The Soddo or Kistane (Gurage: ክስታኔ; endonym: Aymellel, Gordena) are a subgroup of the Gurage who inhabit the south-central part of Ethiopia, considered the northern geographic and linguistic subset of the Gurage and speak the Soddo Gurage language or Kistanigna (ክስታንኛ). They primarily inhabit the Soddo (woreda) in the Gurage Zone, but large amounts also live in various parts of Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Abeba, Nazret, Butajira, and Dire Dawa. They are related to the Sebat Bet Gurage and other Gurage sub-groups, however, in contrast to the Sebat Bet Gurage and Silte, they are exclusively and almost entirely Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians. The Soddo Gurage are known for and pride themselves on their Orthodox Christian identity, which they have historically practiced since ancient times, and from which their name Kistane (lit. Christian) derives its name from, as it is the traditional and preferred name by locals for the people, although Soddo is still popularly used.
A map of the geographic distribution of the different subgroups of the Gurage
The Soddo Gurage are related to their fellow Gurages, including the Dobi, who live south and are also referred to as "Kistane", as well as the Meskan and Muher. They also shared considerable geographic and linguistic polity with the Gafat, now an extinct group, and which was located adjacent to them, encompassing territory that once stretched widely to Gojjam and Kingdom of Damot in the west before the incursions of the Oromo migrations.[1]
^Braukamper, Ulrich (2002). Islamic History and Culture in Southern Ethiopia: Collected Essays. p. 55.
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The Soddo or Kistane (Gurage: ክስታኔ; endonym: Aymellel, Gordena) are a subgroup of the Gurage who inhabit the south-central part of Ethiopia, considered...
people in southeastern Ethiopia. It is an Ethiopian Semitic language of the Northern Gurage subfamily. Its native speakers, the SoddoGuragepeople (Kistane)...
Gurage is a zone in the Central Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. The region is home to the Guragepeople. Gurage is bordered on the southeast by Hadiya...
Menelik led a campaign to incorporate the lands of the Guragepeople into Shewa. In 1878, the SoddoGurage living in Northern and Eastern Gurageland peacefully...
Ethiopian–Adal war, some Harari militia (malassay) settled in Gurage territory, forming the Siltʼe people. Hararis once represented the largest concentration of...
settling in Ifat. Argobba have historical links with Harari and Harla people. Argobba people consider the inhabitants of Doba their ancestors. After the collapse...
or čexā) is a Gurage language spoken in central Ethiopia, mainly within the Gurage Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. It is...
and constant relations with Amharas. Some Gurage societies, such as Orthodox Christian communities where Soddo is spoken, identify as Habesha and have a...
ethnic groups reported in Enemorina Eaner were the Sebat Bet Gurage (80.86%), the SoddoGurage (15.84%), the Silt'e (1.93%), the Hadiya (0.57%) and the Amhara...
Gurage people and others. East Gurage is bordered on the Southeast by Siltʼe Zone North and East by the Oromia Region, and on the West by Gurage Zone....
were the Hadiya (78.16%), the Silte (10.13%), the Kambaata (2.22%), the SoddoGurage (1.8%), and the Amhara (1.63%); all other ethnic groups made up 6.06%...
were the Oromo (67.37%), the Amhara (17.91%), the Sebat Bet Gurage (4.54%), the SoddoGurage (4.43%), the Werji (2.5%), and the Gamo (1.02%); all other...
Gurage languages Silt'e language (Ulbareg, Inneqor, Wolane) Zay language Outer South Ethiopic Gafat language (extinct) North Gurage languages Soddo language...
in central Ethiopia. It is situated in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa. It is also the...
Meskan sub-group of the Sebat Bet Gurage (35.62%), the Silte (22.36%), the Mareqo or Libido (15.7%), the SoddoGurage (12.06%) and the Amhara (3.65%);...
reported in Konteb were the Hadiya (80.98%), the SoddoGurage (6.15%), the Silte (5.27%), the Sebat Bet Gurage (1.96%), and the Amhara (0.79%); all other ethnic...
Southern Nation Nationalities and peoples Regional State (SNNPRS). The major megalithic sites are found in Gedeo Zone, Gurage Zone and Sidama Zone. Tiya is...
reported in East Shewa were the Oromo (69.59%), the Amhara (16.77%), the SoddoGurage (2.21%), the Kambaata (2%), and the Welayta (1.78%); all other ethnic...
reported for this town were the Oromo (83.62%), the Amhara (13.33%), the SoddoGurage (1.12%), the, and the Welayta (0.80%); all other ethnic groups made up...
Amhara (31.6%), the Silt'e (4.54%), the Sebat Bet Gurage (4.05%), the Tigray (3.47%), and the SoddoGurage (2.02%); all other ethnic groups made up 8.25%...
bordered on the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Gedebeno Gutezer Wereda or Gurage zone on the west by weliso, by north by Bacho wereda...
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