Bako Gazer
Encyclopedia
Bako Gazer is one of the 79 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Debub Omo Zone
, Bako Gazer is bordered on the south by Hamer Bena
, on the west by the Mago River
which separates it from Selamago
, and on the north by the Basketo special woreda, on the northeast by the Gamo Gofa Zone
, and on the east by the Weito River
which separates it from the Dirashe special woreda
; part of the southern boundary is defined by the Neri River
. The administrative center of this woreda is Jinka
; other towns in Bako Gazer include Tolta and Wub Hamer.
Bako Gazar wereda, around the zonal capital of Jinka, is located in the intensively cultivated middle altitudes, and could be said to mark the south-western limits of the traditional Ethiopian highland ox-plough agriculture. The highest point in the woreda is Mount Mago (2528 meters). Rivers include the Maki. The Omo National Park
covers part of the southwestern corner between the Mago and Neri Rivers. According to a 2004 report, Bako Gazer had 59 kilometers of all-weather roads and 84 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 33 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 298,534, of whom 148,088 were males and 150,446 were females; 9,276 or 3.11% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 4,284.07 square kilometers, Bako Gazer has an estimated population density of 69.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1.
In the 1994 national census Bako Gazer had a population of 206,913, of whom 104,286 were men and 102,627 women; 17,527 or 8.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Aari (66.5%), the Male (21.34%), the Amhara
(7.82%), the Goffa (1.12%), and the Basketo
(0.93%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.29% of the population. Aari
was spoken as a first language by 67.14% of the inhabitants, 21.67% spoke Male
, 8.57% spoke Amharic
, 0.82% spoke Basketo
, and 0.81% spoke Gofa; the remaining 0.99% spoke all other primary languages reported. Concerning education
, 13.5% of the population were considered literate. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 71% of the urban and 13% 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 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 Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . Debub Omo is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by the Ilemi Triangle, on the west by Bench Maji, on the northwest by Keficho Shekicho, on the north by Semien Omo, on the northeast by the...
, Bako Gazer is bordered on the south by Hamer Bena
Hamer Bena
Hamer Bena is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Hamer Bena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by Kuraz, on the northwest by the Usno River which separates it from Selamago, on the north by Bako...
, on the west by the Mago River
Mago River
Mago River is a river of southern Ethiopia, entirely located in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region. It joins the Neri River to form the Usno River, a tributary of the Omo River....
which separates it from Selamago
Selamago
Selamago is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Selamago is bordered on the south by Kuraz, on the west and north by the Omo River which separates it from the Bench Maji and the Keficho Shekicho Zones and the...
, and on the north by the Basketo special woreda, on the northeast by the Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Gamo and Gofa peoples, whose homelands lie in this Zone...
, and on the east by the Weito River
Weito River
The Weito River is a river in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia...
which separates it from the Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Dirashe is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
; part of the southern boundary is defined by the Neri River
Neri River
Neri River is a river in southern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Mago River, which itself is a tributary of the Omo River....
. The administrative center of this woreda is Jinka
Jinka
Jinka is a market town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the hills north of the Tama Plains, this town is the capital of the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region and Bako Gazer woreda. Jinka has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1490 meters above...
; other towns in Bako Gazer include Tolta and Wub Hamer.
Bako Gazar wereda, around the zonal capital of Jinka, is located in the intensively cultivated middle altitudes, and could be said to mark the south-western limits of the traditional Ethiopian highland ox-plough agriculture. The highest point in the woreda is Mount Mago (2528 meters). Rivers include the Maki. The Omo National Park
Omo National Park
Omo National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the west bank of the Omo River, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa; across the Omo is the Mago National...
covers part of the southwestern corner between the Mago and Neri Rivers. According to a 2004 report, Bako Gazer had 59 kilometers of all-weather roads and 84 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 33 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 298,534, of whom 148,088 were males and 150,446 were females; 9,276 or 3.11% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 4,284.07 square kilometers, Bako Gazer has an estimated population density of 69.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1.
In the 1994 national census Bako Gazer had a population of 206,913, of whom 104,286 were men and 102,627 women; 17,527 or 8.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Aari (66.5%), the Male (21.34%), 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...
(7.82%), the Goffa (1.12%), and the Basketo
Basketo people
The Basketo people are an Omotic-speaking ethnic group whose homeland lies in the southern part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region . The Basketo special woreda is named after this ethnic group...
(0.93%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.29% of the population. Aari
Aari language
Aari is an Omotic language of Ethiopia. The speakers of this language have been known as Shankilla , a name which is considered derogatory...
was spoken as a first language by 67.14% of the inhabitants, 21.67% spoke Male
Male language (Ethiopia)
Male , is an Omotic language spoken in the Omo Region of Ethiopia by the Male people. It is called in ISO 639-3 to distinguish it from .- References :* Van Aswegen, Jacobus. 2008...
, 8.57% 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...
, 0.82% spoke Basketo
Basketo language
Basketo is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in the Basketo special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, which is part of Ethiopia. The speakers refer to the language as "Masketo", while their neighbors refer to it as "Basketo." It has said to consist of two dialects,...
, and 0.81% spoke Gofa; the remaining 0.99% spoke all other primary languages reported. 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...
, 13.5% of the population were considered literate. 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 71% of the urban and 13% of the total had toilet facilities.