The Konso people (population in 2007 245.000; CSA 2007) live in the Konso area of south Ethiopia. Konso (now called Karat) is a town in south-western Ethiopia, and is the administrative centre of the Konso special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region.
Konso, named after the Konso people, is known for its religious traditions, waga sculptures, and nearby fossil beds (the latter an archaeological site of early hominids). The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 1997.
Konso society is largely agricultural, and involves the irrigation and terracing of mountain slopes. Staple crops include sorghum and maize, with cash crops including chat, cotton and coffee. Cattle, sheep, and goats are raised for food and milk. During the last 30 years, the people have repeatedly been affected by drought and famine.
We have recently started to develop a bibliography on the Konso area. With some people from Konso we collect information about publications. We also aim to make unpublished university thesis and books available to the public.