The Majang Zone
The Majang Zone is one of the three Indigenous administrative zones of the Gambela Region and the ancestral homeland of the Majang (Majengir) people—an ancient forest-dwelling community whose cultural identity and livelihood have long been shaped by the dense highland rainforests of southwestern Ethiopia. In contrast to the river-based societies of the Anywaa or the pastoral systems of the Nuer, the Majang traditionally lived in dispersed forest settlements, practicing shifting cultivation, beekeeping, and herbal-based subsistence within one of Ethiopia’s richest ecological landscapes.
Anthropological and governmental research describes the Majang as one of Ethiopia’s most culturally distinct Indigenous groups. Their society is characterized by egalitarian social structures, communal decision-making, and a decentralized leadership system that reflects their long relationship with the forest environment. Unlike hierarchical political systems found elsewhere, Majang communities historically operated without hereditary chiefs, organizing themselves through age-based leadership, consensus, and shared responsibility. Their intimate ecological knowledge—rooted in the harvesting of wild honey, forest hunting techniques, and sustainable land management—reflects generations of adaptation to the region’s mountainous and biologically diverse terrain.
Geographically, the Majang Zone stands apart from the lowland ecosystems of the Anywaa and Nuer zones. It consists of high-rainfall areas, dense evergreen forests, and rugged topography that shelter some of Ethiopia’s last remaining natural rainforest systems. This unique environment has shaped Majang culture, settlement patterns, and economic life, reinforcing their identity as a forest-oriented people deeply connected to their land.
Administratively, the Majang Zone is composed of two woredas—Mengeshi and Godere—each containing multiple kebeles that reflect the traditional spatial organization of Majang settlements. These kebeles are typically small, forest-linked clusters rather than large riverine or urban settlements. Even as they participate in Ethiopia’s federal governance system, Majang communities continue to maintain cultural practices rooted in their ancestral relationship to the forest.
Today, the Majang Zone plays a vital role in both the cultural heritage and environmental health of the Gambela Region. It is recognized not only as an Indigenous heartland but also as an ecological sanctuary critical for biodiversity, watershed protection, and climate resilience. At the same time, the Majang face contemporary challenges, including land rights issues, pressures from agricultural investment, deforestation, and integration into broader regional politics. Their efforts to balance cultural preservation, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship remain central to their identity and future.
Majang Zone — Woredas and Kebeles
1. Mengeshi Woreda (16 Kebeles)
- Ashine
- Baya
- Dopee
- Dushi
- Goshine
- Godere 01
- Godere 02
- Godere 03
- Gubeti
- Jenji
- Kummi
- Kukuri
- Pajeji
- Shone
- Tengi
- Yeri
2. Godere Woreda (14 Kebeles)
- Akashi
- Dunychayi
- Gelesha
- Gengebeshi
- Gonji
- Goshine
- Gomare
- Kabo
- Mekakelegna Metti
- Metti 01
- Metti 03
- Shumay
- Toli Tokali
- Tiliku Metti