Abstract:
This study examines a history of Dedo district, from 1941 to 1991. It is reconstructed in an
attempt to survey the Political, Economic and Socio-Cultural aspects of the District in the period
under discussion. The year 1941 is important bench mark because in 1941 Ethiopia was
liberated from the Italian rule and Emperor Haile Sellassie reinstated to the power. Following
this major social, economic, political and administrative changes took place in the Country. This
condition results the establishment of Dedo District in 1942. From 1989 until the Ethiopian
People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front Regional restructuring, the District had the status of
an Awuraja called Nadda-Dedo. The year 1991 was the year in which the Socialist Regime was
wiped out from political arena and the new Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front
took power. So after 1991 Dedo District separate from Omo-Nadda and restructured as one
District of Jimma Zone. The thesis carefully utilized archival, oral, and written secondary
sources. The main method employed in the study is the qualitative combined with historical
research method. The chapters are organized thematically and chronologically in the period
under discussion.
The District is found in the South Western part of Ethiopia in Oromia region in Jimma Zone. It
was said to have the District was founded in post liberation period. Among other things, the
period witnessed the establishment of the District and its political center at Sheekii. During the
Imperial period Abba Qoros played significant role in the administrative tier of the District but
later after the end of the Imperial period they were dismantled from the administrative system
and were replaced by Socialist brewed personalities.The basic subsistent economies of the
District were agriculture and trade. In the District there are Oromo, Yäm, Dawuro, Amhara,
Kaffa and Tigray people who has been living together for long period of time. Infrastructural,
modern education and telecommunication in the district was said to have been introduced in
1961 and 1962 respectively while the road, health service and postal services are introduced
during the Derg regime.
