Sodo or officially Wolaita Sodo is a city in south Ethiopia. The City is a political and administrative center of the Wolaita Zone and South Ethiopia Regional State. It has a latitude and longitude of 6°54′N37°45′E with an elevation between 1,600 and 2,100 metres above sea level. It was part of the former Sodo woreda which included Sodo Zuria which completely surrounds it.
Wolaitta or Wolayttatto Doonaa is a North Omotic language of the Ometo group spoken in the Wolayita Zone and some other parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. It is the native language of the Welayta people. The estimates of the population vary greatly because it is not agreed where the boundaries of the language are.
The Welayta, Wolayta or Wolaitta are an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent estimate (2017), the people of Wolayta numbered 5.83 million in Welayta Zone. The language of the Wolayta people, similarly called Wolaytta, belongs to the Omotic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Despite their small population, Wolayta people have widely influenced national music, dance and cuisine in Ethiopia.
Wolayta, Wolayita or Wolaita may refer to:
Wolayita or Wolaita is an administrative zone in Ethiopia. Wolayita is bordered on the south by Gamo Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Dawro, on the northwest by Kembata Zone and Tembaro Special Woreda, on the north by Hadiya, on the northeast by the Oromia Region, on the east by the Bilate River which separates it from Sidama Region, and on the south east by the Lake Abaya which separates it from Oromia Region. The administrative centre of Wolayita is Sodo. Other major towns are Areka, Boditi, Tebela, Bale Hawassa, Gesuba, Gununo, Bedessa and Dimtu.
The Makhzumi dynasty also known as Sultanate of Shewa or Shewa Sultanate, was a Muslim kingdom in present-day Ethiopia. Its capital Walale was situated in northern Hararghe in Harla country. Its territory extended possibly to some areas west of the Awash River. The port of Zeila may have influenced the kingdom. The rise of the Makhzumi state at the same time resulted in the decline of the Kingdom of Axum. Several engravings dating back to the 13th century showing the presence of the kingdom are found in Chelenqo, Bale, Harla near Dire Dawa and Munesa near Lake Langano.
Wolaitta Dicha Sport Club is a professional football club based in Sodo, Ethiopia. They play in the Ethiopian Premier League, the top division of Ethiopian football.
Mount Damota or Mount Damot is the highest peak in Wolayita, South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia with altitude of nearly 2,750 meters (9,020 ft) above the sea level. Mt. Damota area is found in Wolaita Zone between Damot Gale, Boloso Sore, and Soddo Zuria districts. Mt. Damota is a source of many streams flowing to different districts in radial pattern namely: Hamessa, Waja (river), Bisare, Gazina and other rivers. Mount Damota is the source of many springs and small rivers that play a significant role in the enrichment of groundwater and surface water. In addition, the clean drinking water that is used in northern part of the Wolaita Sodo city comes from this mountain.
Kamuzu Kassa is an Ethiopian composer, songwriter and producer. Kamuzu started his career composing spiritual songs, but when he composed music for Kako Getachew in 2007 he joined the secular world of music and became a public figure. Following this, Kamuzu composed music for Ethiopian artists Hamelmal Abate, Surafel Abebe, Jalud Awol, and many others.
Marchuwa was a currency used by the Kingdom of Wolaita. Marchuwa was a bundle of thin metal strips one cubit long, used as trading currency. Marchuwa was equal to 18 Maria Theresa Thalers or 0.50 US dollars.
Kingdom of Wolaita, also known as Wolaita Kingdom, was a kingdom dominated by Wolayta people in today's southern Ethiopia from 1251 until conquest of Ethiopian Empire in 1896.
Kawo Tona Gaga was the last and most powerful king of the Kingdom of Wolaita. Tona Gaga was the 17th Kawo, or king, of the Tigre dynasty, the last independent dynasty of the Wolayta people.
Motolomi Sato or Kawo Motolomi Sato was the founder and one of the most famous kings of the Kingdom of Wolaita. He ruled part of present day Ethiopia in the 12th century under the Damot Kingdom under Wolayta malla dynasty. Kawo Motolomi was an expansionist king of Wolaita. The son of king Sato, he was of the indigenous and heroic Wolaitta-Malla family and his family can still be found in Wolaita. The governmental center of the Wolaita during the Motolami era was at the summit of a gorgeous mountain known as Damota, which ultimately became the name of the kingdom. The force of cavalry and infantry besieged Kawo Motolomi's palace, known as Xaazza Garuwaa.
Sodo Stadium or Wolaita Sodo Studium is an Ethiopian multi-use stadium located in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia. It is primarily utilized for sporting events and acts as Wolaita Dicha and Wolaita Sodo City F.C.'s home stadium. In addition to hosting sport competition the stadium also used for organizing different mass conferences and holydays like Gifaata. Wolaita Sodo Stadium can accommodate the maximum capacity for spectators watching a football match is 30,000.
Ogato Sana, also known as Kawo Sana Ogato in the Wolaitta language, was one of the most renowned kings of the Tigre dynasty along with the Kingdom of Wolaita. King Ogato had acquired all of the regions, not only by battle, but also through deception and the employment of spys among the Gamo, Gofa, Kucha, and Kambata tribes. During his reign, the pre-colonial Wolaita kingdom's agricultural modernization effort included expanding acreage, installing irrigation canals, and improving cattle breeds in order to implement modern dairy farming. King Ogato Sana was 10th rulers of the Wolaita kingdom under the Tigre dynasty. King Ogato had erected his palace at top of the Damot hills, driven the Hadiya people out of the present-day Humbo and Abaya in the north, and captured other provinces. To protect himself from intruders, he erected a fortification around his castle on Damot hill, as well as a defense trench surrounding Sore Mashedo.
Sana Tube, or Tube Sana in the Wolaitta language, was one of the kings of the Kingdom of Wolaita. He was from the Tigre dynasty. Kawo Sana was the 9th king from the Wolaita Tigre dynasty. During his reign, the pre-colonial Kingdom of Wolaita had fought with the nearby rival peoples and states of Hadiya, Arsi, Gujii, Sidama and Kembata, after he stabilized the kingdom and extended the frontiers to the present areas of Offa, Humbo, Boloso Sore and Damota. The king was highly concerned about the annexation of Wolaita territories by strangers and determined to fight against warriors. He annexed Kulo and Dawuro.
Wolaita Tussa Sports Club, also known as Wolaita Tussa, is a professional football club based in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. The club was founded in 1988 by known pop of catholic missioner Gino Benanti. After its formation the club was well known and popular in southern region. They were a member of the Ethiopian Football Federation and now participating in Ethiopia U-20 Premier league. But latter on after playing the first round Wolaita Zone Youth and Sport department declared that Wolaita Tussa would not continue the second round because of budget deficit.
Wolaita Dicha Volleyball Club or in short Wolaita Dicha VC is a volleyball team from Ethiopia, based in Sodo. It is the member of Ethiopian Volleyball Federation. The club was founded in 2009. Wolaita Dicha VC plays their home games in the Wolaita Sodo Stadium.
Wolaita Dicha U-20 F.C. or ወላይታ ዲቻ ከ20 ዓመት በታች እግር ኳስ ክሌብ is Ethiopian football club at an under-20 age level and is controlled by the Ethiopian Football Federation. Wolaita Dicha u-20 is a football club known for producing young players. Because of this the club makes a significant contribution to strengthen main Wolaita Dicha football team. During the 2021 tournament, the team was disbanded due to a lack of budgets. However, the club was reorganized the following year and won Ethiopian Under-20 Premier League title for the second time. The team typically contender in U-20 Premier League tournament in Ethiopia.
Bunge Burunje, is an Ethiopian musician. Bunge's music mainly relates with Wolayta history and cultures. Bunge is famous for his song which tried to mention many issues relating to politics and wise administration system of Firew Altaye wishing the coming generation share his wisdom, courage and pride for his people. His song Baalay Sonnooriya disclose the cultural festivity of Gifaataa, the Wolaita New Year celebration, its fortune and the likes. Another song entitled Maataa Daannay Kawo Xona literally means the last authority was Kawo Tona, is also popular in Southern regions of Ethiopia.