Wolaita

Wolaita, also spelled Wolayita or Wolayta, refers to an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. The Wolaita people primarily inhabit the Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and form one of the region’s largest communities. They speak Wolaytta, an Omotic language of the Afroasiatic family, with several dialects.

Geographically, the Wolaita Zone centers on the highland plateau around Wolaita Sodo, the zone's administrative capital. The population is also dispersed in other parts of Ethiopia and in the diaspora.

Historically, the Wolaita maintained a traditional political order known as the Wolaita Kingdom before incorporation into the Ethiopian Empire in the late 19th century during the campaign of Emperor Menelik II. This period marked the integration of Wolaita lands into the modern Ethiopian state.

Culture and society: The Wolaita are known for enset-based agriculture; common crops include enset, maize, sorghum, teff, and coffee. Family and clan ties are important, and traditional music and dance accompany social events. Religiously, most Wolaita today follow Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Islam, or Protestant denominations; some retain traditional beliefs.

The Wolaita are an important cultural group in Ethiopia with a rich linguistic heritage and distinctive traditions that continue to shape regional identities within the country.