Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 43.25%, 39.78% spoke Amharic, 5.79% spoke Kambaata, 3.38% spoke Welayta, and 3.27% spoke Hadiya; the remaining 4.53% spoke all other primary languages reported.
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The five largest ethnic groups reported in Fentale were the Oromo (46.54%), the Amhara (17.73%), the Kambaata (12.19%), the Hadiya (12.19%), and the Welayta (1.08%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.58% of the population.
Until the early 1970s the inhabitants of Dodotana Sire, being Arsi Oromo, were in chronic conflict with Karayu pastoralists from Fentale, as well as with Jille Oromos from in the neighboring woreda, over rights to grazing land and drinking water for livestock.