Basketo

Basketo is an ethnolinguistic community in southern Ethiopia. The Basketo people are concentrated in the Basketo area within the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of the country, where they are one of the region’s recognized ethnic groups.

The Basketo language, spoken by the majority of the Basketo, belongs to the Omotic branch of the Afroasiatic language family. It features several dialects and is used in daily life for communication, culture, and traditional storytelling. Multilingualism is common in the region, with some speakers also using regional languages such as Amharic in wider communication.

Socially, the Basketo have a community-oriented tradition based on extended family networks and clan lineage. Traditional practices include rites of passage and harvest-related ceremonies. Today, religious life is diverse, with communities practicing Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Protestant denominations, and elements of indigenous beliefs alongside mainstream faiths.

Economically, the Basketo are primarily engaged in subsistence agriculture. Common crops include enset, maize, sorghum, beans, and coffee, with livestock keeping contributing to household livelihoods. The rural economy is supplemented by participation in regional markets and small-scale trade.

Historically, the Basketo have interacted with neighboring groups such as the Sidama and Hadiya. In the modern Ethiopian state, they are recognized as a distinct ethnic group, and their regional homeland forms part of the administrative framework of the SNNPR.