Berehet
Encyclopedia
Berehet is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Berehet is bordered on the south by the Germama River
which separates it from Menjarna Shenkora
, on the west by Hagere Mariamna Kesem
, on the northeast by Angolalla Terana Asagirt
, on the north by Ankober
, and on the east by the Afar Region
. The major town in Berehet is Metiteh Bila.
Berehet is the location of the Battle of Bereket, fought 19 November 1855. In this battle, the last Shewa
n nobles to resist Emperor Tewodros II
were defeated by his general Ras Ingida, and seeing that further defiance was futile they surrendered the young heir to the Shewan throne, Menelik.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 34,810, an increase of 13.07% over the 1994 census, of whom 17,669 are men and 17,141 women; 3,978 or 11.43% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 791.44 square kilometers, Berehet has a population density of 43.98, which is less than the Zone average of 115.3 persons per square kilometer. A total of 7,658 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.55 persons to a household, and 7,221 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 30,786 in 5,741 households, of whom 15,789 were men and 14,997 were women; 1,328 or 4.31% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Berehet were the Amhara
(80.26%), and the Argobba
(19.47%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.27% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.75%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 79.21% reporting that as their religion, while 20.75% were Muslim
.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Amhara Region
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...
. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Berehet is bordered on the south by the Germama River
Germama River
The Germama River is a tributary of the Awash River in Ethiopia. The name Germama comes from the Amharic word which means "frolicking", "boisterous", or "frisky"....
which separates it from Menjarna Shenkora
Menjarna Shenkora
Menjarna Shenkora is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named in part after a historic district of Shewa, Menjar, which was the southernmost district of Shewa and near the location of the modern woreda...
, on the west by Hagere Mariamna Kesem
Hagere Mariamna Kesem
Hagere Mariamna Kesem is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Hagere Mariamna Kesem is bordered on the south by the Germama river which separates it from Menjarna Shenkora, on the west and north by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Angolalla...
, on the northeast by Angolalla Terana Asagirt
Angolalla Terana Asagirt
Angolalla Terana Asagirt is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named in part after one of the capitals of the former principality of Shewa, Angolalla...
, on the north by Ankober
Ankober (woreda)
Ankober is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located at the eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands in the Semien Shewa Zone, Ankober is bordered on the south by Berehet, on the southwest by Angolalla Terana Asagirt, on the northwest by Basona Werana, on the north by Kewet,...
, and on the east by the Afar Region
Afar Region
Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
. The major town in Berehet is Metiteh Bila.
Berehet is the location of the Battle of Bereket, fought 19 November 1855. In this battle, the last Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
n nobles to resist Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
were defeated by his general Ras Ingida, and seeing that further defiance was futile they surrendered the young heir to the Shewan throne, Menelik.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national 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 woreda has a total population of 34,810, an increase of 13.07% over the 1994 census, of whom 17,669 are men and 17,141 women; 3,978 or 11.43% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 791.44 square kilometers, Berehet has a population density of 43.98, which is less than the Zone average of 115.3 persons per square kilometer. A total of 7,658 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.55 persons to a household, and 7,221 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 30,786 in 5,741 households, of whom 15,789 were men and 14,997 were women; 1,328 or 4.31% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Berehet were 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...
(80.26%), and the Argobba
Argobba people
The Argobba are a Muslim people group that is spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeast and east of Ethiopia. The Argobba have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area...
(19.47%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.27% 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 99.75%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 79.21% reporting that as their religion, while 20.75% 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...
.