Badawacho
Encyclopedia
Badawacho is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. A triangle-shaped exclave of the Hadiya Zone
, Badawacho is bordered on the south by the Wolayita Zone
, on the west and north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on the east by the Bilate River
which separates it from the Oromia Region
. The major town in Badawacho is Shone.
Badawacho has 58 kilometers of all-weather roads and 59 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 217 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
, four Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
(SEPDC) members were injured during clashes between the army and the SEPDC in Badawacho; that same month the army killed another four SEPDC members in the woreda while they were searching for a particular party activist. In the 2005 Ethiopian elections, one of the two electoral districts in this woreda elected Beyene Petros
(leader of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
) as their representative in the House of People's Representatives
.
West Badawacho suffered from a "green famine" in 2008, after the small rains in March-May failed to arrive and the rainy season arrived too late for local farmers. Combined with poor harvests in 2007, which has led to loss of livestock, these factors led to a situation where officials report 4.6 million people in drought-affected parts, not only in Badawacho but across Ethiopia, required £162.5 million of assistance, although unofficial estimates from donor agencies put the figure in the rang of 8-10 million people. This crisis is called a "green famine" because not only is the countryside lush and apparently fertile despite widespread hunger, but the shortage and high price of food stuffs that could be imported have made the situation worse.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 251,197, of whom 126,706 were males and 124,491 were females; 14,911 or 5.94% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.1%. With an estimated area of 516.57 square kilometers, Badawacho has an estimated population density of 486.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 378.7.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 175,966 of whom 87,234 were males and 88,732 were females; 8,230 or 4.68% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Badawacho were the Hadiya (82.15%), the Kambaata
(5.45%), the Alaba (4.71%), the Welayta
(3.77%), and the Oromo
(2.05%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.87% of the population. Hadiya
was spoken as a first language by 78.79%, 9.33% Kambaata
, 4.92% spoke Alaba, 4.45% Welayta, and 1.79% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.72% spoke all other primary languages reported. 48.25% of the population said they were Protestants
, 21.48% embraced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 18.99% were Muslim
, 7.72% were Catholic
, and 1.22% practiced 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 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...
. A triangle-shaped exclave of 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...
, Badawacho is bordered on the south by the Wolayita Zone
Wolayita Zone
Wolayita is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . it is named for the Welayta people, whose homeland lies in this Zone...
, on the west and north by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, and on the east by the Bilate River
Bilate River
The Bilate is a river of south-central Ethiopia. It rises on the southwestern slopes of Mount Gurage near , flowing south along the western side of the Great Rift Valley, to empty into Lake Abaya at...
which separates it from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. The major town in Badawacho is Shone.
Badawacho has 58 kilometers of all-weather roads and 59 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 217 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
History
On 5 April 2000, prior to the 2000 general electionEthiopian general election, 2000
Ethiopia held general elections on 14 May and 31 August 2000, for seats in both its national and in several Regional government councils. although several opposition parties boycotted the election, 17 parties including the All-Amhara People's Organization, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic...
, four Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
The Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition is a political party in Ethiopia. At the last legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the Coalition was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives .It was founded in...
(SEPDC) members were injured during clashes between the army and the SEPDC in Badawacho; that same month the army killed another four SEPDC members in the woreda while they were searching for a particular party activist. In the 2005 Ethiopian elections, one of the two electoral districts in this woreda elected Beyene Petros
Beyene Petros
Professor Beyene Petros Lodamo is a professor at Addis Ababa University and a member of the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, representing an electoral district in Badawacho of Hadiya Zone....
(leader of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces is a coalition of several existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005....
) as their representative in the House of People's Representatives
House of People's Representatives
The Federal Parliamentary Assembly of Ethiopia has two chambers. The lower house is the House of Peoples' Representatives with 547 members , elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.-Speakers of the House of Peoples'...
.
West Badawacho suffered from a "green famine" in 2008, after the small rains in March-May failed to arrive and the rainy season arrived too late for local farmers. Combined with poor harvests in 2007, which has led to loss of livestock, these factors led to a situation where officials report 4.6 million people in drought-affected parts, not only in Badawacho but across Ethiopia, required £162.5 million of assistance, although unofficial estimates from donor agencies put the figure in the rang of 8-10 million people. This crisis is called a "green famine" because not only is the countryside lush and apparently fertile despite widespread hunger, but the shortage and high price of food stuffs that could be imported have made the situation worse.
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 251,197, of whom 126,706 were males and 124,491 were females; 14,911 or 5.94% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.1%. With an estimated area of 516.57 square kilometers, Badawacho has an estimated population density of 486.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 378.7.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 175,966 of whom 87,234 were males and 88,732 were females; 8,230 or 4.68% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Badawacho were the Hadiya (82.15%), the Kambaata
Kambaata
Kambaata is the name of the people who speak the Kambaata language. It was a province of Ethiopia beginning in the early 15th century and ending in the mid-17th century before Ethiopian rule was once again established under Emperor Menelek II...
(5.45%), the Alaba (4.71%), 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...
(3.77%), and 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...
(2.05%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.87% of the population. 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....
was spoken as a first language by 78.79%, 9.33% 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,...
, 4.92% spoke Alaba, 4.45% Welayta, and 1.79% spoke 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 0.72% spoke all other primary languages reported. 48.25% 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...
, 21.48% embraced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 18.99% 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...
, 7.72% 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 1.22% practiced traditional religions.