Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 120,398, of whom 59,877 are men and 60,521 women; 3,277 or 2.72% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 56.22% of the population reporting that belief, 32.87% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 6% practiced traditional beliefs. [4]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 74,992 of whom 37,349 were males and 37,573 were females; 1,351 or 1.8% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Melokoza were the Goffa (49.75%), the Melo (24.74%), the Basketo (21.9%), the Amhara (1.99%), and the Dime (0.75%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.87% of the population. Goffa is spoken as a first language by 40.49%, 30.94% Basketo, 26.33% Melo, and 0.85% speak Amharic; the remaining 1.39% spoke all other primary languages reported. [5] However, Ralph Siebert's local research in 1995 led him to believe that this woreda was predominantly inhabited by the Goffa people, although in the same report he notes that "Laha is one of the main places in the Melo area, and the variety [of language] spoken there is similar to Gofa". [6] Concerning religious beliefs, the 1994 census reported that 37.47% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 29.04% were Protestants, and 28.03% observed traditional religions. [5]
The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region was a regional state in southwestern Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch, called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its government was based in Hawassa.
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.
Konta, previously called Ela, is a zone in the Southwest Region of Ethiopia. It is named after Konta people who speak the dialects called Kontatsuwa, Omotic languages. Before joining to Southwest Ethiopia Regional states, Konta was special woreda. This zone is bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates it from the Gamo Zone, Gofa Zone, and Selamgo woreda, Debub Omo Zone, on the west by the Keffa Zone, on the north by Oromia Region,Dedo and Mancho woreda, 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 SWE Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Loma Bosa was bordered on the south by the Dissa Wereda, on the west by Mareka, on the northwest by Mareka Gena, on the north by the Zaba Gazo, 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 Gessa town.
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.
Basketo Zone is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia, named after its inhabitants, the Basketo people. It was formerly a part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR)'s, and included in to South Ethiopia Regional State in 2023 after a referendum.
Gofa Zuria is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It was previously one of the 17 Zones in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Within the SNNPR, Gofa Zone was bordered to the south by Kamba and Daramalo woredas, to the southwest by the Debub (South) Omo Zone, to the west by the Basketo special woreda, to the northwest by Dawro Zone, to the north by the Dawro Zone, and to the east by Kucha. The administrative center of Gofa Zone is Sawla; other towns included Bulki. Gofa Zone is administratively subdivided into the aforementioned towns of Bulki and Sawla and the seven woredas of Demba Gofa, Gada, Geze Gofa, Melokoza, Oyda, Uba Debretsehay, and Zala.
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.
Selamago is a woreda in the South Ethiopia Regional State. Part of the South 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 South Ethiopia Regional State. 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.
Wacca is a town in south west 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.
Gamo Zone is a Zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. Gamo 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 Gamo is Arba Minch.
Dawuro is a zone in the Southwest Region of Ethiopia. The name "Dawuro" represents both the land and the people. It is located at about 500km southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, about 111 km west of Wolaita Sodo, the capital of South Ethiopia Regional State and 319 km of Hawassa the capital of the Sidama Region. Dawuro is bordered on the south by Gofa Zone, on the west by the Konta Zone, on the north by the Gojeb River which defines its boundary with the Oromia Region, Jimma zone, on the northeast by Hadiya and Tembaro Special Woreda in Central Ethiopia Regional State, and on the east by Wolayita Zone; the Omo River defines its eastern and southern boundaries.
Gelila is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is also called Northern Aari as it is part of the homeland of Aari people. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Gelila is bordered on the south by Bako Gazer, on the north by the Basketo special woreda, and on the east by the Gamo Gofa Zone. Gelila was separated from Bako Gazer woreda.
Maale is one of the woredas in the South Ethiopia Regional State. It is named after the Maale people who are living at this woreda. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Male is bordered on the south by Bena Tsemay, on the west by Bako Gazer, on the north by the Basketo special woreda and Gelila, on the north and east by the Gamo Gofa Zone, and the southeast by Dirashe special woreda. The male was separated from Bako Gazer woreda.
Demba Gofa is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Demba Gofa is bordered on the south by Uba Debretsehay and Oyda, on the west by Geze Gofa, on the northwest by Melokoza, on the north by the Dawro Zone, on the east by Kucha, and on the southeast by Zala. Sawla is surrounded by Demba Gofa. Demba Gofa was part of former Gofa Zuria woreda.
Geze Gofa is a woreda in the zone of Gofa Zuria in South Ethiopia Regional State in Ethiopia. Geze Gofa is bordered on the south by Oyda, on the west by Basketo Zone, on the northwest by Melokoza, and on the east by Demba Gofa. Towns in Geze Gofa include Bulki.
Isara is one of the woredas in the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Dawro Zone, Isara is bordered on the south by the Omo River which separates this woreda from the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by the Konta zone, on the north by the Tocha, on the northeast by Mareka, and on the east by Loma Bosa. Towns in Isara include Bale. Isara was part of former Isara Tocha woreda.
Gena is one of the woredas in the South West Ethiopia 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 South West Ethiopia 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.
