Omo Sheleko was one of 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.
Crop production (i.e., cereals, cash and root crops) and livestock rearing are the main livelihoods in this woreda. However they have been disrupted for some time due to a combination of lack of rain, decline in soil fertility and population pressure, making it extremely difficult for the inhabitants of the woreda to feed themselves. In 2003, for example, Omo Sheleko experienced drought in 26 of its 31 kebeles, while paradoxically five kebeles were hit by a severe hailstorm on 24 May of that year. [1] Omo Sheleko has 40 kilometers of all-weather roads and 41 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 184 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. [2]
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 179,294, of whom 90,632 were males and 88,662 were females; 8,181 or 4.56% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.8%. With an estimated area of 467.35 square kilometers, Omo Sheleko has an estimated population density of 383.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 429.4. [3]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 125,986 in 23,627 households, of whom 62,327 were men and 63,659 were women; 4,515 or 3.58% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Omo Sheleko were the Tembaro (62.85%), the Hadiya (13.05%), the Kambaata (3.08%), the Welayta (1.81%) and the Amhara (1.03%); all other ethnic groups made up 18.18% of the population. Tembarsa is spoken as a first language by 61.65%, 15.22% Hadiya, 6.28% Kambaata, 1.44% speak Welayta, and 0.53% speak Amharic; the remaining 0.53% spoke all other primary languages reported. 57.64% of the population said they were Protestants, 24.42% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.77% observed traditional beliefs, 3.48% were Catholic, and 2.73% Muslim. [4]
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.
Hadiya is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya Kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division. Hadiya is bordered on the south by Kembata Tembaro (KT), on the southwest by the Dawro Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Oromia Region and the Yem Special Woreda, on the north by Gurage, on the northeast by Silte, and on the east by the Alaba special woreda; the woredas of Mirab Badawacho and Misraq Badawacho form an exclave separated from the rest of the zone by KT. The administrative center of Hadiya is Hosaena.
Kembata is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It was formerly known as Kembata, Alaba and Tembaro, until Alaba and Tembaro became a special woreda in 2002 and 2023 respectively. This zone is named after the Kambaata people which gained ethnic recognition in 2012.
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.
Damot Gale is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, 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.
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.
Badawacho was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. A triangle-shaped exclave of the Hadiya Zone, Badawacho was bordered on the south by the Wolayita Zone, on the west and north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on the east by the Oromia Region and Sidama Zone. Badawacho has got three small lakes: Budamada - deepest of all three, Tiello and Matchafara - home for hippopotamus and variety of birds. The Bilate River which separates the three lakes is also home for crocodiles and hippopotamus. The major town in Badawacho was Shone. Badawacho was separated for Mirab Badawacho and Misraq Badawacho woredas.
Soro is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Hadiya Zone, Soro consists large population of Hadiya and Danta dubamo people, bordered on the south by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the southwest by the Dawro Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the north by Gomibora, on the northeast by Limo, and on the southeast by Duna. The administrative center of this woreda is Gimbichu; other towns in Soro include Jajura. Parts of Soro were separated to create Duna and Gomibora woredas.
Angacha is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Angacha is bordered on the south by Kacha Bira, on the west by Doyogena, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Damboya, and on the southeast by Kedida Gamela. Towns in Angacha include Angacha, the administration center and Funemura, a fast growing town in the northern part of Angacha woreda. Western part of Angacha woreda was separated to create Doyogena woreda including Amecho Wato town.
Kedida Gamela is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone (KT), Kedida Gamela is bordered on the east and south by an exclave of the Hadiya Zone, on the west by Kacha Bira, on the northwest by Angacha, on the north by Damboya, and on the northeast by the Bilate River which separates it from Alaba. The northern part of Kedida Gamela was separated to create Damboya woreda.
Halaba is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State. It is named after the Halaba people, and covers part of their homeland. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Halaba zone is bordered on the south by an exclave of Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west and north by Hadiya Zone, on the north east by Lake Shala, and on the east by Oromia Region; the Bilate River, which is its major body of water, defines its western boundary. The administrative center is halaba Kulito.
Kacha Bira is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Kacha Bira is bordered on the south by an exclave of the Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Wolayita Zone, on the west by Hadero Tunto, on the northwest by the Hadiya Zone, on the north by Doyogena and Angacha, and on the east by Kedida Gamela. Towns in Kacha Bira include Shinshicho and Hadero.
Boloso Sore is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Boloso Sore is bordered on the south by Sodo Zuria and Damot Sore, on the west by Boloso Bombe, on the northeast by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the northeast by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Damot Pulasa, and on the southeast by Damot Gale. The administrative center is at Areka. Boloso Bombe and Damot Sore woredas were separated from Boloso Sore.
Seraro is one of the woredas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the West Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Seraro is bordered on the south and west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, on the north by Shala, and on the east by Naannawa Shashamane; its western boundary is defined by the course of the Bilate River. The administrative center of this woreda is Loke.
Tiro Afeta, also known as Nedi Gibe, is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Jimma Zone, Tiro Afeta is bordered on the south by Omo Nada, on the west by Kersa, on the north by Limmu Kosa, and on the east by Sokoru. The administrative center of the woreda is Dimtu.
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.
Fentale is one of the districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the East Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Fentale is bordered on the southeast by the Arsi Zone, on the southwest by Boset, on the northwest by the Amhara Region, and on the northeast by the Afar Region. The administrative center of Fentale is Metehara; other towns include Haroo Adii.
Naannawa Shashamane is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is named after the town of Shashamene what was separated from this woreda. Part of the West Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shashamene is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Shala, on the north by Arsi Negele, on the east by the Kore, and on the southeast by Kofele. The largest town in Shashamene is Kuyera.
Dawro is a zone in the South West 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 and 319 km of Hawassa, the capital of the Sidama Region. Dawuro is bordered on the south by Kucha in Gamo 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.
Tembaro Special Woreda is one of the woredas in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the inhabiting Tembaro people. Tembaro is bordered on the south by the Dawro Zone, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the west Hadiya and Dawro on the east by Hadero Tunto, and on the southeast by the Wolayita Zone. Towns in Tembaro include Mudula, Keleta, Ambukuna and Hodo. Tembaro Special Woreda was also formerly called Omo Sheleko woreda. Tembaro Special Woreda become special woreda during the reformation of the former Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region into the new Central Ethiopia Regional State in 19 August 2023. This day is the historical day for Tembaro People.