Meskanena Mareko
Encyclopedia
Meskanena Mareko is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Gurage Zone
, Meskanena Mareko is bordered on the south by Silte
, on the southwest by Gumer
, on the west by Ezhana Wolene
, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
, on the north by Sodo
, and on the east by the Oromia Region
. Towns in Meskanena Mareko include Butajira
and Inseno.
Near Butajira are the Tufta Swamps at 8°8′N 38°24′E, located in the Western highlands near the headwaters of the Meki River
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 331,832, of whom 166,875 are men and 164,957 are women; 53,343 or 16.08% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 872.5 square kilometers, Meskanena Mareko has an estimated population density of 380.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 227,135 of whom 113,095 were males and 114,040 were females; 29,440 or 12.96% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Meskanena Mareko were the Meskan sub-group of the Sebat Bet
Gurage (35.62%), the Silte (22.36%), the Mareqo or Libido (15.7%), the Soddo Gurage
(12.06%) and the Amhara
(3.65%); all other ethnic groups made up 10.61% of the population. Sebat Bet Gurage
is spoken as a first language by 32.25%, 21.8% Silte, 14.7% speak Libido
, 11.35% speak Soddo Gurage
, and 9.88% speak Amharic
; the remaining 10.02% spoke all other primary languages reported. 62.32% of the population said they were Muslim
, 32.70% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.77% were Protestants
. Concerning education
, 22.8% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 7.75% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 1.8% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.82% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 74.95% of the urban houses and 19.98% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 52.98% of the urban and 8.49% of all houses 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 Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region 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 Gurage Zone
Gurage Zone
Gurage is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named for the Gurage people, whose homeland lies in this zone. Gurage is bordered on the south by Hadiya on the west north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Silte. Its highest...
, Meskanena Mareko is bordered on the south by Silte
Silte (woreda)
Silte is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named after a subgroup of the Silt'e people, whose homeland includes this woreda. Formerly part of the Gurage Zone, after a referendum held between 18 and 26 April 2001, this woreda became...
, on the southwest by Gumer
Gumer
Gumer is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Gumer...
, on the west by Ezhana Wolene
Ezhana Wolene
Ezhana Wolene is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after two of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Ezha and the Wolene-Worriro...
, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
Kokir Gedebano Gutazer is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Kokir Gedebano Gutazer is bordered on the south by Ezhana Wolene, on the west by Goro, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Meskanena...
, on the north by Sodo
Sodo (woreda)
Sodo is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Sodo is bordered on the south by Meskanena Mareko, and on the west, north and east by the Oromia Region...
, and on the east by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. Towns in Meskanena Mareko include Butajira
Butajira
Butajira is a town in south-central Ethiopia. Located at the base of the Zebidar massif in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2131 meters above sea level...
and Inseno.
Near Butajira are the Tufta Swamps at 8°8′N 38°24′E, located in the Western highlands near the headwaters of the Meki River
Meki River
The Meki is a river in central Ethiopia. It empties into Lake Zway at the latitude and longitude .O.G.S. Crawford identifies the Meki with a river on a map which was drawn in 1662 to illustrate Manuel de Almeida's history of Ethiopia...
.
Demographics
Based on figures published 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...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 331,832, of whom 166,875 are men and 164,957 are women; 53,343 or 16.08% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 872.5 square kilometers, Meskanena Mareko has an estimated population density of 380.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 227,135 of whom 113,095 were males and 114,040 were females; 29,440 or 12.96% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Meskanena Mareko were the Meskan sub-group of the Sebat Bet
Sebat Bet Gurage language
Sebat Bet is a Gurage language, spoken in several dialects found in the western Gurage Zone:*Chaha is spoken in Cheha woreda, and is the best studied of these dialects;*Ezha is spoken in Ezhana Wolene woreda,...
Gurage (35.62%), the Silte (22.36%), the Mareqo or Libido (15.7%), the Soddo Gurage
Soddo language
Soddo is a Gurage language spoken by about 300,000 people in southeastern Ethiopia...
(12.06%) and 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...
(3.65%); all other ethnic groups made up 10.61% of the population. Sebat Bet Gurage
Sebat Bet Gurage language
Sebat Bet is a Gurage language, spoken in several dialects found in the western Gurage Zone:*Chaha is spoken in Cheha woreda, and is the best studied of these dialects;*Ezha is spoken in Ezhana Wolene woreda,...
is spoken as a first language by 32.25%, 21.8% Silte, 14.7% speak Libido
Libido language
Libido is an Afro-Asiatic language of Ethiopia, which is spoken in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, north-east of Hosaena....
, 11.35% speak Soddo Gurage
Soddo language
Soddo is a Gurage language spoken by about 300,000 people in southeastern Ethiopia...
, and 9.88% speak 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...
; the remaining 10.02% spoke all other primary languages reported. 62.32% of the population said they 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...
, 32.70% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.77% were Protestants
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...
. 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...
, 22.8% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 20.62%; 7.75% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 1.8% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.82% 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...
, 74.95% of the urban houses and 19.98% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 52.98% of the urban and 8.49% of all houses had toilet facilities.