Gidole is a town in southern Ethiopia, and is the administrative center of the Dirashe special woreda. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, it sits at a latitude and longitude of 05°39′N37°22′E / 5.650°N 37.367°E Coordinates: 05°39′N37°22′E / 5.650°N 37.367°E with an elevation ranging from 2045 to 2650 meters above sea level. The town Gidole is named after the Kitoola people with a little bit modification, an ethnic group inhabiting southern Ethiopia.
‘Kitoola’ ethnic is a large group living in and around Gardulla [1] Mountain as well as on the eastern flank of Ganjuli basin. This Kitoola ethnic comprises five large societies (viz; Dhirashaa, Mosiye, Kusume, Mashole, Dhobase) [2] and few migrants having different backgrounds. The Kitoolian speaks Cushiatic language 'Kitoolia' with different dialects. [3] They use different musical instruments for their casual holiday celebrations. “Shonqaa”, “mayra”,”kulluutot”,”Filla” and “Lollat are among many.
According to Oscar Rudolph Neumann, who visited the town in 1902, Gidole was the seat of the queen of the Kitoola until the Ethiopians under Menelik II conquered them; the woman was still alive at the time of Neumann's visit. [4]
During the Italian occupation, the occupiers opened a post office in Gidole on either 11 or 17 November 1937; the sources are unclear about the exact date. [2]
In the 1950s, Gidole was the administrative center of one of the provinces, Gamo Gofa Teqlay Gizat, which was later incorporated to create Gamo-Gofa province. During the next decade, Islam won converts in the area and a mosque was built in the town. At the same time, Borana caravans supplied the market in Gidole with salt. [2]
Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Gidole has an estimated total population of 14,799 of whom 7,107 were men and 7,692 women. [5] The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 8,167 of whom 3,935 were men and 4,232 women.
Arba Minch is a city and separate woreda in the southern part of Ethiopia. "Arba Minch" means "40 Springs", originated from the presence of more than 40 springs. It is located in the Gamo 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. It is the largest town in Gamo Zone and the second town in SNNPR next to Hawassa, which is now the capital city of the newly formed Sidama Region. It is surrounded by Arba Minch Zuria woreda. This Town has plenty of natural gifts including the bridge of God, Crocodile ranch, crocodile market, different fruits and vegetables, different fishes farmed from Chamo and Abaya Lakes, more than 40 springs, different cereals, and crops, surprisingly having the two big Lakes in the country, lake Abaya and Chamo, respectively, next to Lake Tana, etc. This makes the town an attraction for domestic and international tourism.
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 6°15′N37°34′E and an elevation of 2732 meters above sea level.
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.
Amaro is Special Woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, 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 by Lake Abaya and in east and northeast by 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.
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.
Konta, previously called Ela, is a special woreda in the South West Region of Ethiopia. It is named after Konta people who speak the dialects called Kontatsuwa, Omotic languages. Because Konta is not part of any zone in the South West Region, it is considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This special woreda is bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates it from the Gamo Gofa Zone and Selamgto woreda, Debub Omo Zone, on the west by the Keffa Zone, on the north by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the east by the Dawro Zone; the Denchya River defines the southern part of the boundary with the Keficho Shekicho Zone. The administrative center is Ameya; other towns include Chida.
Loma Bosa was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Loma Bosa was 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 the east by the Wolayita Zone; the Omo River defined Loma Bose's boundary on the northeast, east and south. The major town in Loma Bosa was Loma Bale. Loma Bosa was divided for Loma and Gena Bos woredas.
Basketo is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia, named after its inhabitants, the Basketo people. Because Basketo is not part of any administrative Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda—an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area.
Offa is one of the 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 Kindo Didaye, on the north by Kindo Koysha, on the northeast by Sodo Zuria, and on the east by Humbo. The administrative center of Offa is Gesuba. Western part of Offa was added to Kindo Didaye woreda.
Chencha is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Zone, Chencha is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the west by Dita,&Gofa on the north by Kucha and Boreda, and on the east by Mirab Abaya. Towns in Chencha include Chencha, Dorze, Dokko and Ezo.
Zala Ubamale was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Zala Ubamale was 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 on the southeast by Kemba. Towns in Zala Ubamale included Beto and Meleante. Zala Ubamale was divided for Uba Debretsehay and Zala woredas.
Kemba is one of the 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 Uba Debretsehay, on the northwest by Zala, on the northeast by Deramalo, on the east by Bonke, and on the southeast by the Dirashe special woreda; the Weito River defines the boundary with Bonke and Dirashe. The major town in this woreda is Kemba.
Bonke is one of the 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 northwest by Deramalo, on the north by Dita, and on the east by Arba Minch Zuria. The major town in Bonke is Gerese.
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.
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.
Melokoza is one of the 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 (South) Omo Zone, on the northwest by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Dawro Zone, and on the east by Demba Gofa and Geze Gofa; the Omo River defines its northwestern boundary separating the woreda from Konta and the Dawro Zone. The major town in Melokoza is Leha.
Wacca is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Dawro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 7°04′N37°10′E with an elevation of 2220 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Mareka woreda.
Gaamo Zone is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Gaamo is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the southwest by Debub (South) Omo and the Basketo special woreda, on the northwest by Konta special woreda, on the north by Dawro and Wolayita, on the northeast by the Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by the Amaro special woreda. The administrative center of Gaamo is Arba Minch.
Dawro is a zone in the South West Region of Ethiopia. It is located at about 500km southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and 319 km of Hawassa, the capital of the SNNPR. Dawuro is bordered on the south by Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Gojeb River which defines its boundary with the Oromia Region,Jimma zone, on the northeast by Hadiya and Kembata Tembaro Zones, and on the east by Wolayita Zone; the Omo River defines its eastern and southern boundaries. The administrative center of Dawuro was Waka before it was transferred to Tarcha.
በጎፋ ዞን የገዜ ጎፋ ወረዳ አስተዳደር gofa zone geze gofa woreda administration website