Turmi is a market town in south-western Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Omo Zone of the South Ethiopia Regional State, the town has a latitude and longitude of 4°58′N 36°29′E / 4.967°N 36.483°E / 4.967; 36.483 with an elevation of 925 metres above sea level.

Turmi
Turmi market
Turmi market
Turmi is located in Ethiopia
Turmi
Turmi
Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 4°58′N 36°29′E / 4.967°N 36.483°E / 4.967; 36.483
Country Ethiopia
Region South Ethiopia Regional State
ZoneDebub (South) Omo
Elevation
925 m (3,035 ft)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total1,087
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)

Home to many of the Hamer people, Turmi has a weekly market on Mondays. One product available at this market is incised gourds, used by local women as shopping baskets.[1] Turmi is also notable for its traditional dances and the Jumping of the Bulls.

In January, 2005, Turmi was the location for global conference of pastoralists. This was the largest meeting of its type, attended by about 200 pastoralists, government representatives and UN and donor organisations from 23 countries on four continents. Conferees discussed common problems and possible strategies for continuing their way of life in an evolving world.[2]

Demographics edit

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Turmi has an estimated total population of 1,087 of whom 576 are men and 511 are women.[3] It is the largest settlement in Hamer woreda.

The 1994 census reported Turmi had a total population of 600 of whom 319 were men and 281 were women. The five largest ethnic groups reported for this town were the Amhara (33.33%), the Hamer (12.5%), the Goffa (12.17%), the Gamo (9.83%), and the Oromo (9.5%); all other ethnic groups made up 22.67% of the population. Amharic is spoken as a first language by 52.67%, 11% Hamer, 7.17% Oromiffa, and 6.67% spoke Konso; the remaining 22.49% spoke all other primary languages reported.[4]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Local History in Ethiopia" (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 20 June 2007)
  2. ^ "Relief Bulletin: 21 January 2005", UN-OCHA-Ethiopia (accessed 26 February 2009)
  3. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.4
  4. ^ 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.4, 2.13, 2.16 (accessed 30 December 2008).

External links edit