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]
| Gamo Zone | |
|---|---|
| Gedeo Zone | |
| Gurage Zone | |
| Hadiya Zone | |
| Kembata Tembaro Zone | |
| Silt'e Zone | |
| South Omo Zone | |
| Wolayita Zone | |
| Special zones | |
| Special woredas | |
The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region is 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 is based in Hawassa.
Gurage is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The region is home to the Gurage people. Gurage is bordered on the southeast by Hadiya and Yem special woreda, on the west, 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.
Damot Gale is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, 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.
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 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named after a subgroup of the Silt'e people, whose homeland includes this woreda. 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.
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.
Leemo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region 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.
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.
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.
Waliso is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. It was part of former Walisona Goro Aanaa what was separated for Goro (Aanaa) and Waliso Aanaa and Waliso Town. Part of the Southwest Shewa Zone, it was bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Amaya, on the northwest by Wonchi, on the north by Dawo, on the northeast by Becho and on the east by Saden Soddo. Towns in Waliso include Waliso and Dilala.
Seden Sodo is one of the wereda south west shoa zone found at Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia country. 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.
Silt'e is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This zone is named for the Silt'e people, whose homeland lies in this zone. Like other nationalities in Ethiopia, the Silt'e people have their own language, Silt'e. Silt'e is bordered on the south by Alaba special woreda, on the southwest by Hadiya, on the north by Gurage, and on the east by the Oromia Region.
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.
Mareko is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the Mareko people. Part of the Gurage Zone, Mareko is bordered on the southwest by the Silt'e Zone, on the northwest by Meskane, and on the east by the Oromia Region. Mareko was part of the former Meskanena Mareko woreda. The administrative center of this district is Koshe.
Endegagn is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region 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.
Bele or (Wolaita: Bale) is a city in Wolayita Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. It is administrative capital of Kindo Koysha district of Wolayita Zone, Ethiopia. Bele is located about 400 km away from Addis Ababa to the south on the path Addis-Butajira-Sodo and 38 km westward from Sodo, the capital of Wolaita Zone. The city has an average elevation 1500 meter above sea level. Bele lies between 6°55'05" North and 37°31'55" East.
