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Asella
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Asella (Oromo: Asallaa, Amharic: አሰላ) is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region 156 km (97 mi) south from Addis Ababa, this town has a latitude and longitude of 7°57′N 39°7′E / 7.950°N 39.117°E, with an elevation of 2,430 meters. Asella hosts an Asella Airport (IATA code ALK). Asalla was the capital of Arsi Province until that province was demoted to a Zone of Oromia with the adoption of the 1995 Constitution. It retains some administrative functions as the seat of the present Arsi Zone.
Key Information
History
[edit]Asalla town got its start before the Second Italian-Abyssinian War. The Italian occupiers wanted to make Asela into a provincial capital, but they were unable to build more than one two-story building and some warehouses of masonry. The 6th brigade and two companies of the 5th brigade of the King's African Rifles captured Asella on 10 April 1941, after pursuing General De Simone south from Dire Dawa and forcing their way past the Awash River and a dug-in Italian position. Brigade headquarters were afterwards set up in the town.[3]
In 1946, a Swedish Mission laid the foundations for a hospital and a school in Asella, which was ordered closed in 1966 when a government hospital was built. The town was subjected to a serious epidemic of dysentery during 1953, and a locust invasion in April 1961. In 1957, Asella was the southern end of the national telephone network, and by 1960, Asella had one of the ten municipal slaughter houses in Ethiopia; further, that year, a branch of the Ethiopian Electric Light and Power Authority had begun operation in the town.[3]
Asella has been the home of many long-distance runners, including Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Derartu Tulu. The Arsi University was established in Asella in 2015.[4]
Demographics
[edit]The 2007 national census reported a total population for Asella of 67,269, of whom 33,826 were male and 33,443 were female. The majority of the inhabitants said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 67.42% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 22.59% of the population were Muslim, and 8.75%% of the population were Protestant.[1] The official estimate of population for mid 2022 produced a total of 139,537 inhabitants, of whom 69,459 were male and 70,078 were female.[2]
The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 47,391 of whom 21,993 were males and 25,398 were females.[5]
Climate
[edit]In the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, Asella is categorised as having a subtropical highland climate (Cwb).[6] Monthly temperature variation is low, due to its elevation and closeness to the equator. The seasons are only distinguished by the intensity of rain, which is highest in August and lowest in December.
| Climate data for Asella (Kulumsa) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.7 (72.9) |
23.7 (74.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
24.7 (76.5) |
24.3 (75.7) |
23.2 (73.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.9 (73.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) |
16.5 (61.7) |
17.7 (63.9) |
18.3 (64.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
17.2 (63.0) |
16.2 (61.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
9.1 (48.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
11.1 (52.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.2 (50.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.7) |
67 (2.6) |
86 (3.4) |
120 (4.7) |
82 (3.2) |
90 (3.5) |
122 (4.8) |
135 (5.3) |
107 (4.2) |
38 (1.5) |
11 (0.4) |
9 (0.4) |
886 (34.7) |
| Source: FAO[7] | |||||||||||||
Notable people
[edit]- Zemzem Ahmed (Runner)
- Mohammed Aman (Runner)
- Sisay Bezabeh (Runner)
- Abreham Cherkos (Runner)
- Haile Gebrselassie (Runner)
- Lamecha Girma (Runner)
- Andualem Negusse (Footballer)
Media organizations
[edit]- FBC, Fana Broadcasting Corporation S.C., Radio Station at Asella Fana FM 90.0
Notes
[edit].svg){kind=small}
- ^ a b 2007 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Oromia Region, Vol. 1 Archived November 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Tables 2.1, 2.5, 3.4 (accessed 13 January 2012)
- ^ a b Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (web), 2022: https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Population-Size-by-Sex-Zone-and-Wereda-July-2022.pdf
- ^ a b "Local History in Ethiopia" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 7 December 2007)
- ^ "History of Arsi University". www.arsiuniversity.com. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
- ^ "Population and Housing Census 1994 – Oromia Region" (PDF). Ethiopian Statistics Agency. 1994. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ "Climate: Asella - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "World-wide Agroclimatic Data of FAO (FAOCLIM)". Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
Asella
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Geography
Location and environment
Asella is situated in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region in central Ethiopia, serving as the administrative capital of the zone.[9] The town lies approximately 175 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, accessible via the Addis-Adama-Asella road, which connects it to the national capital through the Adama (Nazret) junction.[9] Its geographic coordinates are 7°57′N 39°7′E, at an elevation of 2,430 meters above sea level, placing it within the Ethiopian Highlands.[9] The topography of Asella features a rugged, inclined highland plateau, forming part of the eastern margin of the central Main Ethiopian Rift within the broader Great Rift Valley system.[9][10] Positioned west of Mount Chilalo, an extinct silicic stratovolcano rising to 4,036 meters, the area exhibits a large-scale monocline tilting toward the rift axis, interspersed with minor horsts and grabens and fault scarps with vertical throws of 20–150 meters.[10] From this elevated vantage, Asella offers views westward toward Lake Ziway, approximately 75 kilometers away in the Rift Valley lowlands.[10] The natural environment surrounding Asella encompasses agricultural highlands shaped by volcanic activity, including the nearby East Ziway volcanic field, which contributes to fertile soils with medium to high potential for rain-fed farming.[10][11] The town's total area spans 5,395.6 hectares (53.96 square kilometers) as per the 2023 structural plan, supporting intensive cultivation on these volcanic-derived soils.[12] To the southeast, proximity to the Bale Mountains—about 200 kilometers away via Asella—enhances regional biodiversity and provides upstream water sources that influence local hydrology and ecosystems.[13]Climate
Asella features a subtropical highland climate classified under the Köppen system as Cwb, marked by mild temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons influenced by its elevation of approximately 2,430 meters above sea level and proximity to the equator.[14][15] This classification reflects a temperate oceanic variant with dry winters, where seasonal temperature variations are minimal due to the highland moderation, though diurnal fluctuations are pronounced.[16] The annual average temperature in Asella ranges from 16°C to 18°C, with maximum temperatures averaging around 21–23°C and minimums near 9–10°C, resulting in a typical diurnal range of 10–15°C.[14][17] Seasonal shifts are subtle, with the warmest daytime highs reaching about 22°C during the dry period and coolest nights dropping to around 5–8°C in the winter months, such as December.[18] These moderate conditions stem from the region's high elevation, which tempers equatorial heat without extreme seasonal swings.[14] Precipitation averages 800–900 mm annually, concentrated in two rainy periods that define the local seasons.[14] The primary wet season, known as Kiremt, spans June to September, accounting for over 70% of the yearly total and peaking in August with up to 150 mm per month; a shorter secondary season, Belg, occurs from March to May.[17][14] The dry season from October to June sees the lowest rainfall, with December recording just 10–20 mm, accompanied by low humidity levels around 60%.[18] Additional weather patterns include occasional frost in the higher elevations during the dry season and frequent morning fog, which contribute to the region's variability.[17] These conditions support two agricultural cropping cycles annually but pose risks of soil erosion from intense rains in the wet season; the inland location precludes tropical extremes like hurricanes.[14][17]History
Early settlement and colonial era
The Arsi highlands, home to Asella, were settled by Oromo pastoralists during their major expansions in the 16th century, as waves of migration from southeastern Ethiopia brought the Arsi Oromo subgroup to the region, integrating with local agro-pastoral economies.[19] The region also witnessed the Aanolee Massacre on September 6, 1886, where forces under Emperor Menelik II massacred thousands of Arsi Oromo resisting expansion.[1] The Italian occupation of Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941 profoundly shaped Asella's early urban development, as Fascist authorities designated it the planned capital of Arsi Province amid the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[20] Construction of foundational infrastructure, including roads linking to Dire Dawa and rudimentary administrative structures, commenced in 1936 to support colonial governance and military logistics, though wartime disruptions curtailed extensive building.[20] Italian forces formalized the town as an administrative and garrison center in 1937, utilizing it as a strategic military base for operations in the southern highlands.[20] Key events during this era included the influx of Italian personnel and select Ethiopian collaborators, temporarily shifting local demographics from predominant Oromo pastoralists toward a more administrative composition, though detailed records remain sparse. On April 7, 1941, British forces captured Asella without opposition, as it was already under siege by Ethiopian patriot guerrillas, marking the end of colonial control in the area.[21] The Italian era's legacy endures in Asella's central urban layout, with early road networks and planned administrative zones influencing the town's spatial organization and facilitating subsequent post-war expansion as a regional hub.[20]Post-war and modern development
Following the liberation of Ethiopia from Italian occupation in April 1941, Asella came under restored Ethiopian administration, marking the beginning of centralized governance and development initiatives in the region.[21] During the imperial era under Emperor Haile Selassie, Asella was established as the capital of Arsi Province. In 1945, the Swedish Mission Bibeltrogna Vänner (BV) initiated the establishment of a hospital and school in Asella, with Dr. Gunnar Agge and his family arriving in 1946 to oversee operations; these facilities provided essential healthcare and education services during the early post-war period.[21] The mission's school contributed to early educational efforts but was ordered closed around 1966 to make way for a government hospital on the site, while the mission hospital itself ceased operations in 1966 and its building was repurposed as a Lutheran Theological Seminary.[21] The post-war era also brought significant health and environmental challenges to Asella. A severe dysentery epidemic struck the town throughout 1953, straining local resources and contributing to widespread illness.[21] In April 1961, a locust invasion devastated crops in the surrounding areas, exacerbating food insecurity and agricultural setbacks in the region.[21] Infrastructure improvements began to transform Asella in the late 1950s. The national telephone network was extended to the town in 1957, establishing Asella as the southern terminus of the line and facilitating communication with Addis Ababa.[21] Electric power generation reached Asella in 1960 through the Ethiopian Electric Light and Power Authority (EELPA), enabling basic electrification and supporting urban growth.[21] In the late 20th century, Asella's administrative role expanded following Ethiopia's regional restructuring after the 1991 overthrow of the Derg regime, when the former Arsi Province was reorganized into the Arsi Zone within the Oromia Regional State, with Asella designated as its capital.[22] This shift positioned Asella as a key agricultural hub, benefiting from integrated rural development projects like the Chilalo Agricultural Development Union (CADU), initiated in 1967, which promoted modern farming techniques and boosted productivity in the Arsi highlands.[21] Entering the 21st century, Asella experienced steady institutional and urban progress. Arsi University was founded in Asella on October 15, 2014, by Council of Ministers Regulation No. 322/2014, as a public higher education institution to advance regional education and research in fields like agriculture and health sciences.[23] Urban expansion continued, though tempered by sporadic unrest in Oromia during the 2010s, including protests that highlighted governance tensions without derailing overall development momentum.[24] By 2025, Asella has undergone a population boom driven by migration and economic opportunities, accompanied by increased investments in infrastructure and sustainable practices. Notable among recent initiatives are urban farming programs, which have expanded through collaborations involving local institutions like Kenenisa Polytechnic University and schools, promoting food security and environmental resilience in the expanding town.[25]Demographics
Population trends
Asella's population has experienced steady urban expansion, reflecting broader patterns of growth in Ethiopian towns. The 1994 national census recorded a total population of 47,391, with 21,993 males and 25,398 females.[26] By the 2007 census, this figure had risen to 67,269, comprising 33,826 males and 33,443 females, indicating an average annual growth rate of approximately 3.1% over the intervening period.[26] More recent projections estimate the mid-2022 population at 139,537, including 69,459 males and 70,078 females, maintaining a near gender balance of roughly 50/50.[4] This represents an average annual growth of 5.0% from 2007 to 2022, largely driven by rural-urban migration seeking agricultural opportunities, improved education access, and the town's role as the Arsi Zone capital.[4]| Year | Total Population | Males | Females | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 47,391 | 21,993 | 25,398 | Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (via citypopulation.de)[26] |
| 2007 | 67,269 | 33,826 | 33,443 | Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (via citypopulation.de)[26] |
| 2022 (proj.) | 139,537 | 69,459 | 70,078 | Ethiopian Statistics Service (via citypopulation.de)[4] |