Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 125,532, of whom 63,723 were men and 61,809 were women; 8,405 or 6.70% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 875.78 square kilometers, Mareka Gena has an estimated population density of 143.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5. [1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 87,786 of whom 43,234 were males and 44,552 were females; 4,639 or 5.28% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Mareka Gena were the Kullo (96.57%), and the Amhara (1.12%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.31% of the population. Kullo was spoken as a first language by 97.42% of the inhabitants; the remaining 2.58% spoke all other primary languages reported. [2] Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 41.85% of the population said they observed traditional religions, 37.95% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 19.44% were Protestants. [2]
P'ent'ay is an Amharic and Tigrinya language term for a Christian of a Protestant denomination, widely used in Ethiopia and among Ethiopians and Eritreans living abroad. The term was coined in the late 1960s and was used as a pejorative for churches that believed in the Pentecostal experience. Today, it is used to describe local Protestant Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo churches. The term P'ent'ay is a shortening of the word "Pentecostal"; however, it is widely used when referring to all Protestant Christians whether they are actual Pentecostals or not. Some Orthodox will also apply the term to the small Catholic population of Ethiopia. The equivalent rendition in many other languages is Evangelicals. The four major Evangelical denominations in Ethiopia are: the Kale Heywet ; Mekane Yesus, Lutheran; Mulu Wongel and Meserete Kristos or Mennonite. Some P'ent'ay communities - especially Mekane Yesus - have been influenced by the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which represents mainstream, traditional Ethiopian Christianity. But for the most part they are very Pentecostal in their worship and theology.
Semien Omo (English: North Omo) was a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR). 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.
Damot Gale is one of the woredas (districts) in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of 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.
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.
Telo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda has its origins in the province Chetta of the former Kingdom of Kaffa. Part of the Keffa Zone, Telo is bordered on the south by Cheta, on the west by Decha, on the north by Menjiwo, and on the east by the Konta special woreda. Towns in Telo include Felege Selam. Cheta woreda was separated from Telo.
Omo Sheleko was one of the 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.
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.
Isara Tocha was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Isara Tocha was bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates this woreda from the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by the Konta special woreda, on the north by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the east by Mareka Gena, and on the southeast by Loma Bosa. Towns in Isara Tocha included Bale and Tocha. Isara Tocha was separated to Isara and Tocha woredas.
Boreda Abaya was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Boreda Abaya was bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the southwest by Chencha, on the west by Kucha, on the north by Humbo, and on the east by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region. Aruro Island, the largest island in Lake Abaya, was administratively part of this woreda. Towns in Boreda Abaya included Birbir and Zefene. Boreda Abaya was separated for Boreda and Mirab Abaya woredas.
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.
Limmu Kosa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named in part after the former kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea, whose territories included the area this woreda now covers. Part of the Jimma Zone, Limmu Kosa is bordered on the south by Kersa, on the southwest by Mana, on the west by Gomma, on the northwest by the Didessa River which separates it from the Illubabor Zone, on the north by Limmu Sakka, on the northeast by the Gibe River which separates it from the Mirab Shewa Zone and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the east by Sokoru, and on the southeast by Tiro Afeta. The administrative center of this woreda is Genet; other towns include Ambuye and Babu. Chora Botor woreda was separated from Limmu Kosa.
Kersa is one of the woredas in the Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is bordered on the south by Dedo, on the southwest by Seka Chekorsa, on the west by Mana, on the north by Limmu Kosa, on the northeast by Tiro Afeta, and on the southeast by Omo Nada. Towns and cities in Kersa include Jimma, the zone's capital, and Serbo.
Omo Nada is one of the woredas in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Part of the Jimma Zone, Omo Nada is bordered on the south by the Gojeb River, which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by Dedo, on the northwest by Kersa, on the north by Tiro Afeta, on the northeast by Sokoru, and on the east by the Omo River which separates it from the SNNPR. Nada is the administrative center of the district; other towns in Omo Nada include Asendabo.
Dedo is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Jimma Zone, Dedo is bordered on the south by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Gera, on the north by Kersa, and on the east by Omo Nada. The major town in Dedo is Sheki.
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′N 37°10′E with an elevation of 2220 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Mareka woreda.
Dawuro is a zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR). It is located at about 500km southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and 275 km of Hawassa, the capital of the SNNPR. Dawruo 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, 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.
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.
Mareka is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Mareka is bordered on the southwest by Isara, on the west by Tocha, on the northeast by Gena Bosa, and on the southeast by Loma. Towns in Mareka include Wacca. Mareka was part of former Mareka Gena woreda.
Gena Bosa is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Gena Bosa is bordered on the south by Loma, on the west by Mareka, on the north by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the northeast by the Hadiya Zone and Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on the east by the Wolayita Zone. The eastern and northeastern border of Gena Bosa is marked by the Omo River. Towns in Gena Bosa include Weldehane. Gena Bosa was formed of parts of former Loma Bosa and Mareka Gena woredas.
Loma is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Loma is bordered on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by Isara, on the northwest by Mareka, on the north by Gena Bosa, and on the east by the Wolayita Zone. The eastern and southern border of Loma is marked by the Omo River. Towns in Loma include Loma Bale. Loma was part of former Loma Bosa woreda. Loma actually means "goat wiener" in Latin.
