A Historical survey of Soro Woreda of Southern Ethiopia Anciant to the present

This study deals with the historical survey of Soro woread from 1982 to present. It explores social, economic and administrative themes, but also attempts to show the interrelationship between these themes. Socially, Soro evolved during this time from a home-town of a relatively homogenous society and culture to a place of residence for a diverse and increasingly cosmopolitan population. The period of Italian occupation (1936-1941) was socially significant because it saw the first major influx of people into Soro from beyond the borders of the former Kingdom whose name it had inherited. The Post-Liberation period (1941-74) was characterized by the evolution of an even more complex social textile than before. An even greater influx of people and greater interaction came about partly because the imperial order retained and enhanced. Economically, the story of Soro during this period was one of both continuity and change. administration that was put in place after Liberation simply built on that beginning. The social, economic and administrative historical survey of Soro are closely intertwined, however. The admixture of peoples and cultures as well as the nature of the urban social institutions that evolved in the Soro are closely tied to “the cash crop revolution ” the evolution of the Soro into administrative center as well as the introduction of somewhat peculiar administrative and fiscal institutions came about in part due to the location of the Soro in the heart of the “crop production” as south nation nationality of people republic came to be referred. In short, both the urbanity and the urbanization of Soro can be explained by the story of crop production and marketing. This thesis also, begins with historical study of the district by revealing different developments in the woreda before the Italian occupation. The consolidation and restoration of the Haile Selassie’s old region and reforms that took place by the imperial government in various fields in connection with the administration and land related issues and the responses of the peoples of the woreda to these changes were the main area of concern. Besides this the study points out, the different administrative systems, the expansion of religion, socio-cultural practices and views on security problems in the district. Moreover, this thesis attempted to assess changes and development that the woreda had gone through during the military government and the period of peace and security of TPLF.