Wolane people

The Wolane people are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. Wolane people speak a Semitic language which is closely related to Sil'te, Zay and Harari languages.

History
Tradition states some of the Wolane people's ancestors were Kabir Hamid who arrived from Harar as well as saint Aw Barkhadle. Wolane are considered as once an extension of the ancient Harla people including Silt'e and Harari people prior to the Oromo expansions of the sixteenth century.

In the thirteenth century, Wolane were historically associated with the Muslim state of Hadiya Sultanate and designated Hadiya people alongside other ethnic groups in the region. In the 1600s, their leader Garad of Hadiya Sidi Mohammed defeated the troops of Emperor Susenyos I at the Battle of Hadiya thus protecting their frontier from Abyssinian annexation for the next three hundred years.

Wolane’s territory was annexed into Gurage after Abyssinian forces of Menelik invaded in the 1800's following the defeat of Qebena leader Hassan Enjamo. Wolane domain today remains under the Gurage zone's eastern most district, however there has been calls by the Wolane to push for a separate Wolane region.

Wolane Community
The Wolane community consists of 160,000 people. A remarkable number of Wolane is living in Addis Ababa. The Wolane in the countryside live mostly in higher places, called "Däga". These places are very suitable for the cultivation of Enset, which is one of Wolane people stample foods.