The Dirasha live on the mountains south of Chamo lake in South Ethiopia (5"3'´north latitude, 37"30' east longitude). The town of Gardulla is at the area's highest elevation, 2,561 meters, and used to be the area's administrative center. The present administrative town, Gidole, is at an elevation of 2,100 meters. The area has many springs, but forests are becoming scarce.
Most of the people are farmers, using hillside terraces for soil and water conservation. The Dirasha also cultivate the lowlands to the south and east of the mountains. The main staple food is sorghum, which is stored in underground chambers for as many as ten years. Also teff, maize, barley, oats, ensete, beans and peas, along with vegetables and fruit (banana, lime) are grown in the area. Cattle, goats and sheep are kept for meat; beehives for honey. Donkeys are used to transport goods.
The people call themselves Dirasha, live in Dirashe and speak Diraytta. For outsiders, they are known as Gidole people. The language belongs to the Lowland East Cushitic group with Konso and Oromo. Oromo and Amharic are also spoken in the administrative center for historical reasons. Amharic is the language of instruction. There is only one small Christian booklet that was printed in the late 1960s. Bible translation began in 2003. A trial primer has been developed.
The Orthodox church came into the area with the Amhara administration around 1920 and evangelical missionaries came thirty years later. The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is the main Protestant church in the area and its official membership is 37,000 (2005). Today the traditional religion, its spirit worship and fertility rites, have been marginalized.
Scripture Prayers for the Dirasha in Ethiopia.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Other PDF Profile |
People Name General | Dirasha |
People Name in Country | Dirasha |
Alternate Names | Gidole |
Population this Country | 117,000 |
Population all Countries | 117,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 6 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 11887 |
ROP3 Code | 103364 |
Country | Ethiopia | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Tsegen zone, hills west of Lake Chamo, Gidole town area. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Ethiopia |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 39 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Tsegen zone, hills west of Lake Chamo, Gidole town area.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 55.31 %) |
82.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
18.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Dirasha (117,000 speakers) |
Language Code | gdl Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Dirasha (117,000 speakers) |
Language Code | gdl Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Dirasha |
Primary Language: Dirasha
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2007-2014) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Dirasha | Jesus Film Project |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |