Agew Awi (Amharic: አገው አዊ), also written Awi Zone, is one of the zones of Ethiopia’s Amhara Region. Its administrative centre is Injibara, and it is divided into seven woredas. The 2007 census counted 982,942 residents; the Ethiopian Statistics Service projects 1,308,515 for 2022. The zone covers 9,148.43 square kilometres in the south-west of the region, between the Blue Nile lowlands and the Gojjam highlands.
The zone takes its name from the Awi, a sub-group of the Agaw, who make up just under 60 per cent of its people and speak Awngi alongside Amharic.
| Administrative centre | Injibara |
|---|---|
| Woredas | 7 |
| Area | 9,148.43 km2 |
| Population (2007 census) | 982,942 |
| Population (2022 projection) | 1,308,515 |
| Main languages | Amharic, Awngi |
Woredas (Districts)
Agew Awi has seven woredas. Figures are the 2007 census count and the Ethiopian Statistics Service projection for 2022.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Ankasha Guagusa | 199,826 | 256,973 |
| Banja Shekudad | 111,975 | 158,003 |
| Dangila | 158,688 | 218,765 |
| Fagita Lekoma | 126,367 | 160,936 |
| Guagusa Shekudad | 83,930 | 110,187 |
| Guangua | 223,066 | 300,682 |
| Jawi | 79,090 | 102,969 |
Major Towns
Populations below are the 2022 projection; the 2007 census figure is given in the woreda table above for comparison.
| Town | Woreda | Population (2022 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| Dangila | Dangila | 56,000 |
| Chagni | Guangua | 52,300 |
| Injibara | Banja Shekudad | 47,500 |
| Agew Gimjabet | Ankasha Guagusa | 24,800 |
| Addis Kidam | Fagita Lekoma | 20,100 |
| Tilili | Guagusa Shekudad | 20,400 |
Smaller settlements include Azena and Kessa in the central highlands, Kilaj and Menta Wuha in Guangua, and Dek and Addis Alem in Dangila woreda.
Geography
Agew Awi occupies the western edge of the Amhara Region. It borders Benishangul-Gumuz Region to the west, North Gondar and the Gondar zones to the north, and West Gojjam to the east.
The terrain is comparatively flat and fertile for the Amhara highlands. Elevations run from about 1,800 to 3,100 metres, averaging near 2,300 metres, and drop sharply in Jawi woreda towards the Blue Nile lowlands. About nine permanent rivers cross the zone on their way to the Abay (Blue Nile). Two crater lakes, Zengena and Tirba, sit in the central highlands, and the Zimbiri marsh lies about five kilometres south-west of Addis Kidam. Remnant forests survive at Dukma and Apini near Kidamaja, around Lake Zengena, on the Goobil hill next to Kessa, and at Khatasa.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 982,942 people, 491,865 men and 491,077 women, in 215,564 households. That was 37 per cent above the 1994 count of 717,085. Only 12.5 per cent lived in towns, one of the lower urban shares in the region.
The Awi were 59.82 per cent of the population and the Amhara 38.44 per cent. Amharic was the first language of 53.38 per cent and Awngi of 45.04 per cent. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity was practised by 94.4 per cent and Islam by 4.5 per cent. The 2022 projection of 1,308,515 is an estimate, not a count; Ethiopia has held no national census since 2007.
Economy & Local Life
Farming supports most households. High and reliable rainfall lets many farmers take more than one crop a year, and the Agaw land-management practices of terracing and controlled grazing are credited with keeping soils productive. Hail during the rainy season is the main crop risk.
Barley, teff, maize, wheat and pulses dominate the highland woredas; sesame and lowland cereals grow in Jawi. Beekeeping is a substantial cash earner around Ankasha Guagusa, where farmers shifted to modern hives and sold well over a thousand quintals of honey in a single season. Market days in Injibara, Chagni, Dangila and Gimjabet draw traders from surrounding kebeles.
Getting There
The main approach is the Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa highway through Dangila and Injibara. Injibara lies roughly 120 kilometres south-west of Bahir Dar and around 440 kilometres from Addis Ababa by road. Chagni sits on the western spur towards Benishangul-Gumuz. The nearest scheduled airport is at Bahir Dar, with daily flights to Addis Ababa.
Road travel across the Amhara Region has been disrupted since 2023 by fighting between federal forces and Fano militias, with route closures and checkpoints reported at short notice. Check current conditions before travelling.
FAQ
Where is Agew Awi Zone?
In the south-west of Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, between Benishangul-Gumuz to the west and West Gojjam to the east.
What is the capital of Agew Awi Zone?
Injibara, a highland town at about 2,560 metres in Banja Shekudad woreda.
How many woredas are in Agew Awi Zone?
Seven: Ankasha Guagusa, Banja Shekudad, Dangila, Fagita Lekoma, Guagusa Shekudad, Guangua and Jawi.
What language is spoken in Agew Awi?
Amharic and Awngi, the Cushitic language of the Awi Agaw. The 2007 census recorded 53.38 per cent Amharic speakers and 45.04 per cent Awngi speakers.
What is the population of Agew Awi Zone?
982,942 at the 2007 census, projected at 1,308,515 for 2022.
What is the largest town in Agew Awi?
Dangila, projected at about 56,000 for 2022, ahead of Chagni and the zonal capital Injibara.