Weldiya
Weldiya
Town and district in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Weldiya or Woldia (Amharic: ወልድያ) is a town, woreda, and capital of the North Wollo Zone in northern Ethiopia. Located north of Dessie and southeast of Lalibela in the Amhara Region, this town has an elevation of 2112 meters above sea level.
Weldiya
ወልድያ Woldia | |
|---|---|
Town and woreda | |
Street in Weldiya | |
| Coordinates: 11°49′50″N 39°36′0″E | |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Region |  Amhara |
| Zone | North Wollo Zone |
| Elevation | 2,112 m (6,929 ft) |
| Population (2007)[1] | |
| • Total | 46,139 |
| • Estimate (2021)[2] | 98,911 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Climate | Csb |
A notable landmark is a church Weldiya Gebriel.
19th century
When the missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf passed through Weldiya in April 1842, it was the headquarters of Dejazmach Faris Aligas and his brother Birru. They were absent at the time of Krapf's visit, raiding the territories of Imam Liban of the Were Himano.[3]
As early as 1890, Weldiya was the administrative center of Yejju Province. Its Tuesday market was well known for its mules.[4]
20th century
Weldiya was attacked in 1948 by farmers who were disgruntled after their appeals over their loss of land were ignored. They seized the prison in Weldiya and freed the prisoners. Despite this success, the revolt was eventually put down.[5] On 16–17 November 1988 Weldiya was subjected to an aerial attack by the Derg, but no deaths were reported.[6]
21st century
TPLF aligned fighters captured Weldiya on 11 August 2021, but it was recaptured in December 2021.[7][8]
Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town had a total population of 46,139, of whom 23,000 were male and 23,139 female. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 80.49% reporting that as their religion, while 18.46% of the population said they were Muslim.[9]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for Weldiya of 24,533 in 5,413 households, of whom 11,689 were male and 12,844 were female. The two largest ethnic groups reported in this were the Amhara (93.92%), and the Tigrayan (4.32%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.76% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 95.2%, and 3.75% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 1.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. 79.75% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 19.44% of the population said they were Muslim.[10]
There is a rising university, Weldiya University, and about a dozen other governmental and private primary and secondary schools.
Travertine for use in building has been worked on a minor scale nearby.[4]
Woldia is connected by all weather roads to Addis Ababa and Mekelle by highway 2 and to Debre Tabor by highway 22.
The city will be served by two railways under construction: the Weldiya–Mekelle Railway and the Awash-Woldia Railway.
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- "Population and Housing Census 2007 – Amhara Statistical" (PDF). Ethiopian Statistical Agency. 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- "Population Projection Towns as of July 2021" (PDF). Ethiopian Statistics Agency. 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- "Local History in Ethiopia") The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 19 November 2007)
- Bahru Zewde (2001). A History of Modern Ethiopia (second ed.). Oxford: James Currey. p. 218. ISBN 0-85255-786-8.
- Africa Watch Report, Ethiopia: "Mengistu has Decided to Burn Us like Wood": Bombing of Civilians and Civilian Targets by the Air Force, 24 July 1990
- "Ethiopian military again takes control of Lalibela from rebels". Ethiopian military again takes control of Lalibela from rebels. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
- "Tigray forces defiant in face of Ethiopia call-up". Nile Post. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- Census 2007 Tables: Amhara Region Archived 2010-11-14 at the Wayback Machine, Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.
- This town is located on the way from Dessie to mekkele and to be connected by railroad on four directions. 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (accessed 9 April 2009)
- 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (Retrieved 29 May 2022)