Abstract:
This study is a historical survey of Setema Wäräda, Ilu Abba Bor zone, 1942-1992. It attemptes
to reconstruct political,socio-economic and cultural aspect of the district in the period under
discussion.The principal method used in reconstructing the thesis is qualitative method with the
combination of historical writing method.
In present time the district is found in south western part of Ethiopia, in Oromia regional
national states in Jimma zone. The district is well known in its the Oromo,Amahara, Tigre and
Käffa ethnic composition who are adherent of different religion who have been living
harmoniously. The main economic system of the district has been agriculture, trade and beekeeping.Politically it was structured in post libration period following re-organization of the
administrative province. Despite their difference there has been socio-cultural, economic cooperation and co-existence among the people. It was said to have the District was founded in
post-liberation period, after the restructuring of the imperial government for political domain.
Thus, 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. In dealing with the
subject, the researcher has attempted to collect and utilize the available archival materials
letters, published and unpublished works like articles, thesis and dissertations as well as oral
information collected from selected informants. Based on the collected sources, the present study
attempted to assess how much the post-liberation changes impacted the social, economic and
political life of the people living in Setema district. The findings showed that in the early time of
the Oromo settlement in Setema district the people living in the study area were governing
themselves by the principles of the Gadaa system.
