The state of Gambella is situated in the Southwestern part of Ethiopia bordering with Benishangul Gumuz to the North, bordering Oromo Region to the West, bordering the Southern Ethiopia People’s Regional State to the South and
The state of Gambella is situated in the Southwestern part of Ethiopia bordering with Benishangul Gumuz to the North, bordering Oromo Region to the West, bordering the Southern Ethiopia People’s Regional State to the South and bordering the Sudan Republic to the West.
Modern Gambella is inhabited by Anywaa (or Anuaks), Mezenger, Opuo, Kommo, Nuer, Olam, Dhwok, Bula and Maw. The Manjanger ethnic group is located in northwestern part of the region and occupied mountainous region. Komo and Opwo are found in the northwest of the region bordering Sudan and Wello. Bula, Dhwok, and Olam are located in the southern part of the region. Nuer is found on the west part of the region. Anuak is found in most of the central, west and east parts of the region. The economy of Gambella is based on agriculture, semi pastoralist and bee keeping.
Anywaa, Komo, Opwo, Bula, Dhwok, Olam and Manjanger are all natives of the region. Nuers are Sudanese and they infiltrated Gambella mostly starting 1950s as a result of the protract civil war, including Southern Sudanese and northern-based subsequent governments. The initial population of Nuers who arrived in the east of the region was very few.
Gambella has a history that date back to over 2,000 years. A good starting point in analyzing the country’s status is the period referred to as Gambella’s “Freedom age”, when the entire Pa-Anywaa (Anuak country) was first united under one ruler. There is no serious dispute over the existence of Gambella as an independent state during this period. Even Ethiopia’s own historical records acknowledged the 17th century period refer to Gambella as a strong state.
As there is no documented history before 17th Century because education was far from the