Meki

Meki መቂ (Amharic) Maqii (Oromo)
Town
Meki
Coordinates: 08°9′N 38°49′E / 8.150°N 38.817°E / 8.150; 38.817
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Oromia
Zone	East Shewa Zone
Woreda	Dugda
Elevation	1,636 m (5,367 ft)
Population  (2005)
• Total	36,597
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)

Meki (Amharic: መቂ; Oromo: Maqii) is a town in east-central Ethiopia. Located in the East Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of 8°9′N 38°49′E / 8.150°N 38.817°E / 8.150; 38.817 with an elevation of 1636 meters above sea level. Meki is the administrative center of Dugda woreda.

Visitors in early 1927 found that there was a kind of bridge over the Meki River near the town which could be crossed by a motorcar. The bridge was the creation of a foreign farmer, who had modified a large tree trunk which had grown more or less across the river.^[1]

News sources reported in March 1974 that, as part of the Derg, peasants near Meki rose up against local landlords, settling old grievances. At least 15 persons were reportedly killed: about ten victims had been hacked to death with knives and spears, and the bodies of three people were found in wells. The police regained control after killing a dozen peasants and arresting hundreds.^[1]

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Meki has an estimated total population of 36,597 of whom 18,422 are men and 18,175 are women.^[2] The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 20,460 of whom 9,991 were males and 10,469 were females.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Meki of the Catholic Church has its headquarters in Meki, which also runs a local high school in the town, Meki Catholic School (MCS), and the Community of Saint Paul, a Catholic Association of the Christian faithful, has a presence there.^[3] The Kidist Mariam Pastoral Centre provides training courses for vulnerable women including food preparation, tailoring and hairdressing.^[4]