Bekoji (woreda)

Bekoji (Amharic: በቆጂ^?) was one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Bekoji was bordered on the south by Gedeb, on the southwest by Kofele, on the west by Munesa, on the north by Digeluna Tijo, on the east by Sherka, and on the southeast by the Shebelle River which separated it from the Bale Zone. The administrative center of this woreda was Bekoji; other towns included Lemu Sirba, Meraro, Siltana and Sirbo. Bekoji was divided for Enkelo Wabe and Limuna Bilbilo woredas.

Demographics

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 234,741, of whom 119,275 are men and 115,466 are women; 30,137 or 12.84% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,501.72 square kilometers, Bekoji has an estimated population density of 156.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 132.2.

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 165,788, of whom 81,849 were men and 83,939 women; 16,876 or 10.18% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Bekoji were the Oromo (87.55%), and the Amhara (11.75%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.7% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 87.23%, and 12.57% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.2% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 58.91% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 39.96% of the population said they were Muslim, and 1% were Protestant.

Bekoji

Bekoji (Amharic: በቆጂ) is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of 7°35′N 39°10′E / 7.583°N 39.167°E / 7.583; 39.167 with an elevation of 2810 m. It is the administrative centre of Limuna Bilbilo woreda.

This town is located on the all-weather road to Goba built during the Italian occupation, 56 km south of Asella, and 50 km east of Lake Langano.(The road from Assela through Goba and south to Dodola is now in 2013 tarmac all the way to Goba) A local landmark is the church of Liemu Maryam, east of Bekoji.

Bekoji is also known as the home town of many famous Ethiopian athletes. They include: Derartu Tulu, Fatuma Roba, Tiki Gelana, Mestawet Tufa, the Bekele brothers (Kenenisa and Tariku) and the Dibaba sisters Ejegayehu, Tirunesh and Genzebe. Young athletes in Bekoji are featured in the 2012 documentary film Town of Runners.

History

Besides building a road from Asella to Bekoji, during the occupation the Italians also built a small fort outside the town. After Asela had been captured in April 1941, Henfrey's Scouts (a small force of Ethiopian irregulars) continued south to capture Bekoji supported by armored cars. Because of heavy mud, increasing rains and a shortage of fuel, only a small unit reached the outpost at Bekoji.