Weldiya or Woldia () is a town, woreda, and capital of the North Wollo Zone in the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia. It has an elevation of 2112 meters above sea level and is surrounded by Guba Lafto woreda. Both are located north of Dessie and southeast of Lalibela.
A notable landmark is a church Weldiya Gebriel.
History
19th century
When the missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf passed through Weldiya in April 1842, it was the headquarters of
Dejazmach Faris Aligas and his brother
Birru Aligas. They were absent at the time of Krapf's visit, raiding the territories of Imam Liban of the Were Himano.
[ Journals of the Rev. Messrs. Isenberg and Krapf, Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, Detailing their proceedings in the kingdom of Shoa, and journeys in other parts of Abyssinia, in the years 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842, (London, 1843), p. 443]
As early as 1890, Weldiya was the administrative center of Yejju Province. Its Tuesday market was well known for its mules.[ "Local History in Ethiopia") The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 19 November 2007)]
20th century
Weldiya was attacked in 1948 by farmers who were disgruntled after their appeals over their loss of land were ignored. They seized the prison in Weldiya and freed the prisoners. Despite this success, the revolt was eventually put down.
On 16–17 November 1988 Weldiya was subjected to an aerial attack by the
Derg, but no deaths were reported.
[Africa Watch Report, Ethiopia: "Mengistu has Decided to Burn Us like Wood": Bombing of Civilians and Civilian Targets by the Air Force, 24 July 1990]
21st century
TPLF aligned fighters captured Weldiya on 11 August 2021, but it was recaptured in December 2021.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town had a total population of 46,139, of whom 23,000 were male and 23,139 female. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 80.49% reporting that as their religion, while 18.46% of the population said they were Muslim.
[ Census 2007 Tables: Amhara Region , Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for Weldiya of 24,533 in 5,413 households, of whom 11,689 were male and 12,844 were female. The two largest ethnic groups reported in this were the Amhara people (93.92%), and the Tigrayans (4.32%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.76% of the population. Amharic language was spoken as a first language by 95.2%, and 3.75% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 1.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. 79.75% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 19.44% of the population said they were Muslim.[This town is located on the way from Dessie to mekkele and to be connected by railroad on four directions. 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (accessed 9 April 2009)]
Education
There is a rising university, Weldiya University, and about a dozen other governmental and private primary and secondary schools.
Economy
Travertine for use in building has been worked on a minor scale nearby.
Transportation
Woldia is connected by all weather roads to
Addis Ababa and
Mekelle by highway 2 and to
Debre Tabor by highway 22.
The city will be served by two railways under construction: the Awash–Weldiya Railway and the Weldiya–Mekelle Railway, forming one line. The Station won't be in Weldiya itself, but in Hara Gebeya (town about 17 km, station about 18 km east of Weldiya), which has only a third of Weldiya's number of population.
Sports
The 25,155-capacity
Woldia Stadium is located in Woldia. Two football clubs,
Woldia City and Woldia SC, both use the venue for home games.
Notes
