A history of Dedo district (aanaa, wărăda), jimma zone, 1941-1991

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.