The Sidama people are an ethnic group native to the Sidama Region in southern Ethiopia. With a population of around 2.97 million according to the 2007 census, they speak Sidamu Afoo, a Cushitic language within the Afroasiatic family. The Sidama have a distinct cultural identity and a rich historical background that has shaped their society. Historically, the Sidama are believed to have originated in the Bali province near the Dawa River. During the early 16th century, they faced displacement by the Oromo people and migrated westward to the area around Lake Hawassa. There, they encountered and displaced the Hofa tribe, settling in what is now known as the Sidama Region.…