Dembiya (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Dembiya is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. It is named for the former province of Dembiya
, which was located roughly in the same location. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone
, Dembiya is bordered on the south by Lake Tana
, on the southwest by Alefa
, on the west by Chilga
, on the north by Lay Armachiho
, and on the east by Gondar Zuria
. Towns in Dembiya include Aymiba, Chuahit, Gorgora
and Koladiba.
Rivers within this woreda include the Lesser Angereb and Derma, which flow south into Lake Tana, and the Atbarah
. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 64% is arable or cultivable and another 25% under irrigation, 6% pasture, 4% forest or shrubland, and the remaining 1% is considered degraded or other. 287 square kilometers adjacent to Lake Tana is subject to regular and extensive flooding.
, where Ras Kassa (the later Emperor Tewodros II
) defeated Dejazmach Goshu Zewde 27 November 1852, lies within the modern boundaries of this woreda.
The woreda of Dembiya was heavily affected by the flash floods in Ethiopia which started 6 September and receded by 26 September 2006. The heavy rain caused Lake Tana to overflow its banks, making thousands of people homeless. "Thousands of heads of cattle
, whole silos of grain, and significant tracts of grazing and farmland have been washed away," according to IRIN.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 271,053, an increase of 24.33% over the 1994 census, of whom 138,110 are men and 132,943 women; 23,354 or 8.62% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,261.96 square kilometers, Dembiya has a population density of 214.79, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 59,382 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.56 persons to a household, and 57,668 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 218,014 in 40,680 households, of whom 111,329 were men and 106,685 women; 17,667 or 8.1% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Dembiya were the Amhara
(97.35%), and the Qemant
(2.15%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.5% of the population. A notable minority in this woreda are the Weyto
, who are thought to be the earliest surviving ethnic group to settle around Lake Tana; they number 480 or 0.22% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.81%; the remaining 0.19% spoke all other primary languages reported. 97.98% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.95% of the population said they were 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 Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
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...
. It is named for the former province of Dembiya
Dembiya
Dembiya is a historic region of Ethiopia, intimately linked with Lake Tana. According to the account of Manuel de Almeida, Dembiya was "bounded on East by Begemder, on South by Gojjam, on West by Agaws of Achefer and Tangha...
, which was located roughly in the same location. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
, Dembiya is bordered on the south by Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, on the southwest by Alefa
Alefa
Alefa is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Alefa is bordered on the south by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the west by Qwara, on the northwest by Metemma, on the north by Chilga, on the northeast by Dembiya, on the east by Lake Tana and on...
, on the west by Chilga
Chilga
Chilga is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named after its chief town Chilga , an important stopping point on the historic Gondar-Sudan trade route...
, on the north by Lay Armachiho
Lay Armachiho
Lay Armachiho is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after "Armachiho", a province in northwestern northwestern Ethiopia along the border with Sudan and south of the Tekezé River...
, and on the east by Gondar Zuria
Gondar Zuria
Gondar Zuria is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Gondar Zuria is bordered on the south by the Debub Gondar Zone, on the southwest by Lake Tana, on the west by Dembiya, on the north by Lay Armachiho, on the northeast by Wegera, and on the...
. Towns in Dembiya include Aymiba, Chuahit, Gorgora
Gorgora
Gorgora is a town and peninsula in northwestern Ethiopia...
and Koladiba.
Rivers within this woreda include the Lesser Angereb and Derma, which flow south into Lake Tana, and the Atbarah
Atbarah River
The Atbarah River in northeast Africa rises in northwest Ethiopia, approximately 50 km north of Lake Tana and 30 km west of Gondar. It flows about 805 km to the Nile in north-central Sudan, joining it at the city of Atbarah...
. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 64% is arable or cultivable and another 25% under irrigation, 6% pasture, 4% forest or shrubland, and the remaining 1% is considered degraded or other. 287 square kilometers adjacent to Lake Tana is subject to regular and extensive flooding.
Local History
The location of the Battle of Gur AmbaBattle of Gur Amba
The Battle of Gur Amba was fought on 27 September 1852 between the forces of the Ethiopian regent, Ras Ali II, and the rebel forces of Kassa Hailu. Kassa was victorious, and Goshu Zewde of Gojjam, the commander of the regent's forces, was killed...
, where Ras Kassa (the later Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
) defeated Dejazmach Goshu Zewde 27 November 1852, lies within the modern boundaries of this woreda.
The woreda of Dembiya was heavily affected by the flash floods in Ethiopia which started 6 September and receded by 26 September 2006. The heavy rain caused Lake Tana to overflow its banks, making thousands of people homeless. "Thousands of heads of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, whole silos of grain, and significant tracts of grazing and farmland have been washed away," according to IRIN.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national census conducted 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...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 271,053, an increase of 24.33% over the 1994 census, of whom 138,110 are men and 132,943 women; 23,354 or 8.62% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,261.96 square kilometers, Dembiya has a population density of 214.79, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 59,382 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.56 persons to a household, and 57,668 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 218,014 in 40,680 households, of whom 111,329 were men and 106,685 women; 17,667 or 8.1% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Dembiya were 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...
(97.35%), and the Qemant
Qemant
The Qemant are a small ethnic group in Ethiopia, who, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel....
(2.15%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.5% of the population. A notable minority in this woreda are the Weyto
Weyto people
The Weyto people are a group of hippopotamus hunters who lived in Ethiopia around Lake Tana. They were known to speak the Weyto Language, which became extinct at some point in the 19th century...
, who are thought to be the earliest surviving ethnic group to settle around Lake Tana; they number 480 or 0.22% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 99.81%; the remaining 0.19% spoke all other primary languages reported. 97.98% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.95% 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...
.