Gulomahda
Encyclopedia
Gulomakeda is one of the 36 woreda
s in the Tigray Region
of Ethiopia
. Its name partly comes from the legendary Queen Makeda, also known as the Queen of Sheba. Part of the Misraqawi Zone
, Gulomakeda is bordered on the south by Ganta Afeshum
, on the west by the Mehakelegnaw (Central) Zone
, on the north by Eritrea
, and on the east by Irob
. Towns in Gulomakeda include Sebeya and Zalambessa.
Notable local landmarks in this woreda include ruins that have been dated to the Axumite Kingdom, as well as to the period prior to its rise (700 BC–AD 700). Archeological surveys conducted by Dr. Catherine D'Andrea of Simon Fraser University
show that far from being a rural hinterland, Gulomakeda had large towns with elite groups who had access to exotic trade goods during that time. She also identified cultural links to ancient Eritrea
n settlements, which included Matara
and the ancient Ona culture.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 84,236, an increase of 6.44% over the 1994 census, of whom 40,549 are men and 43,687 women; 10,101 or 11.99% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,596.12 square kilometers, Gulomahda has a population density of 52.78, which is less than the Zone average of 56.93 persons per square kilometer. A total of 18,365 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.59 persons to a household, and 17,673 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 79,141 of whom 38,679 were men and 40,462 were women; 6,429 or 8.12% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Gulomahda were the Tigrayan
(96.29%), the Saho
(1.99%), and foreign nationals from Eritrea (1.59%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.13% of the population. Tigrinya
is spoken as a first language by 98.33%, 1.55% speak Saho
; the remaining 0.14% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.33% reporting that as their religion. Concerning education
, 19.15% of the population were considered literate, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.01%; 28.75% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 1.16% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 1.91% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 89% of the urban houses and 18% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; about 11% of the urban and about 2% of the total had toilet facilities.
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 Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
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...
. Its name partly comes from the legendary Queen Makeda, also known as the Queen of Sheba. Part of the Misraqawi Zone
Misraqawi Zone
Misraqawi is a Zone in the Ethiopian Region of Tigray. Misraqawi is bordered on the east by the Afar Region, on the south by Debubawi , on the west by Mehakelegnaw and on the north by Eritrea. Its highest point is Mount Asimba...
, Gulomakeda is bordered on the south by Ganta Afeshum
Ganta Afeshum
Ganta Afeshum is one of the 36 woredas in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraqawi Zone, Ganta Afeshum is bordered on the south by Hawzen, on the west by the Mehakelegnaw Zone, on the north by Gulomahda, and on the east by Saesi Tsaedaemba...
, on the west by the Mehakelegnaw (Central) Zone
Mehakelegnaw Zone
Mehakelegnaw is a Zone in the Ethiopian Region of Tigray. Mehakelegnaw is bordered on the east by Misraqawi , on the south by Debubawi , on the west by Mirabawi and on the north by Eritrea...
, on the north by Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, and on the east by Irob
Irob (woreda)
Irob is one of the 36 woredas in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the Irob people, who are the predominant ethnic group living there...
. Towns in Gulomakeda include Sebeya and Zalambessa.
Notable local landmarks in this woreda include ruins that have been dated to the Axumite Kingdom, as well as to the period prior to its rise (700 BC–AD 700). Archeological surveys conducted by Dr. Catherine D'Andrea of Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
show that far from being a rural hinterland, Gulomakeda had large towns with elite groups who had access to exotic trade goods during that time. She also identified cultural links to ancient Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n settlements, which included Matara
Matara, Eritrea
Matara is an archaeological site in Eritrea. Situated a few kilometers south of Senafe, it was a major city in the Dʿmt and Aksumite kingdoms. Since Eritrean independence, the National Museum of Eritrea has petitioned the Ethiopian government to return artifacts removed from the site...
and the ancient Ona culture.
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 84,236, an increase of 6.44% over the 1994 census, of whom 40,549 are men and 43,687 women; 10,101 or 11.99% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,596.12 square kilometers, Gulomahda has a population density of 52.78, which is less than the Zone average of 56.93 persons per square kilometer. A total of 18,365 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.59 persons to a household, and 17,673 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 79,141 of whom 38,679 were men and 40,462 were women; 6,429 or 8.12% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Gulomahda were the Tigrayan
Tigray-Tigrinya people
Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in the southern, central and northern parts of Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopia's Tigray province. They also live in Ethiopia's former provinces of Begemder and Wollo, which are today mostly part of Amhara Region, though a few regions...
(96.29%), the Saho
Saho people
The Saho , sometimes called Soho, are an ethnic group living largely in the Horn of Africa. They are principally concentrated in the Southern and Northern Red Sea regions of Eritrea, but some also live in adjacent parts of Ethiopia.-Demographics:...
(1.99%), and foreign nationals from Eritrea (1.59%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.13% of the population. Tigrinya
Tigrinya language
Tigrinya , also spelled Tigrigna, Tigrnia, Tigrina, Tigriña, less commonly Tigrinian, Tigrinyan, is a Semitic language spoken by the Tigrinya people in central Eritrea , where it is one of the two main languages of Eritrea, and in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia , where it...
is spoken as a first language by 98.33%, 1.55% speak Saho
Saho language
The Saho language is a Cushitic language of Eritrea and Ethiopia.-Overview:It is spoken natively by the Saho people who traditionally inhabit territory in Eritrea bounded by the bay of Arafali in the east, the Laasi Ghedé valleys in the south, and the Eritrea highlands to the west .This speech area...
; the remaining 0.14% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.33% reporting that as their religion. Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 19.15% of the population were considered literate, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.01%; 28.75% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 1.16% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 1.91% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, about 89% of the urban houses and 18% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; about 11% of the urban and about 2% of the total had toilet facilities.