Yem people

Last updated
Yem people
Total population
160,447 (2007)
Regions with significant populations
south-western Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Languages
Amharic, Yemsa
Religion
Traditional African religions, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Gurage, Hadya, Kembata

The Yem are an ethnic group living in south-western Ethiopia. Their native language is Yemsa, one of the Omotic languages, although many also speak Amharic. The neighbors of the Yem include the Gurage, Hadya, and Kembata to the east across the Omo River and the Jimma Oromo to the south, north and west.

Contents

History

The first reference to Yem as a political unit is found, under the name of Jangero, in the victory song of King Yeshaq I (1412-1427) of the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia, as paying tribute in the form of horses to the king. [1] The first European traveler to mention Yem was the European traveler Father Fernandez, who travelled through their homeland in 1614. [2]

Population

Their number was not definitely known until recently, as Aklilu Yilma states, "Bender gives the estimate as '1000' (Bender 1976: 4), whereas the Ethnologue reported 1,000 to 4,000 Yemsa speakers in 1992. [3] The report of the Central Statistical Office gives the 1984 census figures of the Yem people as 34,951 (Central Statistical Office 1991:61), but this census seems to comprise only the Fofa area." [4] The 1994 national census reported 60,811 people identified themselves as Yem in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR), of whom 59,581 lived in the around Fofa, and 52,292 speakers of the Yemsa language in the SNNPR, of whom 51,264 were living in the same area.Now the administration city is saja. [5] The more recent 2007 national census reports that 160,447 were identified as Yem, of whom 84,607 lived in the Oromia Region and 74,906 in the SNNPR. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region</span> 1992–2023 regional state of Ethiopia

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.

The Kingdom of Yamma, also spelled Yemma, was a small kingdom located in what is now Ethiopia. It lay in the angle formed by the Omo and the Jimma Gibe Rivers; to the west lay the Kingdom of Jimma and to the south the Kingdom of Garo. Three mountains — Mount Bor Ama, Mount Azulu, and Mount Toba — all distinguish the location of the former kingdom. It covered the area of present-day Sekoru district and Yem special woreda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimma Zone</span> Zone in Oromia Region of Ethiopia

Jimma is a zone in Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Jimma is named after former Kingdom of Jimma, which was absorbed into the former province of Kaffa in 1932. Jimma is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, the northwest by Illubabor Zone, on the north by East Welega Zone and on the northeast by West Shewa Zone; part of the boundary with West Shewa Zone is defined by the Gibe River. The highest point in this zone is Mount Maigudo. Towns and cities in Jimma include Agaro, Limmu Inariya and Saqqa. The town of Jimma was separated from Jimma Zone and is a special zone now.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yem Zone</span> Zone in Central Ethiopia Regional State

Yem Zone is one of the zones in the Central Ethiopia Regional State. Yem is named for the Yem, people whose homeland lies in this zone,. Yem is bordered on the west and north by the Oromia Region, and separated from Gurage on the northeast and Hadiya on the east by the Omo River. High points in Yem include Mount Bor Ama, Mount Azulu and Mount Toba. The administrative center of Yem is Saja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurage Zone</span> Zone in Central Ethiopia Regional State

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. GUBURA is the largest city and administrative centre of the zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hadiya Zone</span> Zone in the Central Regional State, Ethiopia

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, 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 Zone; the woredas of Mirab Badawacho and Misraq Badawacho form an exclave separated from the rest of the zone by Kembata. The administrative center of Hadiya is Hosaena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaro Zone</span> Zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State

Amaro Zone (Kore) is a zone in the south-west Ethiopian Regional State of Ethiopia, and the people are called Kore, and their language is Korigna. The Amaro Kore people are the descendants of the Christian missioners of the north Ethiopian sematic peoples of Gonder, who were moved gradually through the northern shewa (menze) to the central and south-western Ethiopian lands of Damot (wolayta), Dawuro, Gamo Gofa, and surrounding areas of the region with their Christian traditions and heritages around the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries. As the native of kore nation Theologian Jebdu kassahun evidentially assured and narrated, that was a time of ST. Abune Gebremenfes kidus, st.tekle Haymanot, and emperor Yikuno Amlak, who were preached and expanded Christianity to central and south western Ethiopian lands. Amaro is one of the areas in which members of Kore nations widely live in. Amaro Kore people got zonal status in August 2023 A.D upon the formation of the South west Ethiopia Regional State. In 2011 A.D, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Amaro woreda and the three former special woredas surrounding it. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Amaro kore peoples land is bordered on the south by Burji Zone, on the southwest by Konso Zone, on the west by Dirashe Zone, on the northwest by Gamo Zone and Lake Chamo, and on the north by Lake Abaya and in east and northeast by Oromia Region. It is divided into 35 kebeles. The administrative center of the woreda is Kelle, and Jijola woreda, Derba Menena woreda, and Kereda are other growing municipals of the zone. The highest peak in the zone is Mount Dello, which is part of the Kore mountains, the highest in Jemjem plateau and the second from the region. Much of the western part of this zone lies inside the Nechisar National Park. The major crops grown in Amaro are enset, teff, maize, wheat, barley, navy beans, and coffee. Amaro has 39 kilometers of all-weather roads and 16 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 36 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 1,082 tons of coffee were produced in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represented 0.48% of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR)'s output and 1.08% of Ethiopia's total output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konso Zone</span> Zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State

Konso is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. It was formerly a woreda. Prior to 2011, Konso was not part of any Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and was therefore considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Konso special woreda and the 3 former woredas surrounding it. This special woreda is named after the Konso people. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Konso is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the South Omo Zone, on the northwest by Alle special woreda, on the north by Dirashe special woreda, on the northeast by Amaro special woreda, and on the east by Burji special woreda. The Sagan River, which flows south then west to join the Weito, defines part of the woreda's boundary with Burji and the entire length of the boundary with the Oromia Region. The administrative center is Karati; other towns in Konso include Fasha and Sagen. After protesting by residents to become a zone for several years, Konso became a zone in November 2018.

Menjiwo is a district in the South West Region of Ethiopia. The name Menjiwo is derived from the province Manjo of the Kingdom of Kaffa; however, the province of Manjo lay within the boundaries of neighboring Ginbo, while Menjiwo occupies the lands of the Gallo province of the former kingdom. Part of the Keffa Zone, Menjiwo is bordered on the south by Telo, on the southwest by Decha, on the west by Ginbo, on the north by the Gojeb River which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the east by the Konta special district. The major town in Menjiwo is Adiya Kaka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketo Zone</span> Zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State

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.

Sokoru is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the former awraja of the same name, and covering much of the same territory as the current woreda, as well as its administrative center, Sokoru. Part of the Jimma Zone, Sokoru is bordered on the south by Omo Nada, on the west by Tiro Afeta, and on the north and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region; the Gibe River defines the northern boundary. Other towns in this woreda include Deneba, Kumbi and Natri.

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.

Mana is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Jimma Zone, Mana is bordered on the south by Seka Chekorsa, on the west by Gomma, on the north by Limmu Kosa, and on the east by Kersa. The administrative center of this woreda is Yebu.

Seka Chekorsa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center, Seka Chekorsa. Part of the Jimma Zone, Seka Chekorsa 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 northwest by Gomma, on the north by Mana, on the northeast by Kersa, and on the east by Dedo. Villages include Bedadi. Shebe Senbo woreda was part of Seka Chekorsa woreda.

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 Nadhi Gibe, 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.

Fofa is a town in southern Ethiopia, and is the administrative center of the Yem special woreda. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 07°51′N37°31′E with an elevation of 2506 meters above sea level.

Dime or Dima is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in the northern part of the Selamago district in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNP) of Ethiopia, around Mount Smith. Dime divides into at least two dialects, which include Us'a and Gerfa. It has six case suffixes in addition to an unmarked nominative. It is overwhelmingly suffixing, but uses prefixes for demonstratives and has reduplication. Phonologically, it is noteworthy among the Omotic languages for having phonemic velar and uvular fricatives. The basic word order is subject–object–verb (SOV), as in other Omotic languages, and indeed in all members of the core of the Ethiopian Language Area.

Chara is an Afro-Asiatic language of the North Omotic variety spoken in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia by 13,000 people.

Dizin is an Omotic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by the Dizi people, primarily in the Maji woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, located in southwestern Ethiopia. The 2007 census listed 33,927 speakers. A population of 17,583 was identified as monolinguals in 1994.

Yemsa is the language of the Yem people of the former Kingdom of Yamma, known as the Kingdom of Janjero traditionally. It is a member of the Omotic group of languages, most closely related to Kafa. It is distinctive in having different systems of vocabulary depending on social status, rather like Japanese and Javanese. The estimated number of speakers varies wildly from about 1000 to half a million.

References

  1. G.W.B. Huntingford, The historical geography of Ethiopia from the first century AD to 1704, (Oxford University Press: 1989), p. 94
  2. Balthazar Tellez, The Travels of the Jesuits in Ethiopia, 1710 (LaVergue: Kessinger, 2010), p. 194
  3. Grimes 1992:257
  4. Aklilu Yilma, "Pilot Survey of Bilingualism in Yem" SILESR 2002-052, p. 3
  5. 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.11, 2.13 (accessed 30 December 2008)
  6. "Census 2007", first draft, Table 5.