PART ONE
BY MEKLIT WONDEWOSSEN
Gofa Zone is one of the zones in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s State boasting a broad array of ethnic groups having own peculiar features, beautiful nature and divers culture. It is composed of 7 districts and 4 urban administrations. Gofa zone stretches over an area of 4,551 square kilometers and geographically it is bordered by Dauro Zone and Konta Special District in the north, South Omo Zone and Gamo Zone in the south, Dauro Zone and Gamo Zone in the east, South Omo Zone and Basketo Special District in the west. The capital of the zone is Sawla, which is 526 km far from Addis Ababa. It is 300 km away from Hawasa, the regional capital.
Gofa in Gofa zone. It is home to Oida and many other ethnic groups. Among the main languages spoken there are found Gofya, Oida, and Amharic. Though the three are widely spoken, languages of other ethnic groups also serve as mediums of communication.
Just like the Kgofa and Oida ethnic groups, other ethnic groups in the Gofa zone are respected and allowed to live together. The Gofa and Oida ethnic groups have their own identity, language, culture, history and tradition, and hadf their own strong ethnic traditional management system before the advent of modern administrative system in the area. They are people who paid the price for national pride and sovereignty after being included in the central government after Emperor Minilk’s integration campaign.
The people of Gofa zone have based their livelihood on agriculture. The total population of the Gofa zone is believed to be over 1.5 million. Out of this number, 80% eke out a living leaning on agriculture in rural areas. In an organized manner the remaining sections of the society are managed in business, small business sectors. The climate of the zone,correlated with the geographical location, is divided into three parts: plateau 20.92%, valley 31.12%, and lowland 47.98%. When we feast our eyes on the landscape, its greenery and scenery, we notice that it is blessed with all kinds of gifts nature proffers. It is very attractive for farming, investment, and tourism sub-economy and comfortable for living. The zone has an average height.
The average annual rainfall of the zone is 170.5 mm. Structurally, the Gofa zone is divided into 7 districts for the convenience of administrative operations; It is divided into 4 urban administrations and 196 rural and urban kebeles.
The total amount of land suitable for agriculture is 245,000 hectares (63.83%).Out of this cultivated land comprises 26,8935 hectares (5.91%), while grazing land 35,844 hectares (7.88%), irrigated land 1,536 hectares (3.38%)., Land covered by forest comprises 104,071 hectares( 22.87%), other covered land area is 23,218.5 hectares (5.10%). The zone has favorable climate and land for investment and tourism sub-economies. Close to 6210 hectares of land in the zone is available for investment. In terms of tourist attraction, Maze National Park is a zone where there are many awe-inspiring cultural heritages, and wonderful caves, age-old religious institutions and rare wildlife.
Farming is mainly rain-fed. Small irrigation works abound. There are 36 modern irrigation systems in the zone and the area covered by small irrigation is 1,09363 hectares. This is 0.45% of the land cultivated by agriculture. Regarding the main crop products of the zone, in the lowland areas (Zala, Uba Debre Sun, Derba Gofa and Melo Koza districts), corn is produced in abundance adopting corn-cluster farming, while white teff is produced in Wainadega districts, especially in Lo Gada district, it is the place where the product that has earned the local name of “Melo teff” is produced. . It is situated 1976 meters above sea level.
If we look at cattle breeding, it is not new to see Gofa bulls, goats, sheep and chickens in different markets of big cities of our country. Therefore, in order to ensure that Gofa can meet the needs of our domestic markets by producing profit in the types of products we mentioned above, the way that more than 30 FSR dry cargo transport trucks load the products and leave every day will be enough proof for us.
Accordingly, the government has set standards to increase the supply capacity in a modern way. Roads as well as cattle, goats and sheep centers are built. Pack animals trading centers are also built on 10,794 square meters. The centers have started providing services.
On the other hand farmers of Zanga Lo, 12 kilometers from the capital of the zone, are not only supplying the cassava product to the central market, but also exporting it to the foreign market.
Traditional ceremonies Gofa language spoken by Gofa ethnic group is used in traditional ceremonies In Gofa culture, the word is given a great importance, so they use folkloric expressions to praise and encourage talented farmers and effective people engaged in various walks of life. In this piece, we will present some of the latest news and messages from Gofa’s news as follows:-
1) At the time of our search, “Manui Shulo:- If the first farm work kicks off simultaneously when any work is started in the nation, neither a child nor an adult will pass away without graduating, and it will be a blessing to the nation (even if he is in a fight, he will not cease to be without this) because this blessing is a common value for him and the country. In addition, the person who graduates will graduate having in mind the knowledge that the graduation will happen to him as well.
2) “Woooo gadoy qakko – Woooo gadoy qakko” in Santeka Geze This event is the first round of farming after the threshing or the first round of plowing and the uprooting of the weeds so that the weeds can rot and the field turns fertile.
3) If it is found while sowing seeds, Dolog Kathay Karati Mokko – Kathay mokko / Sown It is a blessing that is transmitted so that the seeds grow well and do not spoil.
4) Karooto Iray bulko in case of weed or Kutto -It is a wish for the health of the crop .It is one meantfor the crop to be sufficient or for bumper harvest.
5) Baratol Kathay Baraato during harvest – Abundant harvest throughout the year, It’s a blessing that encapsulates the wish, “Have a blissful life life”.
7) For a person who works at home: “Mebey Kumo1 – Be rich with wealth.” Your house will be filled with manure .
8) To a weaver: “Zarmol Zermo, may the weaving products of your handicraft be beautiful and attractive to you !” It is a kind of consecration wishing that the wearer will have good clothes.
9) For a person who is engaged in in metal works: “Hashlyan Haara Hashlyan Haara/ In the old days, blacksmiths did not accept money from farmers for the iron they grind or mold. Therefore, during the harvest season, they payback the blacksmiths in kind from all types of grain, and the blacksmith takes gifts and sells them in the market to earn money. It means that one should work hard and benefit from your hard work.
10) To a woman who is preparing food items from a false banana:- Etmai Uto !ay Uto/ They wish the food items to be mouth watering.It is a kind of graduation that is given by wishing for it to happen.
11) Lakwanda Samiard man said, “Ashoy Af770 is a dedication to the business so that the market will pick up the meat as soon as possible and it will be in demand.
12) To butchers who prepares parts of the meat: “Ashoy Wodo Ashoy Wolo / May the meat be blessed”
13) To the Grave Diggers — “Duutoy MaynoI Duutoy Mayno1- Death be damned. May death is no more on our land.
14) For a married man: “Sadan Wodhal Gaaratto11-Win. Succeed in all things: Gaaratol Malts – Universal Blessings. It is a kind of graduation that is said by those who wish him to face challengest.
15) A husband to a married woman: “Gadei Doso! Geday Dogo/ – The environment is like a graduation saying that the people will accept you and you will be a beloved person.
16) To a woman who has given birth: “Habba ne kwarei shaqsl Habba newodorsy shqa / kwerei shits” is a kind of graduation that says that even all your burdens during pregnancy have been lightened.
17) Togay Pacopo / Togay Pacopo / Your honor / Your gracewill not be lost / It is like saying that it will be passed on to your descendants. This is where the man who was on the Sagar mule shows his respect and humility and gets continued blessings. This is because the man who has no respect for mankind, if he is arrogant, will be broken soon. They will be like that.
18) Sacrificing those who go to war: “Asa Wono / Ols Woha / Be the winner of the war; It is a graduation that means don’t run away.
19) For the night that bought a new dress; – Age Wur / Angl Wur / As the heart that buys is a temporary treasure, so that the owner of the dress may have a long life and the dress wears out before her; Tomorrow is the graduation day which will make you buy another new one.
The Ethiopian Herald January 4/2023
