10 Facts about the Kambaata people of Ethiopia
1. The Kambaata people are bordered on the north by the Hadiya and Alaba, on the south by the Tembaro and Wolayta, on the west by the Wolayta and Hadiya, and on the east by the Billate River, which separates them from the Arsi Oromo.
2. Kambatissa speakers mainly reside in the highland areas around the Hambarrichcho massif, in the Kambaata-Xambaaro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia, but can also be found in other regions in Ethiopia and around the world.
3. The population of Kambata is close to 1 million, and the largest religion in Kambata is Christianity (93%), with close to 80% of them being evangelical.
4. The language of the Kambaata (Kambatissa) is part of the Highland East Cushitic branch of the Cushitic languages.
5. One oral tradition recounts the word Kambaata translates to “this is the place” (where we live), which was given by the first inhabitants of Kambata. The first inhabitants are known as the “Ambericho Seven,” who were a group of seven tribes of the Sidama-Omotic peoples, namely Gozuta, Ebbejena, Effegena, Tazuta, Hinnira, Bazata and Saga.
6. Some historians believe the name Kambaata “this is the place” (where we live) refers to four former states with peoples, who had the same language and culture, but different historical origins: the people occupying Angacha, Kedida-Gamela, Kachabirra, Damboya, Doyogana, and Adillo woredas or districts), the Dubamo, the Donga, and the Tembaro (Grenstedt, 2000).
7. Mount Hambaricho is the highest mountain in Ethiopia’s SNNPR region and is also considered to be the heartland and historical center of Kambata,
8. The Kambata Zone administration recently built 777 staircases that crisscross the mountain from the bottom to the summit to enhance ecosystem development and encourage tourism.
9. The Ensete plant, also known as “false banana,” is an integral part of the Kambata regions’ culture. The Kambata, who are very skilled at Ensete cultivation, can differentiate between an estimate of 40 different Ensete types, and Ensete also remains the predominant crop of the area.
10. The Kambaata maintain practices such as the Sera tradition, which refers to an unwritten body of rules and community members' procedures. Sera is administrated at different levels, and one of these levels is Hera, which can be understood as a traditional territorial organization. Hera essentially refers to a group of people on a given territory living under the same Sera- rules and procedures (Léonard, 2013).
Interested in learning a few words in the Kambaata language? See below
Hello, how are you (Singular)?: Xumma yoont?
Hello, how are you (plural)?: Xumma yoonta?
Fine and you (Singular)?: An Xummaa, at xummaan?
Fine and you (Plural)?: An xummaa, anno’oot xummaan?
Welcome: Eman xummiin waalt!
Thank you: Galaxxaamm!
What’s your name?: Su’mmukk ayeet?
Goodbye (Singular): Xumma ih!
Goodbye (Plural): Xumma ikke!
Click here if you are interested in learning more about the Kambaata language.
MUSIC, CUISINE & CULTURE
Kambata Ethiopian Music video by Tadesse Mekete for his new Traditional Ethiopian song Iteta. Official Music Video.© 2019 Admas Entertainment / Dixiom Inc. All Right...
