Dejen (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Dejen is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. This woreda is named after the traditional district it lies in, Dejen, which is best known as where Admas Mogasa, the widow of Emperor Menas
, raised the future Emperor Susenyos
and instructed him in "the doctrine of the holy books." Part of the Misraq Gojjam Zone
, Dejen is bordered on the south by the Abay River which separates it from the Oromia Region
, on the west by Awabel
, on the northwest by Enarj Enawga
, on the north by Enemay
, and on the east by Shebel Berenta
. The major town in Dejen is Dejen
.
in Oromia by the Abay Bridge, which also carries the Addis Ababa
-Bahir Dar
highway. Before this bridge was erected, the Abay was crossed at the Shefartak ford (at 10° 5' N 38° 17' E). A new bridge, the Hidasie Bridge, was dedicated 10 September 2008 at the presence of senior government officials and other guests. Funded by the Japanese government at a cost of 319.3 Birr
, the Hidasie Bridge is 303 meters long and part of the new Addis Ababa-Dejen road. Experts foresee that improvements like the new bridge will allow drivers to double their speed to 60 kilometers per hour, and increase the volume of vehicles from the current 360 a day to 729 in six years. The new bridge sits alongside the older one over the Abay which had been built by the Italian government as part of their war reparations
for their occupation of Ethiopia during World War II
, and was about 60 years old when the new one was opened.
On 21 August 2008, residents of the town of Dejen gathered to protest the delay by local officials' over a decision on the residents' application for use of nearby farmland. Local police and militia surrounded the demonstrators, and beat dozens; a few protesters had injuries requiring hospitalization. No legal action was taken against the perpetrators.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 102,359, an increase of 17.02% over the 1994 census, of whom 49,487 are men and 52,872 women; 8,700 or 8.50% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 620.97 square kilometers, Dejen has a population density of 164.84, which is greater than the Zone average of 153.8 persons per square kilometer. A total of 25,511 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.01 persons to a household, and 24,917 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 87,469 in 18,399 households, of whom 42,440 were men and 45,029 were women; 8,930 or 10.21% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Dejen was the Amhara
(99.87%). The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 94.83% reporting that as their religion, while 5.1% 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...
. This woreda is named after the traditional district it lies in, Dejen, which is best known as where Admas Mogasa, the widow of Emperor Menas
Menas of Ethiopia
Menas , throne name Admas Sagad I was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
, raised the future Emperor Susenyos
Susenyos of Ethiopia
Susenyos was of Ethiopia...
and instructed him in "the doctrine of the holy books." Part of the Misraq Gojjam Zone
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...
, Dejen is bordered on the south by the Abay River which separates it from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Awabel
Awabel
Awabel is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Gojjam Zone, Awabel is bordered on the south by the Abay River which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the southwest by Baso Liben, on the northwest by Guzamn, on the northeast by Enemay, and on the...
, on the northwest by Enarj Enawga
Enarj Enawga
Enarj Enawga is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Gojjam Zone, Enarj Enawga is bordered on the south by Enemay, on the southwest by Debay Telatgen, on the west by Hulet Ej Enese, on the north by Goncha Siso Enese, on the northeast by Enbise Sar Midir, on...
, on the north by Enemay
Enemay
Enemay is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Gojjam Zone, Enemay is bordered on the south by Dejen, on the west by Debay Telatgen, on the north by Enarj Enawga, and on the east by Shebel Berenta...
, and on the east by Shebel Berenta
Shebel Berenta
Shebel Berenta is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, named after two older districts which occupy the area this woreda currently covers: Berenta which is north of the Mecha river, and Shebel which is south of that stream...
. The major town in Dejen is Dejen
Dejen
Dejen is a town in west-central Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region on the edge of the canyon of the Abay, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation between 2421 and 2490 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Dejen woreda.Between 1954...
.
Overview
Dejen is connected to Wara JarsoWara Jarso
Wara Jarso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Wara Jarso is bordered on the south by Kuyu, on the west by the Muger River which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone, on the north by the Abay River which separates it from the Amhara Region,...
in Oromia by the Abay Bridge, which also carries the Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
-Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is a city in north western Ethiopia. It is the capital of the Amhara Region .Administratively, Bahir Dar is considered a Special Zone, placing it midway between Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa which are organized as chartered cities , and cities like Debre Marqos and Dessie, which are...
highway. Before this bridge was erected, the Abay was crossed at the Shefartak ford (at 10° 5' N 38° 17' E). A new bridge, the Hidasie Bridge, was dedicated 10 September 2008 at the presence of senior government officials and other guests. Funded by the Japanese government at a cost of 319.3 Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
, the Hidasie Bridge is 303 meters long and part of the new Addis Ababa-Dejen road. Experts foresee that improvements like the new bridge will allow drivers to double their speed to 60 kilometers per hour, and increase the volume of vehicles from the current 360 a day to 729 in six years. The new bridge sits alongside the older one over the Abay which had been built by the Italian government as part of their war reparations
War reparations
War reparations are payments intended to cover damage or injury during a war. Generally, the term war reparations refers to money or goods changing hands, rather than such property transfers as the annexation of land.- History :...
for their occupation of Ethiopia during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was about 60 years old when the new one was opened.
On 21 August 2008, residents of the town of Dejen gathered to protest the delay by local officials' over a decision on the residents' application for use of nearby farmland. Local police and militia surrounded the demonstrators, and beat dozens; a few protesters had injuries requiring hospitalization. No legal action was taken against the perpetrators.
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 102,359, an increase of 17.02% over the 1994 census, of whom 49,487 are men and 52,872 women; 8,700 or 8.50% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 620.97 square kilometers, Dejen has a population density of 164.84, which is greater than the Zone average of 153.8 persons per square kilometer. A total of 25,511 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.01 persons to a household, and 24,917 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 87,469 in 18,399 households, of whom 42,440 were men and 45,029 were women; 8,930 or 10.21% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Dejen was 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...
(99.87%). The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 94.83% reporting that as their religion, while 5.1% 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...
.