Omo Sheleko
Encyclopedia
Omo Sheleko is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Kembata Alaba and Tembaro Zone
, Omo Sheleko is bordered on the south by the Semien Omo Zone
, on the west by the Omo River
which separates it from another part of the Semien Omo Zone, on the north by the Hadiya Zone
, and on the east by Kacha Bira
. Towns in Omo Sheleko include Mudula
and Tunto.
Crop production (i.e., cereals, cash and root crops) and livestock rearing are the main livelihoods in this woreda. However they have been disrupted for some time due to a combination of lack of rain, decline in soil fertility and population pressure, making it extremely difficult for the inhabitants of the woreda to feed themselves. In 2003, for example, Omo Sheleko experienced drought in 26 of its 31 kebele
s, while paradoxically five kebeles were hit by a severe hailstorm on 24 May of that year. Omo Sheleko has 40 kilometers of all-weather roads and 41 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 184 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 179,294, of whom 90,632 were males and 88,662 were females; 8,181 or 4.56% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.8%. With an estimated area of 467.35 square kilometers, Omo Sheleko has an estimated population density of 383.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 429.4.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 125,986 in 23,627 households, of whom 62,327 were men and 63,659 were women; 4,515 or 3.58% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Omo Sheleko were the Timbaro (62.85%), the Hadiya
(13.05%), the Kambaata (3.08%), the Welayta
(1.81%) and the Amhara
(1.03%); all other ethnic groups made up 18.18% of the population. Timbaro is spoken as a first language by 61.65%, 15.22% Hadiya
, 6.28% Kambaata
, 1.44% speak Welayta
, and 0.53% speak Amharic
; the remaining 0.53% spoke all other primary languages reported. 57.64% of the population said they were Protestants
, 24.42% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.77% observed traditional beliefs, 3.48% were Catholic
, and 2.73% Muslim
.
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 Kembata Alaba and Tembaro Zone
Kembata Alaba and Tembaro Zone
Kembata Tembaro is a zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It was formerly known as Kembata, Alaba and Tembaro, until Alaba became a special woreda in 2002....
, Omo Sheleko is bordered on the south by the Semien Omo Zone
Semien Omo Zone
Semien Omo was a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It was named after the Omo River, which flows in the western area of the former zone...
, on the west by the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
which separates it from another part of the Semien Omo Zone, on the north by the Hadiya Zone
Hadiya Zone
Hadiya is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division...
, and on the east by Kacha Bira
Kacha Bira
Kacha Bira is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Kembata Tembaro Zone, Kacha Bira is bordered on the south by an exclave of the Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Wolayita Zone, on the west by Omo Sheleko, on the northwest by...
. Towns in Omo Sheleko include Mudula
Mudula
Mudula is a town in southeastern Ethiopia. Located in the Kembata Tembaro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2100 meters above sea level...
and Tunto.
Crop production (i.e., cereals, cash and root crops) and livestock rearing are the main livelihoods in this woreda. However they have been disrupted for some time due to a combination of lack of rain, decline in soil fertility and population pressure, making it extremely difficult for the inhabitants of the woreda to feed themselves. In 2003, for example, Omo Sheleko experienced drought in 26 of its 31 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, while paradoxically five kebeles were hit by a severe hailstorm on 24 May of that year. Omo Sheleko has 40 kilometers of all-weather roads and 41 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 184 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
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 179,294, of whom 90,632 were males and 88,662 were females; 8,181 or 4.56% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.8%. With an estimated area of 467.35 square kilometers, Omo Sheleko has an estimated population density of 383.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 429.4.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 125,986 in 23,627 households, of whom 62,327 were men and 63,659 were women; 4,515 or 3.58% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Omo Sheleko were the Timbaro (62.85%), the Hadiya
Hadiya
The Hadiya Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in located in southwestern Ethiopia, south of the Abbay River and west of Shewa. It was ruled by the Hadiya people, who spoke the Cushitic Hadiyya language. The historical Hadiya area was situated between Kembata, Gamo, and Waj, southwest of Shewa...
(13.05%), the Kambaata (3.08%), the Welayta
Welayta people
Wolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
(1.81%) 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...
(1.03%); all other ethnic groups made up 18.18% of the population. Timbaro is spoken as a first language by 61.65%, 15.22% Hadiya
Hadiya language
Hadiyya is the Afro-Asiatic language of the Hadiya people of Ethiopia. Most speakers live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region in the Hadiya Zone around the town Hosaena....
, 6.28% Kambaata
Kambaata language
Kambaata is a Highland East Cushitic language, part of the larger Afro-Asiatic family and spoken by the Kambaata. Dialects are Donga, Kambaata and Tambaro. It is one of the official languages of Ethiopia. The language has a large number of verbal affixes. When these are affixed to verbal roots,...
, 1.44% speak Welayta
Welayta language
Wolaytta is an Omotic language spoken in the Wolaita Zone and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. The number of speakers of this language is estimated at 2,000,000 ; it is the native language of the Welayta people...
, and 0.53% 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 0.53% spoke all other primary languages reported. 57.64% of the population said they 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...
, 24.42% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.77% observed traditional beliefs, 3.48% 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...
, and 2.73% 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...
.