Agew Awi Zone
Encyclopedia
Agew Awi is one of 10 Zones in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Agew Awi is named for the Awi sub-group of the Agaw
people, some of whom live in this Zone. Agew Awi is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
, on the west by Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the north-west by Semien Gondar Zone
and on the north and east by Misraq Gojjam
. The administrative center of Agew Awi is Injibara
; other towns include Chagni
, and Dangila
.
Topographically speaking, Agaw Awi is relatively flat and fertile, whose elevations vary from 1,800 to 3,100 meters above sea level, with an average altitude of about 2,300 meters. The Zone is crossed by about nine permanent rivers which drain into the Abay (or Blue Nile
); other water features include two crater lakes, Zengena
and Tirba, and Zimbiri marsh which is located 5 km south-west of Addis Kidan. Local forests
include Dukima and Apini, which are located on either side of the town of Kidamaja, Zengena forest around Lake Zengena and Goobil forest which is on a dome-shaped hill next to Kessa. The Agaw have traditionally practiced a land-management system which is well adapted to the local ecology, which enable them to sustain the fertility of the soil and minimize erosion; this area is recognized as one of the most productive in the Amhara Region.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 982,942, an increase of 37.07% over the 1994 census, of whom 491,865 are men and 491,077 women. With an area of 9,148.43 square kilometers, Agew Awi has a population density of 107.44; 123,014 or 12.51% are urban inhabitants. A total of 215,564 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.56 persons to a household, and 209,555 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 717,085 in 147,917 households, of whom 357,238 were men and 359,847 women; 62,232 or 8.68% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Agew Awi were the Awi
(49.97%) a subgroup of the Agaw, the Amhara
(48.6%), and the Gumuz (0.98%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.45% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 53.75%, 44.93% Awngi
, and 0.98% spoke Gumuz
; the remaining 0.34% spoke all other primary languages reported. 93.52% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 5.41% of the population said they were Muslim
.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
memorandum, 6% of the inhabitants of Agew Awi have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 39.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.2 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region) and the equivalent of 0.5 heads of livestock. 13.6% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 21%. 72% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 16% in secondary schools. 54% of the zone is exposed to malaria
, and 76% to Tsetse fly
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 420.
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Agew Awi is named for the Awi sub-group of the Agaw
Agaw
The Agaw are an ethnic group in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.-History:The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the 3rd c. AD Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century...
people, some of whom live in this Zone. Agew Awi is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the north-west by Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
and on the north and east by Misraq Gojjam
Misraq Gojjam Zone
Misraq Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Misraq Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam.Misraq Gojjam is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the north by Debub Gondar, and on the east by Debub Wollo; the bend of the Abay River...
. The administrative center of Agew Awi is Injibara
Injibara
Injibara is a town in Ethiopia. It is the administrative center of the Agew Awi Zone in the Amhara Region. Injibara is located at , in Banja Woreda at an elevation of 2560 meters above sea level....
; other towns include Chagni
Chagni
Chagni is a town in western Ethiopia. Located in the Agew Awi Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation of 1583 meters above sea level...
, and Dangila
Dangila
Dangila is a town in northwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Agew Awi Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2137 meters above sea level...
.
Topographically speaking, Agaw Awi is relatively flat and fertile, whose elevations vary from 1,800 to 3,100 meters above sea level, with an average altitude of about 2,300 meters. The Zone is crossed by about nine permanent rivers which drain into the Abay (or Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
); other water features include two crater lakes, Zengena
Zengena Lake
Zengena Lake is a crater lake located at in Awi Zone of Amhara Region in Ethiopia. The lake is situated between the towns Injibara and Kessa only 200 m from the Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar Highway with an elevation of 2500 m. The diameter of the lake is roughly 1 km....
and Tirba, and Zimbiri marsh which is located 5 km south-west of Addis Kidan. Local forests
Forestry in Ethiopia
In the late nineteenth century, about 30% of Ethiopia was covered with forest. The clearing of land for agricultural use and the cutting of trees for fuel gradually changed the scene, and today forest areas have dwindled to less than 4% of Ethiopia's total land. The northern parts of the highlands...
include Dukima and Apini, which are located on either side of the town of Kidamaja, Zengena forest around Lake Zengena and Goobil forest which is on a dome-shaped hill next to Kessa. The Agaw have traditionally practiced a land-management system which is well adapted to the local ecology, which enable them to sustain the fertility of the soil and minimize erosion; this area is recognized as one of the most productive in the Amhara Region.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 982,942, an increase of 37.07% over the 1994 census, of whom 491,865 are men and 491,077 women. With an area of 9,148.43 square kilometers, Agew Awi has a population density of 107.44; 123,014 or 12.51% are urban inhabitants. A total of 215,564 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.56 persons to a household, and 209,555 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 717,085 in 147,917 households, of whom 357,238 were men and 359,847 women; 62,232 or 8.68% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Agew Awi were the Awi
Awi people
The Awi people are an ethnic group in Ethiopia, and are grouped as one of the Agaw people. The Awis live in Agew Awi Zone in Central Gojjam, and have a few communities in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region.- Population :...
(49.97%) a subgroup of the Agaw, the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(48.6%), and the Gumuz (0.98%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.45% of the population. Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
was spoken as a first language by 53.75%, 44.93% Awngi
Awngi language
The Awngi language, in older publications also called Awiya , is a Central Cushitic language spoken by the Awi people, living in Central Gojjam in northwestern Ethiopia...
, and 0.98% spoke Gumuz
Gumuz language
Gumuz is a dialect cluster spoken along the border of Ethiopia and Sudan. Most Ethiopian speakers live in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, although a group of 1,000 live outside the town of Welkite...
; the remaining 0.34% spoke all other primary languages reported. 93.52% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 5.41% of the population said they were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
memorandum, 6% of the inhabitants of Agew Awi have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 39.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 1.2 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region) and the equivalent of 0.5 heads of livestock. 13.6% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 21%. 72% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 16% in secondary schools. 54% of the zone is exposed to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, and 76% to Tsetse fly
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 420.