Godere special woreda
Encyclopedia
Godere is one of 12 woreda
s in the Gambela Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Mezhenger Zone
, Godere is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by Mengesh, and on the north by the Oromia Region
. The largest town in Godere is Meti.
, thus its terrain is predominantly hilly, unlike the rest of Gambela. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy published by the Central Statistical Agency
(CSA), this woreda has an average elevation of between 500 and 1000 meters with an average slope between 2 and 4%; over 40% of the area is covered with forest.
The economy of Godere is predomantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure.
. Subsequently, but before 2007, a number of kebele
s were split off to create Mengesh; both woredas became the Mezhenger Zone.
A 2002 United Nations Emergency Unit for Ethiopia assessment report mentions increasing conflict between the Mezhenger and Sheko in the neighboring Yeki
woreda of the SNNPR, which spilled over into Godere.
According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 32,232 in 9,134 households, of whom 17,443 were men and 14,789 women; 3,173 or 9.84% of the population were urban inhabitants. The five largest ethnic groups of the region were the Amhara
(24.48%), Mezhenger (23.63%), Kafficho (20.78%), Oromo
(12.57%), the Mocha (9.57%), and Tigray (3.18%); all other ethnic groups made up 5.8% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 26.94%, 23.62% spoke Majang, 19.47% Kafa
, 12.53% Oromiffa
, and 9.16% Mocha; the remaining 8.28% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 51.71% of the population reporting they embraced that belief, while 24.49% were Protestant
, 15.71% were Muslim
, 3.31% practiced traditional religions, and 3.13% were Catholic
.
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 Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
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 Mezhenger Zone
Mezhenger Zone
The Mezhenger Zone is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; it is named for one of the three largest indigenous groups in Gambela, the Majangir. This zone is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region , on the west by the Anuak...
, Godere is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by Mengesh, and on the north by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. The largest town in Godere is Meti.
Overview
Godere encompasses the headwaters of the Gilo RiverGilo River
The Gilo River is a river in the Gambela Region of southwestern Ethiopia. It is also known by a variety of names: the Gimira of Dizu call it the "Mene", while the Gemira of Chako call it "Owis", and Amhara and Oromo settlers in the early 20th century knew it by a third name, "Bako"...
, thus its terrain is predominantly hilly, unlike the rest of Gambela. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy published by the Central Statistical Agency
Central 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...
(CSA), this woreda has an average elevation of between 500 and 1000 meters with an average slope between 2 and 4%; over 40% of the area is covered with forest.
The economy of Godere is predomantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure.
History
At the start of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Godere was the only woreda of the Administrative Zone 4 and thus considered a Special woreda; however between 1994 and 2001 Godere was made part of the Administrative Zone 2Administrative Zone 2 (Gambela)
Administrative Zone 2 is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; none of the zones of Gambela have names. This zone is bordered by South Sudan and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the south, Administrative Zone 3 on the west, Administrative Zone 1 on the...
. Subsequently, but before 2007, a number of kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s were split off to create Mengesh; both woredas became the Mezhenger Zone.
A 2002 United Nations Emergency Unit for Ethiopia assessment report mentions increasing conflict between the Mezhenger and Sheko in the neighboring Yeki
Yeki
Yeki is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Keficho Shekicho Zone, Yeki is bordered on the south by the Bench Maji Zone, on the west by the Gambela Region, on the north by Masha Anderacha, on the northeast by Gesha, and on the...
woreda of the SNNPR, which spilled over into Godere.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 38,781, of whom 19,928 are men and 18,853 women; with an area of 592.75 square kilometers, Godere has a population density of 65.43, which is greater than the Zone average of 26.28 persons per square kilometer. Reportedly 7,140 or 18.41% are urban inhabitants. A total of 9,752 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 4.0 persons to a household, and 9,494 housing units.According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 32,232 in 9,134 households, of whom 17,443 were men and 14,789 women; 3,173 or 9.84% of the population were urban inhabitants. The five largest ethnic groups of the region 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...
(24.48%), Mezhenger (23.63%), Kafficho (20.78%), Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(12.57%), the Mocha (9.57%), and Tigray (3.18%); all other ethnic groups made up 5.8% 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 26.94%, 23.62% spoke Majang, 19.47% Kafa
Kafa language
Kaffa is an Afroasiatic language spoken in Ethiopia around Bonga in the Keficho Shekicho Zone. The language is also called Kafi nono.- Further reading :...
, 12.53% Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
, and 9.16% Mocha; the remaining 8.28% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 51.71% of the population reporting they embraced that belief, while 24.49% were Protestant
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, 15.71% 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...
, 3.31% practiced traditional religions, and 3.13% were Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
.