Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 158,449, of whom 78,150 are men and 80,299 women; 11,629 or 7.34% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 43.62% of the population reporting that belief, 40.84% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.95% practiced traditional beliefs, 3.9% were Muslim, and 3.09% embraced Catholicism. [1]
In the 1994 national census Chena had a population of 153,646, of whom 75,745 were men and 77,901 women; 12,887 or 8.39% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Kafficho (75.76%), the Bench (16.19%), the Oromo (3.5%), and the Amhara (2.73%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.82% of the population. Kafa was spoken as a first language by 75.43% of the inhabitants, 18.36% spoke Bench, 3.6% spoke Amharic, and 3.09% spoke Oromiffa; the remaining 5.6% spoke all other primary languages reported. [2] Concerning education, 16.97% of the population were considered literate; 12.45% of children aged 7–12 were in primary school; 2.77% of the children aged 13–14 were in junior secondary school, and 2.13% of the inhabitants aged 15–18 were in senior secondary school. [3] Concerning sanitary conditions, about 69% of the urban and 12% of the total had toilet facilities. [4]
Amaro is one of woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. The people are called Koore and their language is Koorete. Amaro is one of the areas in which members of Koore nations widely live in. However, no fewer Koore's live in their neighboring areas of Gamo Gofa, Guji, Gedeo, and Burji. Prior to 2011, Amaro was not part of any Zone in the 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 Amaro woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Amaro is bordered on the south by Burji special woreda, on the southwest by Konso special woreda, on the west by Dirashe special woreda, on the northwest by Gamo Gofa and Lake Chamo, and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. It is divided into 35 kebeles. The administrative center of the woreda is Kelle. Jijola, Derba Menena, and Kereda are other growing municipals of the woreda.
Burji is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Prior to 2011, Burji was not part of any Zone in the 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 Burji woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. It is named for the Burji people, who have their homeland in this woreda. Burji is bordered on the east and south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the Konso special woreda, and on the north by the Amaro special woreda. The administrative center of Burji is Soyama.
Dirashe is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Prior to 2011, Dirashe was not part of any Zone in the 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 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.
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.
Decha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The name Decha comes from one of the provinces in the former Kingdom of Kaffa, which had the approximately same boundaries. Part of the Keffa Zone, Decha is bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone, on the west by the Bench Maji Zone, on the northwest by Chena, on the north by Ginbo, on the northeast by Menjiwo, on the west by Telo and Cheta, and on the southeast by the Denchya River which separates it from the Konta special woreda. The major town in Decha is Chiri.
Gesha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Keffa Zone, Gesha is bordered on the south by Bita, on the west by the Sheka Zone, on the north by the Oromia Region and Sayilem, and on the east by Gewata. Towns in Gesha include Deka. The northern part of Gesha was separated to create Sayilem woreda, eastern part was added to Gewata woreda and southern part to Bita woreda.
Ginbo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The name Ginbo comes from one of the provinces in the former Kingdom of Kaffa. That province, as well as the Kafficho provinces Bonga and Manjo, became districts with the Ethiopian conquest in 1896, and these districts were later merged to form the modern woreda.
Menjiwo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The name Menjiwo is derived from the province Manjo of the Kingdom of Kaffa; however, the province of Manjo lay within the boundaries of neighboring Ginbo, while Menjiwo occupies the lands of the Gallo province of the former kingdom. Part of the Keffa Zone, Menjiwo is bordered on the south by Telo, on the southwest by Decha, on the west by Ginbo, on the north by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the east by the Konta special woreda. The major town in Menjiwo is Adiya Kaka.
Dalocha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Silt'e Zone, Dalocha is bordered on the south by Sankurra, on the west by Wulbareg, on the north by Silte, and on the east by Lanfro. Towns in Dalocha include Dalocha. Western part of Dalocha was used to create Wulbareg woreda.
Lanfro is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Until it was included into the Silte Zone, Lanfro formed part of the Gurage Zone. Lanfro is bordered on the south by the Alaba special woreda, on the southwest by Sankurra, on the west by Dalocha, on the north by Silte, and on the east by the Oromia Region. The major town in Lanfro is Torra.
Arbegona is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Arbegona is bordered on the south by Bona Zuria, on the southwest by Bursa, on the northwest by Gorche, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Bensa. The major town in Arbegona is Arbegona.
Aroresa is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Located at the eastern tip of the Sidama Zone that extends into the Oromia Region like a peninsula, Aroresa is bordered on the south and southeast by that Region, on the northwest by Bensa, and on the north by Chere. The major town in Aroresa is Mejo. Chere woreda was separated from Aroresa.
Selamago is one of the woredas 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.
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.
Bench was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was named for the Bench people, whose homeland lies in the northern part of the woreda. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Bench was bordered on the south and east by Meinit, on the west by Sheko, and on the north by the Keficho Shekicho Zone. Towns in Bench included Aman and Mizan Teferi. Bench was divided into Debub Bench, Semien Bench, and She Bench woredas and Mizan Aman town; the southern part of Bench was added to Meinit Goldiya.
Sheko is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named for the Sheko people, whose homeland lies in this woreda. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Sheko is bordered on the south by Debub Bench, on the west by Guraferda, on the northwest by the Gambela Region, on the north by the Sheka Zone, and on the east by Semien Bench. Towns in Sheko include Sheko. The western part of this woreda was added to Dimma woreda and central part of it was used to create Guraferda woreda.
Meinit was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Meinit was bordered on the south by Dizi, on the west by Sheko, on the north by Bench, on the east by the Keficho Shekicho Zone, and on the southeast by the Omo River which separated it from the Debub Omo Zone. Towns in Meinit included Bachuma, Kela Ketema and Jemu. Meinit was separated for Meinit Goldiya and Meinit Shasha woredas.
Maji is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Maji is bordered on the south by the Kibish River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west by Surma, on the northwest by Bero, on the north by Meinit Shasha, and on the east by the Omo River which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone. Towns in Maji include Tum and Maji. The western part of Maji was separated to create Bero woreda and some southern kebeles were added to Nyangatom woreda.
Keffa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region.
Bita is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Keffa Zone, Bita is bordered on the west by the Sheka Zone, on the north by Gesha, on the northeast by Gewata, and on the west by Chena. The major town in Bita is Bita Genet. Bita was formed from parts of Chena and Gesha woredas.
