sidama

Sidama is an ethnic group native to southern Ethiopia. They form one of the region’s largest communities, primarily living in the area now designated as the Sidama Region and in surrounding parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region. The Sidama speak Sidaama, a Cushitic language in the Afroasiatic family, with several dialects and influences from neighboring languages.

Geography and political status: Historically part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, the Sidama organized for greater self-government. In a 2019 referendum, residents voted to establish a separate Sidama Region. The new region was recognized in 2020, with Hawassa serving as its capital and administrative center.

Economy and culture: The Sidama have a long agricultural tradition dominated by coffee, enset, maize, and sorghum. Sidama coffee is associated with a distinct regional variety. Coffee ceremonies and farm-based social life are central to daily culture. The region’s identity is closely tied to harvest cycles and customary practices.

History and society: The Sidama maintain traditional institutions alongside formal regional administration. Political movements, notably the Sidama Liberation Movement, pushed for regional autonomy, culminating in the creation of the Sidama Region within Ethiopia’s federal system in 2020.