Meskan is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the Meskan speaking Gurage people. Part of the Gurage Zone, Meskane is bordered on the south by the Silt'e Zone, on the west by Muhor Na Aklil, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebanoon the north by sodo wereda, on the northeast by Sodo and Oromia, and on the southeast by Mareko. Towns in Meskane include Inseno. The town of Butajira is the capital town of Meskane. Meskane was part of the former Meskanena Mareko woreda.
Near Butajira are the Tufta Swamps at 8°8′N38°24′E / 8.133°N 38.400°E , located in the Western highlands near the headwaters of the Meki River. [1] Mesqan Community, the subject of this study, is a member of the Gurages who are settled in south west of Ethiopia in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. With an estimated population of 1.9 million, the Gurages are settled in a specific geographic location currently known as the Gurage Zone, which is further divided into 13 lower administrative units comprising eleven woredas and two town administrations. The Mesqan Community is settled in Mesqan Woreda and Buttajira Town Administration . The combined current population of Mesqan Woreda and Buttajira Town is 225,931, of which the Mesqan ethnic group constitutes the majority. Compared to the Sebat Bet and Kestane Gurage ethnic groups, migration to other parts of Ethiopia is less common among the Mesqans. Less than five per cent of the total population is believed to have migrated to urban towns in Ethiopia. The relative abundance of fertile land and suitable agricultural climate could be cited as discouraging factors for migration in past.
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 155,782, of whom 76,396 are men and 79,386 women; 11,388 or 7.31% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were reported as Muslim, with 60.19% of the population reporting that belief, while 34.55% practice Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 4.7% were Protestants. [2]
| Gurage Zone | |
|---|---|
| Hadiya Zone | |
| Kembata Tembaro Zone | |
| Silt'e Zone | |
| Halaba Zone |
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| Special woredas | |
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.
Gurage is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. The region is home to the Gurage people. Gurage is bordered on the southeast by Hadiya and Yem Zone, on the northwest by Kebena Special Woreda, north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Silt'e. Its highest point is Mount Gurage. Welkite is the administrative centre of the Region; Butajira is the largest city in this zone and the former administrative centre.
Ezhana Wolene was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda was named after two of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Ezha and the Wolene-Worriro. Part of the Gurage Zone, Ezhana Wolene was bordered on the south by Gumer, on the west by Cheha, on the north by Goro, on the northeast by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer, and on the east by Meskanena Mareko. The major town in Ezhana Wolene was Agenda. It was divided for Ezha and Muhor Na Aklil woredas.
Gedebano Gutazer Welene is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Gedebano Gutazer Welene is bordered on the south by Muhor Na Aklil, on the west by Kebena, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Meskane. The administrative center of Gedebano Gutazer Welene is Mehal Amba.
Soddo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the Soddo Gurage people. It is Part of the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region. Soddo is bordered on the south by Meskane, and on the west, north and east by the Oromia Region. The administrative center of Soddo is Bue; other towns include Kela.
Meskanena Mareko was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Meskanena Mareko was bordered on the south by Silte, on the southwest by Gumer, on the west by Ezhana Wolene, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer, on the north by Sodo, and on the east by the Oromia Region. Towns in Meskanena Mareko included Butajira and Inseno. Meskanena Mareko was divided for Mareko and Meskane woredas and Butajira town.
Silti (ስልጢ) is one of the zones in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is named after a subgroup of the Silt'e people, whose homeland includes this zone. Formerly part of the Gurage Zone, after a referendum held between 18 and 26 April 2001, this woreda became part of the Silt'e Zone. This woreda is bordered on the south by Lanfro and Dalocha, on the southwest by Wulbareg, on the west by Alicho Werero, on the north by the Gurage Zone, and on the east by the Oromia Region. The administrative center of this woreda is Kibet; other towns in Silti include Alkaso, and Werabe. Southwestern part of this woreda was added to Wulbareg woreda.
Gumer 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 Gumer. Part of the Gurage Zone, Gumer is bordered on the southeast by the Silt'e Zone, on the southwest by Geta, on the northwest by Cheha, and on the north by Ezha. Towns in Gumer include Arek'it and B'ole. Geta and Alicho Werero woredas were separated from Gumer.
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.
Enemorina Eaner is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named in part after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Enemor, who are first mentioned in a list of groups paying tribute to Emperor Yeshaq I, and other sub-group, Eaner. Part of the Gurage Zone, Enemorina Eaner is bordered on the south by the Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by Yem special woreda, on the west by Oromia Region, on the north by Cheha, on the east by Geta, and on the southeast by Endegagn. The administrative center of Enemorina Eaner is Gunchire. Endegagn was separated from this woreda.
Lanfro is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Until it was included into the Silte Zone, Lanfro formed part of the Gurage Zone. Lanfro is bordered on the south by the Alaba special woreda, on the southwest by Sankurra, on the west by Dalocha, on the north by Silte, and on the east by the Oromia Region. The major town in Lanfro is Torra.
Konteb was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Hadiya Zone, Konteb was bordered on the south by Soro, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from the Yem special woreda, on the north by the Gurage Zone, and on the east by Limo. Towns in Konteb included Geja, Hamecho, Kose, Morsito and Sera. Konteb was divided for Gibe and Misha woredas.
Yirgachefe is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia, named after its major town Yirgachefe. Part of the Gedeo Zone, Yirgachefe is bordered on the south by Kochere, on the west by the Oromia Zone, on the north by Wenago, on the east by Bule, and on the southeast by Gedeb.
Amaya is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Southwest Shewa Zone, Amaya is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west and north by West Shewa Zone, on the northeast by Wonchi, and on the east by Walisona Goro. The major town in Amaya is Gindo.
Kersana Malima or Kersa and Malima, is a Aanaa in Oromia, Ethiopia. Part of the Southwest Shewa Zone, Kersana Mailma is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Kokir, on the northwest by Tole, on the northeast by Sebeta Hawas, and on the east by the East Shewa Zone; the Awash defines the boundary between this woreda and Alem Gena and the Misraq Shewa Zone. The major town in Kersana Malima is Leman. Sodo Dacha woreda was separated from Kersana Malima.
Seden Sodo is one of the woredas in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. it is bordered on the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Gedebeno Gutezer Wereda or Gurage zone on the west by weliso, by north by Bacho wereda on the northeast by Tole wereda, and on the east by Kersa Malima. The major town in Seden Sodo is Harbu Chulule.
Butajira is a town and separate woreda in central Ethiopia. Located at the base of the Zebidar massif in the East Gurage Zone of the Central Ethiopia Regional State, Butajira has an elevation of 2131 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by Meskan woreda. It was part of former Meskanena Mareko woreda.
Ezha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the sub-group of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Ezha. Part of the Gurage Zone, Ezha is bordered on the south by Gumer, on the west by Cheha, on the north by Kebena and Muhor Na Aklil, and on the southeast by Silt'e Zone and meskan. The major town in Ezha is Agenna. It was part of the former Ezhana Wolene woreda.
Endegagn is a woreda in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the Endegagn dialect of Inor language spoken by Gurage people. Part of the Gurage Zone, Endegagn is bordered on the southeast by the Silt'e Zone, on the southwest by Hadiya Zone, on the north by Enemorina Eaner, on the north by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Sodo, and on the northeast by Geta. Endegagn was separated from the Enemorina Eaner woreda.
East Gurage Zone is a zonal administration in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. East Gurage Zone is established in 2023 by union of three districts and two town administrations from eastern part of Gurage Zone. The Zone is home to the Gurage people and others. East Gurage is bordered on the Southeast by Siltʼe Zone North and East by the Oromia Region, and on the West by Gurage Zone. The Zone borders Mareko Special Woreda through its East Meskan District. The administrative centre of the Zone is Butajira.
