Wolqayt

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Wolqayt (also Welqayt, Wolkait, Walkait, etc.; Ge'ez ወልቃይት welḳāyt or wolḳāyt, IPA: [wɔlk’ayt]) is a woreda and region in northwestern Ethiopia. Located in Mi'irabawi Zone in Tigray Region, this woreda is bordered on the northwest and north by Kafta Humera, then separated on the northeast by Tahtay Adiyabo and on the east by Asigede Tsimbela by the Tekezé River, on the southeast by Tselemti, and on the south by Tsegede. The administrative center of Wolqayt is Addi Remets; other towns in this woreda include Maygaba and Awura.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 151,254 of whom 60,763 were males and 60,092 were females; 7,985 or 6.61% of the population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 14.7%. With an estimated area of 4,142.82 square kilometers, Wolqayt has a population density of 29.2 people per square kilometer which is below the Zone average of 86.56.^[1]

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Wolqayt is known for its fertile alluvial soil, which grows cash crops such sesame, cotton and also sorghum. It is also known for the production of essence.

Because this region has long and strong historical ties with Sudan, Tigray, Eritrea and Begemder, it has become a hot spot for all people from all the parts of Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. Most of the people can speak Amharic and Tigrinya. There are some who also speak Sudanese Arabic due to the proximity to the border with Sudan.

Until the 1996 administrative reorganization, Wolqayt was part of Begemder province. Although most of this historic province was included in the newly established Amhara Region in 1996, Wolqayt was allocated to the Tigray Region. This development pleased inhabitants with ties to Tigray but upset those with cultural and historic ties to the people of Gondar.

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