Jikawo
Encyclopedia
Jikawo is one of the 12 woreda
s in the Gambela Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Nuer Zone, Jikawo is bordered on the south by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Alwero River which separates it from Wentawa, on the north by the Baro River
which separates it from Sudan
, and on the east by Lare
. Towns in Jikawo include Nginngang and Telut.
(CSA), around 10% of the woreda is forest
. A notable landmark in Jikawo is Gambela National Park
, which occupies an area south of the Baro on the eastern side of the woreda, covering about a third of its area.
The economy of Jikawo is predominantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure. Along with Akobo, Jikawo becomes flooded during the rainy season, requiring the people to migrate to the highlands with their cattle until the waters recede; thus raising livestock is the primary source of income in this woreda.
; however at some point before 2001, that Zone was abolished and Jikawo made part of Administrative Zone 1
. Subsequently, between 2001 and 2007, Jikawo became part of the Nuer Zone. Prior to 2007, the eastern kebele
s were split from this woreda to create Lare.
On 14–15 April 2006 members of the Murle
attacked the Pal Buol (also called the Lare) in Jikawo, and 16 people were killed and 9 wounded. The attackers stole more than 500 head of cattle. A week later, the Murle made another raid in Jikawo, on Ngor village, in which 27 Nuer were killed and about 39 wounded, while 11 Murle were killed in the fighting.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 35,556, of whom 19,134 are men and 16,422 women; with an area of 1,081.04 square kilometers, Jikawo has a population density of 32.89, which is greater than the Zone average of 23.79 persons per square kilometer. While 2,261 or 6.36% are urban inhabitants, a further 2,314 or 6.51% are pastoralists. A total of 5,864 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 6.1 persons to a household, and 5,723 housing units.
According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 42,925 in 7,746 households, of whom 22,260 were men and 20,665 women; 769 or 1.79% of the population were urban inhabitants. The two largest ethnic groups in Jikawo were the Nuer (97.96%), and the Anuak (1.97%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.07% of the population. Nuer
is spoken as a first language by 98.08%, and Anuak
by 1.88%; the remaining 0.04% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant
, with 56.25% of the population reporting they held that belief, while 19.04% practiced traditional religions, and 4.37% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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 Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
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 Nuer Zone, Jikawo is bordered on the south by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Alwero River which separates it from Wentawa, on the north by the Baro River
Baro River
The Baro River is a river in southwestern Ethiopia, which defines part of Ethiopia's border with South Sudan. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands it flows west for to join the Pibor River...
which separates it from Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, and on the east by Lare
Lare (woreda)
Lare is one of the 12 woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Lare is bordered on the south and east by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Baro River which separates it from Jikawo, and on the north by the Jikawo River which separates it from South Sudan...
. Towns in Jikawo include Nginngang and Telut.
Overview
The terrain in Jikawo consists of marshes and grasslands; elevations range from 300 to 400 meters above sea level. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy 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...
(CSA), around 10% of the woreda is forest
Forestry in Ethiopia
In the late nineteenth century, about 30% of Ethiopia was covered with forest. The clearing of land for agricultural use and the cutting of trees for fuel gradually changed the scene, and today forest areas have dwindled to less than 4% of Ethiopia's total land. The northern parts of the highlands...
. A notable landmark in Jikawo is Gambela National Park
Gambela National Park
Gambela National Park is a proposed National Park, but the steps needed to fully protect it by the government of Ethiopia have not been completed as of 2002...
, which occupies an area south of the Baro on the eastern side of the woreda, covering about a third of its area.
The economy of Jikawo is predominantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure. Along with Akobo, Jikawo becomes flooded during the rainy season, requiring the people to migrate to the highlands with their cattle until the waters recede; thus raising livestock is the primary source of income in this woreda.
History
At the start of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Jikawo was part of the Administrative Zone 3Administrative Zone 3 (Gambela)
Administrative Zone 3 is a former administrative subdivision of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. This zone was bordered by Sudan on the south, west and north, by Administrative Zone 1 on the east and Administrative Zone 2 on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while...
; however at some point before 2001, that Zone was abolished and Jikawo made part of Administrative Zone 1
Administrative Zone 1 (Gambela)
Administrative Zone 1 is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; none of the zones of Gambela have names. This zone is bordered on the south by Administrative Zone 2, on the west by Administrative Zone 3 and on the north and east by the Oromia Region...
. Subsequently, between 2001 and 2007, Jikawo became part of the Nuer Zone. Prior to 2007, the eastern 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 were split from this woreda to create Lare.
On 14–15 April 2006 members of the Murle
Murle
The Murle are an ethnic group residing in Pibor County, Jonglei State, South Sudan as well as in Ethiopia. They have also been referred to in the literature as Beir by the Dinka or others who got information from them...
attacked the Pal Buol (also called the Lare) in Jikawo, and 16 people were killed and 9 wounded. The attackers stole more than 500 head of cattle. A week later, the Murle made another raid in Jikawo, on Ngor village, in which 27 Nuer were killed and about 39 wounded, while 11 Murle were killed in the fighting.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 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 35,556, of whom 19,134 are men and 16,422 women; with an area of 1,081.04 square kilometers, Jikawo has a population density of 32.89, which is greater than the Zone average of 23.79 persons per square kilometer. While 2,261 or 6.36% are urban inhabitants, a further 2,314 or 6.51% are pastoralists. A total of 5,864 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 6.1 persons to a household, and 5,723 housing units.
According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 42,925 in 7,746 households, of whom 22,260 were men and 20,665 women; 769 or 1.79% of the population were urban inhabitants. The two largest ethnic groups in Jikawo were the Nuer (97.96%), and the Anuak (1.97%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.07% of the population. Nuer
Nuer language
The Nuer language is a Nilo-Saharan language of the Western Nilotic group. It is spoken by the Nuer people of South Sudan and in western Ethiopia. Nuer is one of eastern and central Africa's most widely spoken languages. The Nuer nation is one of the largest in South Sudan.Nuer language has a...
is spoken as a first language by 98.08%, and Anuak
Anuak language
Anuak or Anywa is a Nilotic language of the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is spoken primarily in the Western part of Ethiopia by the Anuak. Other names for this language include: Anyuak, Anywa, Yambo, Jambo, Yembo, Bar, Burjin, Miroy, Moojanga, Nuro.Anywa does not have phonemic fricatives.-...
by 1.88%; the remaining 0.04% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they 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...
, with 56.25% of the population reporting they held that belief, while 19.04% practiced traditional religions, and 4.37% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.