Metu (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Metu is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Illubabor Zone
, Metu is bordered on the south by Ale
, on the southwest by Bure, on the west by the Mirab Welega Zone
, on the north by Darimu
, on the northeast by Supena Sodo
, on the east by Yayu
and on the southeast by Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. Towns in Metu include Metu
and Noppa.
. A local landmark is the Sor River waterfalls, located 13 kilometers southeast of the town of Metu, near the village of Bechu; at least one travel guide describes these falls as "beautiful". Coffee
is an important cash crop of Metu; over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop.
Ethio-Wetland, a non-governmental organization
, assisted by funding from the Japan
ese Embassy, in February 2009 dug 32 hand-dug wells, which increased zonal water supply coverage
from 30% to 50%. Further Ethio-Wetland, which is also engaged in water and soil conservation, wetland care, and providing seeds and agriculture tools, was completing the digging of five more wells, which would meet the needs of about 2,000 more people.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 154,927, of whom 77,565 are men and 77,362 are women; 38,217 or 24.67% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 1,461.41 square kilometers, Metu has an estimated population density of 106 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 106,294, of whom 52,925 were men and 53,369 women; 21,350 or 20.09% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Metu were the Oromo
(86.25%), the Amhara
(9.69%), and the Tigrayan
(1.61%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.45% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 88.49%, 8.92% Amharic
, and 1.35% Tigrinya
; the remaining 1.24% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 46.89% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 35.18% of the population said they were Muslim
, and 17.5% were Protestant
.
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 Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
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 Illubabor Zone
Illubabor Zone
Illubabor is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the west by Misraq Welega, on the north by the...
, Metu is bordered on the south by Ale
Ale (woreda)
Ale is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Ale is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Nono, on the northwest by Bure, and on the northeast by Metu. Towns in Ale include Ale, Gore and...
, on the southwest by Bure, on the west by the Mirab Welega Zone
Mirab Welega Zone
Mirab Welega is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone is named after the former province of Welega, whose western part lay in the area Mirab Misraq now occupies....
, on the north by Darimu
Darimu
Darimu is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This woreda takes its name from the name of the region it lies in, "Darimu", which is mentioned in Alexander Bulatovich's book, From Entotto to the River Baro, published in 1897...
, on the northeast by Supena Sodo
Supena Sodo
Supena Sodo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Supena Sodo is bordered on the south by Yayu, on the southwest by Metu, on the west by Darimu, on the north by the Mirab Welega Zone, on the northeast by Dega, and on the southeast by Chora...
, on the east by Yayu
Yayu (woreda)
Yayu is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Yayu is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Metu, on the north by Supena Sodo, on the east by Chora, and on the southeast by the Jimma Zone...
and on the southeast by Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. Towns in Metu include Metu
Metu
Metu is a market town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region along the Sor River, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 1605 meters...
and Noppa.
Overview
Rivers in this woreda include the SorSor River
The Sor is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. A tributary of the Gebba River on its left side, the Sor rises in Sayo....
. A local landmark is the Sor River waterfalls, located 13 kilometers southeast of the town of Metu, near the village of Bechu; at least one travel guide describes these falls as "beautiful". Coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is an important cash crop of Metu; over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop.
Ethio-Wetland, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, assisted by funding from the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Embassy, in February 2009 dug 32 hand-dug wells, which increased zonal water supply coverage
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
from 30% to 50%. Further Ethio-Wetland, which is also engaged in water and soil conservation, wetland care, and providing seeds and agriculture tools, was completing the digging of five more wells, which would meet the needs of about 2,000 more people.
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 154,927, of whom 77,565 are men and 77,362 are women; 38,217 or 24.67% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 1,461.41 square kilometers, Metu has an estimated population density of 106 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 106,294, of whom 52,925 were men and 53,369 women; 21,350 or 20.09% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Metu were the 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...
(86.25%), 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...
(9.69%), and 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...
(1.61%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.45% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 88.49%, 8.92% 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 1.35% 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...
; the remaining 1.24% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 46.89% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 35.18% 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...
, and 17.5% 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...
.