The Kebena people (also spelled Qebena) are a Cushitic ethnic group found in the Gurage Zone of Ethiopia. They speak the Kebena language which is a sub of Cushitic family group very similarly to the Kembata and Alaba languages . The Kebena have unique and beautiful culture . The Kebena people live in the Ethiopia predominantly in Kebena Special Woreda with it’s seat Wosherbe. In the 19th century they were part of the Islamic kingdom of Hadiya , in fact it was one of the two principalities of Hadiya .^[1] It became known as Kebena or Hadya Womba. It also became an important commercial and Islamic center in the late 19th to early 20th century . After the fall of the Hadiya kingdom the Kebena people took upon themselves to restore the rule and order in the region under the Islamic sharia which was led by Imam Hassan Injamo. The Kebena subsist on agriculture. Unlike their southern kinsmen, the Hadiya, the Kebena are followers of Islam. Kebena governors of their region were known as Garads, the most notable Garad was Hassan Injamo who led a resistance against Menelik's invasion.^[2]

Demographics

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, the Kebena group has a total population of 34,379, of whom 17,231 are men and 17,148 women; none of the population were urban inhabitants.^[3]

Religion

The majority of the group were reported as Muslim, with 89.52% of the population reporting that belief, while 8.22% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.91% were Protestants.^[4]

References