Guangua
Encyclopedia
Guangua is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Agew Awi Zone
, Guangua is bordered on the south by the Abay River, which separates it from the Oromia Region
, on the west by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the north by Dangila
, on the northwest by Faggeta Lekoma
, and on the east by Ankesha
; the Dura River, a tributary of the Abay, defines part of its western border. The administrative center of this woreda is Chagni
; other towns in Guangua include Kilaj, and Menta Wuha.
described as a prominent landmark near the Zakas ford on the Abay. MIDROC Gold reported in 2009 that it was exploring the area around Menta Wuha for gold
deposits.
Originally the two adjacent woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Dibate
and Mandura
, were subunits of Guangua but in the 1960s were split off to form separate woredas in order to strengthen government control over the local Gumuz people. These two woredas were transferred to Benishangul-Gumuz when that region was organized in the 1992.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 223,066, an increase of 51.10% over the 1994 census, of whom 111,172 are men and 111,894 women; 31,489 or 14.12% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 2,305.44 square kilometers, Guangua has a population density of 96.76, which is less than the Zone average of 107.44 persons per square kilometer. A total of 47,759 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.67 persons to a household, and 46,471 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 170,974 in 34,553 households, of whom 84,893 were men and 86,081 were women; 7,767 or 4.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Guangua were the Awi
(62.02%) one of the Agaw
peoples, the Amhara
(31.93%), and the Gumuz (4.55%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.5% of the population. Awngi
was spoken as a first language by 61.33%, 32.83% Amharic
, and 4.55% spoke Gumuz
; the remaining 1.29% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 74.3% reporting that as their religion, while 20.98% were Muslim
, and 0.77% observed traditional religions.
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 Agew Awi Zone
Agew Awi Zone
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...
, Guangua 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 the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the north by Dangila
Dangila (woreda)
Dangila is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the former district, Dangila, which James Bruce notes was in his day known for its breed of sheep...
, on the northwest by Faggeta Lekoma
Faggeta Lekoma
Faggeta Lekoma is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The woreda is named in part after two former districts: Faggeta, best known as the location for the Battle of Faggeta , where Ras Mikael Sehul with the help of Goshu of Amhara and Wand Bewossen defeated Fasil of Damot; and...
, and on the east by Ankesha
Ankesha
Ankesha is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The woreda is named after a former confederation of the Agew, which James Bruce describes was formed of Dengui, Sakala, Dengila and Geesh. A triangle-shaped district in the Agew Awi Zone, Ankesha is bordered on the south by the...
; the Dura River, a tributary of the Abay, defines part of its western border. The administrative center of this woreda is 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...
; other towns in Guangua include Kilaj, and Menta Wuha.
Overview
High points in this woreda include Mount Gum (1506 meters), which R E CheesmanR E Cheesman
Major Robert Ernest Cheesman, CBE was a military officer, explorer and ornithologist.Cheesman was Private Secretary to Sir Percy Sykes during his tenure as High Commissioner in Iraq....
described as a prominent landmark near the Zakas ford on the Abay. MIDROC Gold reported in 2009 that it was exploring the area around Menta Wuha for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
deposits.
Originally the two adjacent woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Dibate
Dibate (woreda)
Dibate is one of the 21 woredas, or districts, in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Metekel Zone, it is bordered by Mandura on the north, by the Dura River on the east which separates it from the Amhara Region, by the Abay River on the south which separates it from the Kamashi...
and Mandura
Mandura
Mandura is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Metekel Zone, it is bordered by Dangur in the north and northwest, by Pawe special woreda in the northeast, by Amhara Region in the east, by Dibate in the south, and by Bulen in the southwest...
, were subunits of Guangua but in the 1960s were split off to form separate woredas in order to strengthen government control over the local Gumuz people. These two woredas were transferred to Benishangul-Gumuz when that region was organized in the 1992.
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 223,066, an increase of 51.10% over the 1994 census, of whom 111,172 are men and 111,894 women; 31,489 or 14.12% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 2,305.44 square kilometers, Guangua has a population density of 96.76, which is less than the Zone average of 107.44 persons per square kilometer. A total of 47,759 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.67 persons to a household, and 46,471 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 170,974 in 34,553 households, of whom 84,893 were men and 86,081 were women; 7,767 or 4.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Guangua 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 :...
(62.02%) one 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...
peoples, 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...
(31.93%), and the Gumuz (4.55%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.5% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 61.33%, 32.83% 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...
, and 4.55% 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 1.29% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 74.3% reporting that as their religion, while 20.98% 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...
, and 0.77% observed traditional religions.