Qwara (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Qwara is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Qwara is named after the former province Qwara
, which was in the same area. Located at the westernmost point of the Semien Gondar Zone
, Qwara is bordered on the south by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the west by Sudan
, on the north by Metemma
, and on the east by Alefa
; part of its boundary with the Benishangul-Gumaz Region is defined by the Dinder River
. The administrative center of this woreda is Gelegu; other settlements include Tewodros Ketema.
(EPRP) was defeated for control of northern Ethiopia by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in 1978, one wing of the EPRP moved to Qwara where it continued to fight against both the Derg
and the TPLF.
Qwara was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
in 2003 as an area for voluntary resettlement
for farmers from overpopulated areas. Along with Metemma, the other woreda selected in Amhara that year, that year this woreda became the home for a total of 13,742 heads of households and 12,337 total family members. Qwara was selected again in the fourth round of this resettlement program in 2006 and, along with Lay Armachiho
and Dangila
in the Amhara Region, and Tsegede
in the Tigray Region
, became the new homes of 8,671 families. This was reportedly accompanied with almost 68 million Birr
in infrastructure development.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 94,106, an increase of 164.34% over the 1994 census, of whom 50,021 are men and 44,085 women; 4,731 or 5.03% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 7,707.19 square kilometers, Qwara has a population density of 12.21, which is less than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 22,565 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.17 persons to a household, and 21,345 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 35,600, of whom 18,553 were men and 17,047 women; 289 or 0.81% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Qwara were the Amhara
(81.35%), the Agaw
Awi
(10%), the Gumuz (6.69%), and the Qemant
(0.71%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.25% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 82.31%, 9.98% Gumuz
, and 6.7% spoke Awngi
; the remaining 1.01% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 92.32% reporting that as their religion, while 7.58% 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...
. Qwara is named after the former province Qwara
Qwara Province
Qwara was a province in Ethiopia, located between Lake Tana and the frontier with Sudan, and stretcing from Agawmeder in the south as far north as Metemma...
, which was in the same area. Located at the westernmost point 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....
, Qwara is bordered on the south by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the west by 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...
, on the north by Metemma
Metemma (woreda)
Metemma is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Metemma is bordered on the south by Qwara, on the west by Sudan, on the north by Sanja, and on the east by Chilga...
, and on the east 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...
; part of its boundary with the Benishangul-Gumaz Region is defined by the Dinder River
Dinder River
The Dinder River is a tributary of the Blue Nile. It flows through Ethiopia and Sudan for .-Course:The Dinder River rises in the Ethiopian Highlands, west of Lake Tana in the Ethiopian woreda of Alefa. It flows northwest out of the highlands and into the plains of the Sudanese state of Sennar...
. The administrative center of this woreda is Gelegu; other settlements include Tewodros Ketema.
History
After the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary PartyEthiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Founded in April 1972, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party was a prominent Marxist-Leninist organization in Ethiopia during the 1970s. It is also known as "Ihapa" from the acronym in Amharic...
(EPRP) was defeated for control of northern Ethiopia by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in 1978, one wing of the EPRP moved to Qwara where it continued to fight against both the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
and the TPLF.
Qwara was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
in 2003 as an area for voluntary resettlement
Resettlement and villagization in Ethiopia
Resettlement and villagization in Ethiopia has been an issue since the late nineteenth century, due to the overcrowded population of the Ethiopian highlands...
for farmers from overpopulated areas. Along with Metemma, the other woreda selected in Amhara that year, that year this woreda became the home for a total of 13,742 heads of households and 12,337 total family members. Qwara was selected again in the fourth round of this resettlement program in 2006 and, along with 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 Dangila
Dangila (woreda)
Dangila is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the former district, Dangila, which James Bruce notes was in his day known for its breed of sheep...
in the Amhara Region, and Tsegede
Tsegede
Tsegede is one of the 36 woredas in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the historic province of Tsegede. Part of the Mi'irabawi Zone, Tsegede is bordered on the south and west by the Amhara Region, on the northwest by Kafta Humera, and on the north by Wolqayt...
in the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
, became the new homes of 8,671 families. This was reportedly accompanied with almost 68 million Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
in infrastructure development.
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 94,106, an increase of 164.34% over the 1994 census, of whom 50,021 are men and 44,085 women; 4,731 or 5.03% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 7,707.19 square kilometers, Qwara has a population density of 12.21, which is less than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 22,565 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.17 persons to a household, and 21,345 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 35,600, of whom 18,553 were men and 17,047 women; 289 or 0.81% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Qwara 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...
(81.35%), the Agaw
Agaw
The Agaw are an ethnic group in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.-History:The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the 3rd c. AD Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century...
Awi
Awi people
The Awi people are an ethnic group in Ethiopia, and are grouped as one of the Agaw people. The Awis live in Agew Awi Zone in Central Gojjam, and have a few communities in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region.- Population :...
(10%), the Gumuz (6.69%), 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....
(0.71%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.25% 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 82.31%, 9.98% Gumuz
Gumuz language
Gumuz is a dialect cluster spoken along the border of Ethiopia and Sudan. Most Ethiopian speakers live in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, although a group of 1,000 live outside the town of Welkite...
, and 6.7% spoke Awngi
Awngi language
The Awngi language, in older publications also called Awiya , is a Central Cushitic language spoken by the Awi people, living in Central Gojjam in northwestern Ethiopia...
; the remaining 1.01% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 92.32% reporting that as their religion, while 7.58% 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...
.