"Maro Maro Maro# Bane Nations Era Change Festival".
Maro, the founding event of the Maro Bane Nation's Era Change Festival, is rooted in the core values of solidarity, peace, tolerance, and similar principles. The festival takes place in the southern parts of the newly organized region of southern Ethiopia, specifically in the Benatsemay woreda of the Debub Omo zone. The Bane nation, with its own traditional administrative structure, follows a leadership hierarchy consisting of Bit/King, Koogoo/Next King, and Goodel/Next King Leading. The Maro ceremony is enforced by the traditional structure called Goodel, which is led by kings representing traditional administrative authority in one or more villages within a kebele. The Goodel administration plays a significant role in preserving and promoting the values associated with Maro. The Maro festival is initiated by summoning the elders of the country, who gather before the New Year's harvest season. In the presence of the elders, a symbolic act called "Koogoo" is performed, which involves taking out wood from a fire. This act signifies the beginning of the festival. The procedure starts by calling two elders from the village before the harvest season. The Koogoo then creates a fire through friction, known as "Loopan Nunoo." After igniting the fire, the Koogoo extinguishes it and gives three or more short appointments to the elders to tie a rope. Following this, the Goodel takes the Koogoo or the Friction/Sebeka, removes the fire, blesses it, and distributes it to all the people. The participants take the new fire to their homes, replacing the old fire with the new one. Once this ceremony is completed, marking the arrival of the sowing season, the Goodel field is covered with seeds, and the people begin sowing their own seeds. After the harvest, the people bring two bunches of red sorghum and two bunches of red sorghum stalks to Goodel's house. Goodel then takes out fire from the Koogoo wood, roasts and eats the corn and sorghum stalks brought by the people. This act is known as "Goodelsa Tshan Nunoo" or Goodel's fire of fire. Following this, the people dry the leftover straw they brought and prepare Borde or "Farsi." The produce from the Goodel field is gathered in advance, similar to preparing for farming. An appointment is made to gather at Goodel's house for the "Maro Gaadi" or Maro Dance/Dankira. All the people of Bane prepare the traditional drink Borde/Farsi and go to Goodel's house. They celebrate by drinking, eating, performing traditional dances, and expressing their happiness. Additionally, the blooming of the Gaalli plant in the land of Bane signifies the arrival of the Maro festival. Gaalli is a plant used in various cultural activities by the Bane people, such as ceremonies related to childbirth and marriage. The blooming of Gaalli indicates hope and prosperity for the Bane people, and it serves as a way to recognize the beginning of Maro festival. The Bane people have their own calendar, and the Maro festival takes place from December to January. The Bane calendar marks the beginning of the New Age in December, with the rising and setting of the moon serving as a reference point. The Bane month and date calendar is 15 days ahead of the Ethiopian calendar. Therefore, December 15th is chosen as the day to celebrate the Bane Maro's 'Bane Nation's Era Change (New Year) Festival.' I hope this information helps everyone to understand and add the missed core values, procedure, and activities associated with the Maro Bane Nation's Era Change (New Year) Festival.written by Daniel Soytar Shashego
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 52,968, of whom 26,778 are men and 26,190 women; 2,154 or 4.07% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants practiced traditional beliefs, with 74.5% of the population reporting that belief, 10.87% were Protestants, and 7.74% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.[1]
The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region was a regional state in southwestern Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch, called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its government was based in Hawassa.
South Omo Zone is a zone in the Ethiopian South Ethiopia Regional State. South Omo is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by the South Sudan, on the west by Bench Maji, on the northwest by Keffa, on the north by Konta, Gamo Gofa and Basketo, on the northeast by Dirashe and Konso, and on the east by the Oromia Region. The administrative center of South Omo is Jinka.
North Omo Zone was a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. 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.
Dirashe Zone is one of the zones in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Dirashe woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. It is named for the Dirashe people, whose homelands lie in the eastern part of this woreda. Dirashe got zonal status when the South Ethiopia Regional State formed in August 2023.
Konso is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. It was formerly a woreda. Prior to 2011, Konso was not part of any Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and was therefore considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Konso special woreda and the 3 former woredas surrounding it. This special woreda is named after the Konso people. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Konso is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the South Omo Zone, on the northwest by Alle special woreda, on the north by Dirashe special woreda, on the northeast by Amaro special woreda, and on the east by Burji special woreda. The Sagan River, which flows south then west to join the Weito, defines part of the woreda's boundary with Burji and the entire length of the boundary with the Oromia Region. The administrative center is Karati; other towns in Konso include Fasha and Sagen. After protesting by residents to become a zone for several years, Konso became a zone in November 2018.
Kuraz is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of Daasanach people. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Kuraz is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle, on the north by Nyangatom, and on the east by Hamer. The Omo River is flowing through Kuraz to Lake Turkana at the border of Kenya. The administrative center of this woreda is Omorate. Nyangatom woreda was separated from Kuraz.
Basketo Zone is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia, named after its inhabitants, the Basketo people. It was formerly a part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR)'s, and because Basketo was not part of any administrative Zone in the SNNPR, it was considered a special woreda—an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area.
Selamago is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Selamago is bordered on the south by Nyangatom, on the west and north by the Omo River which separates it from the Bench Maji, Keffa and Konta, on the northeast by the Gamo Gofa, on the east by the Basketo and Bako Gazer, and on the southeast by the Usno River which separates it from Bena Tsemay; the Mago River defines part of the boundary with Bako Gazer. The administrative center of Selamago is Hana.
Hamer is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. It is named after Hamer people who live in this woreda. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Hamer is bordered to the south by Dasenech woreda, to the southwest by Kuraz, to the west by Nyangatom, to the north by Bena Tsemay, and to the east by the Oromia Region; the Weito River separates it from the Oromia Region. Hamer includes part of Lake Chew Bahir along its southeastern border. The administrative center is Dimeka; other towns include Turmi. Hamer was part of former Hamer Bena woreda. They wore the nations namely Hamer(dominant), Kara, and Arbore nations live together with respecting each other with tolerance.
Bako Gazer is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is also called Southern Aari as it is part of the homeland of Aari people. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Bako Gazer is bordered on the south by Bena Tsemay, on the west by the Mago River which separates it from Selamago, on the north by the Basketo special woreda and Gelila, on the northeast by the Gamo Gofa Zone, and on the east by Male. The administrative center of this woreda is Jinka; other towns in Bako Gazer include Tolta and Wub Hamer. Gelila and Male woredas were separated from Bako Gazer.
Teltele is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia 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.
The Tsamai people are an ethnic group of southwestern Ethiopia. They speak a Cushitic language called Tsamai, which is one of the Dullay languages, and thus related to the Bussa and Gawwada languages.
The Weito River is a river in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It rises in the Guge Mountains, flowing south into Lake Chew Bahir at latitude and longitude 4°49′58″N36°58′54″E.
Hamer Bena was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Hamer Bena was bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by Kuraz, on the northwest by the Usno River which separates it from Selamago, on the north by Bako Gazer, on the northeast by the Konso special woreda, and on the east by the Oromia Region; the Weito River separated it from Konso and the Oromia Region and the Neri River defined part of the boundary with Bako Gazer. Hamer Bena included part of Lake Chew Bahir along its southeastern border. The administrative center was Dimeka; other towns in Hamer Bena included Arbore, Key Afer, and Turmi. Hamer Bena was separated for Hamer and Bena Tsemay woredas.
Maale is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the Maale people who are living at this woreda. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Male is bordered on the south by Bena Tsemay, on the west by Bako Gazer, on the north by the Basketo special woreda and Gelila, on the north and east by the Gamo Gofa Zone, and the southeast by Dirashe special woreda. The male was separated from Bako Gazer woreda.
Nyangatom is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named after Nyangatom people who live at this woreda. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Nyangatom is bordered on the south by Kuraz, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle, on the northwest by the Bench Maji Zone, on the north by Selamago, and on the east by Hamer. The Omo River is flowing along the northern and western border of Nyangatom. Nyangatom was separated from Kuraz woreda.
Uba Debretsehay is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Uba Debretsehay is bordered on the south and west by the Debub Omo Zone, on the north by Oyda and Demba Gofa, on the northeast by Zala, and on the east by Kemba. Towns in Uba Debretsehay include Beto. Uba Debretsehay was part of former Zala Ubamale woreda.
Meinit Shasha is one of the woredas in the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Meinit Shasha is bordered on the south by Maji, on the southwest by Bero, on the west by Guraferda, on the north by Debub Bench and Meinit Goldiya, on the east by the Keffa Zone, and on the southeast by the Omo River which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone. Towns in Meinit Shasha include Jemu. Meinit Shasha was part of former Meinit woreda.
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