Despite their large numbers, the Sidama lacked a separate ethnic regional state until continuous protests resulted in the proposal being voted on in a November 2019 referendum.

[4] The Sidama people were thought to have originally lived in the historical province of Bali around the Dawa River before being driven out by the Oromos in the early 16th century.

According to oral traditions, the Sidama settlers had found the area to be inhabited by another tribe named the Hofa, but later drove them out.

They have occupied large contiguous segments of land and have therefore been considered to have the highest degree of purity (agna).

[9] According to one authority, the majority of the Sidama practice their traditional beliefs, and only in the 1960s, when European missionaries came to their region, did any leave that faith.

[11] Today, the Sidama area has many schools, and adequate health services, though primary, secondary, preparatory and many colleges and university education has increased .

The anthropologists Irene and John Hamer postulated that spirit possession is a form of compensation for being deprived within Sidama society.