Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 89,391, of whom 44,589 are men and 44,802 women; 4,660 or 5.21% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 76.48% of the population reporting that belief, 11.18% were Catholic, 9.91% were Muslim, and 1.7% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [3]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 140,880 of whom 70,783 were men and 93,194 were women; 16,723 or 11.87% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Kedida Gamela were the Kambaata (97.32%), the Hadiya (0.74%) and the Amhara (0.71%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.23% of the population. Kambaata is spoken as a first language by 96.98%, 1.43% speak Amharic, and 0.54% speak Hadiya; the remaining 1.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 57.24% of the population reporting that belief, while 24.9% were Muslim, 8.8% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 8.03% were Catholic. [4]
Hadiya is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya Kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division. Hadiya is bordered on the south by Kembata, on the southwest by the Dawro Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Oromia Region and the Yem Special Woreda, on the north by Gurage, on the northeast by Silte, and on the east by the Alaba Zone; the woredas of Mirab Badawacho and Misraq Badawacho form an exclave separated from the rest of the zone by Kembata. The administrative center of Hadiya is Hosaena.
Kembata is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It was formerly known as Kembata, Alaba and Tembaro, until Alaba and Tembaro became a special woreda in 2002 and 2023 respectively. This zone is named after the Kambaata people which gained zonal posture following the establishment of Central Ethiopian region in 2023.
Damot Gale is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Damot Gale is bordered on the southwest by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Boloso Sore and Damot Pulasa, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Diguna Fango, and on the southeast by Damot Weyde. The administrative center of Damot Gale is Boditi. Damot Pulasa woreda was separated from Damot Gale.
Cheha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Cheha. Part of the Gurage Zone, Cheha is bordered on the south by Enemorina Eaner, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north by the Wabe River which separates it from Abeshge and Kebena, on the east by Ezha, and on the southeast by Gumer and Geta. The administrative center for Cheha is Endibir; other towns include Gubre.
Leemo is one of the woredas in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. The relationship of the name of this woreda to that of the medieval kingdom in the Gibe region is unclear. A part of the Hadiya Zone, Limo is bordered on the south by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the southwest by Duna and Soro, on the west by Gomibora, on the northwest by Misha, on the northeast by Ana Lemo, and on the southeast by Shashogo. Towns in Lemo include Belesa and Lisana. The town of Hosaena is surrounded by Limo. Parts of Limo woreda were separated to create Ana Lemo, Hosaena, Mirab Azernet Berbere and Misraq Azernet Berbere woredas.
Badawacho was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. A triangle-shaped exclave of the Hadiya Zone, Badawacho was bordered on the south by the Wolayita Zone, on the west and north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on the east by the Oromia Region and Sidama Zone. Badawacho has got three small lakes: Budamada - deepest of all three, Tiello and Matchafara - home for hippopotamus and variety of birds. The Bilate River which separates the three lakes is also home for crocodiles and hippopotamus. The major town in Badawacho was Shone. Badawacho was separated for Mirab Badawacho and Misraq Badawacho woredas.
Soro is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Hadiya Zone, Soro consists large population of Hadiya and Danta dubamo people, bordered on the south by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the southwest by the Dawro Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the north by Gomibora, on the northeast by Limo, and on the southeast by Duna. The administrative center of this woreda is Gimbichu; other towns in Soro include Jajura. Parts of Soro were separated to create Duna and Gomibora woredas.
Omo Sheleko was one of 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Alaba and Tembaro Zone, Omo Sheleko was bordered on the south by the Semien Omo Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from another part of the Semien Omo Zone, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, and on the east by Kacha Bira. Towns in Omo Sheleko included Mudula and Tunto. Omo Sheleko was divided for Hadero Tunto and Tembaro woredas.
Angacha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Angacha is bordered on the south by Kacha Bira, on the west by Doyogena, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Damboya, and on the southeast by Kedida Gamela. Towns in Angacha include Angacha, the administration center and Funemura, a fast growing town in the northern part of Angacha woreda. Western part of Angacha woreda was separated to create Doyogena woreda including Amecho Wato town.
Halaba is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State. It is named after the Halaba people, and covers part of their homeland. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Halaba zone is bordered on the south by an exclave of Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west and north by Hadiya Zone, on the north east by Lake Shala, and on the east by Oromia Region; the Bilate River, which is its major body of water, defines its western boundary. The administrative center is halaba Kulito.
Kacha Bira is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Kacha Bira is bordered on the south by an exclave of the Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Wolayita Zone, on the west by Hadero Tunto, on the northwest by the Hadiya Zone, on the north by Doyogena and Angacha, and on the east by Kedida Gamela. Towns in Kacha Bira include Shinshicho and Hadero.
Seraro is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the West Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Seraro is bordered on the south and west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, on the north by Shala, and on the east by Naannawa Shashamane; its western boundary is defined by the course of the Bilate River. The administrative center of this woreda is Loke.
Fentale is one of the districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the East Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Fentale is bordered on the southeast by the Arsi Zone, on the southwest by Boset, on the northwest by the Amhara Region, and on the northeast by the Afar Region. The administrative center of Fentale is Metehara; other towns include Haroo Adii.
Arsi Negele is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is named after its administrative center, Arsi Negele. Part of the West Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Arsi Negele is bordered on the south by Naannawa Shashamane and Kofale, on the southwest by Lake Shala which separates it from Shala, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by East Shewa with which it shares the shores of Lakes Abijatta and Langano, and on the east by the Heban Arsi, Qore woreda and small portion by Arsi Zone.
Naannawa Shashamane is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is named after the town of Shashamene what was separated from this woreda. Part of the West Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shashamene is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Shala, on the north by Arsi Negele, on the east by the Kore, and on the southeast by Kofele. The largest town in Shashamene is Kuyera.
Merti is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Merti is bordered on the south by Sude, on the west by Jeju, on the northwest by the East Shewa Zone, on the north by the Afar Region, on the east by Aseko, and on the southeast by Chole. The administrative center of this woreda is Abomsa; other towns in Merti include Reye. Guna woreda was separated from Merti.
Dodota is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone it is located in the Great Rift Valley. It is part of the former Dodotana Sire woreda, which was divided for Dodota and Sire woredas. Dodotana Sire is bordered on the south by Tena, on the southwest by Hitosa, on the north by the Misraq Shewa Zone, on the east by Jeju, and on the southeast by Sude. The administrative center for the woreda is Dera; other towns include Awash Melkasa.
Gedeb Hassasa is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the West Arsi Zone, Gedeb Hassasa is bordered on the south by the Dodola, on the west by Kofele, on the north west by Kore, and on the north and east by Bekoji. The administrative center of the woreda is Hassasa.
Durame is a town in southeastern Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Kembata Tembaro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), this town has a latitude and longitude of 7°14′N37°53′E with an elevation of 2101 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by Damboya woreda. Materials on the Nordic Africa Institute website, describe Durame as the main town for the Kambaata-speaking people.
Damboya is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Damboya is bordered on the south by Kedida Gamela, on the west by Angacha, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, and on the east by the Bilate River which separates it from Alaba. Towns in Damboya include Damboya. The town of Durame is surrounded by Damboya woreda. Damboya was separated from Kedida Gamela woreda.
