reported having beliefs that fell under that classification, while 8.21% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 6.81% 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...
, and 2.23% were Protestant
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...
.