Abba Jifar II
Encyclopedia
Moti Abba Jifar II was King
of the Gibe
Kingdom of Jimma
(r. 1878–1932).
and Queen Gumiti. He had several wives: Queen Limmiti, who was the daughter of the King of Limmu-Ennarea
; Queen Minjo, the daughter of the King of Kaffa
; and Queen Sapertiti, also from Limmu-Ennarea.
In the 1880s, Abba Jifar II conquered a portion of the Kingdom of Janjero
, which lay east of Jimma, along the Omo River
, and incorporated it into his kingdom.
Due to the advice of his mother Queen Gumiti, he agreed to submit to Menelik II, negus of Shewa
in 1884. In 1886, Abba Jifar II paid tribute consisting of "slaves (including eunuchs), ivory, bamboo internodes filled with civet
, jars of honey, locally made cloth, spears, shields ornamented with silver plates, and objects of wood (including stools)." Because of these "shrewd politics" (Herbert S. Lewis' words), which included providing military assistance to Menelik in conquering the neighboring kingdoms of Kullo
(1889), Walamo (1894), and Kaffa (1897), he was able to preserve the autonomy of Jimma until his death. On the other hand, Alexander Bulatovich
states that, when Jimma was annexed to Ethiopia, Emperor Menelik imprisoned Aba Jifar "for inspiring excessive enthusiasm in his own standing army and trying to entice Abyssinian soldiers to his own service" in Ankober for a year. "When he was freed," Bulatovich continues, "Aba Jefar again received the throne of Jimma from Menelik, and after that lesson became one of the most obedient of vassals and one of the most regular in paying tribute to the Emperor."
Queen Gumiti also advised him to expand the cultivation of coffee
in his kingdom, which provided increased revenue for him and his subjects.
In January 1898, as part of a Red Cross mission to southwestern Ethiopia, Bulatovich visited Jimma, and was the guest of Abba Jifar. While in Jeren, Bulatovich treated the Queen Mother for "a little bronchitis". He left the following description of the king:
Towards his later years, Abba Jifar II succumbed to senility. His grandson Abba Jofir
attempted to take control and re-assert Jimma's independence. However, Emperor Haile Selassie responded quickly and sent military forces against Abba Jofir. The soldiers brought Abba Jofir back to Addis Ababa
, where he was imprisoned.
In 1930, Haile Selassie removed an enfeebled Abba Jifar II from power and installed his son-in-law, Ras Desta Damtew
, in his place. Desta Damtew ruled as Governor (Shum) of Jimma while Abba Jifar II was allowed to remain as King (Negus) in a powerless position as titular head. When Abba Jifar II died in 1932, the Kingdom of Jimma was officially absorbed by the Ethiopian Empire.
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
of the Gibe
Gibe region
The Gibe region is used to indicate a historic region in modern southwestern Ethiopia, to the west of the Gibe and Omo Rivers, and north of the Gojeb...
Kingdom of Jimma
Kingdom of Jimma
The Kingdom of Jimma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its western border with Limmu-Ennarea, its eastern border with the Sidamo kingdom of Janjero, and was separated from the Kingdom of Kaffa to the south by the Gojeb River. Jimma...
(r. 1878–1932).
Reign
Abba Jifar II was the son of Abba GomolAbba Gomol
Moti Abba Gomol was a King of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimma .-Reign:Abba Gomol was the son of Abba Bok'a and a woman from the Busase family of the Kingdom of Kaffa....
and Queen Gumiti. He had several wives: Queen Limmiti, who was the daughter of the King of Limmu-Ennarea
Limmu-Ennarea
The Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its eastern border with Jimma, its southern border with Gomma, and its western border with Gumma. Beyond its northern border lay tribes of the Macha Oromo...
; Queen Minjo, the daughter of the King of Kaffa
Kingdom of Kaffa
The Kingdom of Kaffa was an early modern state located in what is now Ethiopia, with its capital at Bonga. The Gojeb River formed its northern border, beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the Konta and Kullo peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo River; to the south...
; and Queen Sapertiti, also from Limmu-Ennarea.
In the 1880s, Abba Jifar II conquered a portion of the Kingdom of Janjero
Kingdom of Janjero
The Kingdom of Janjero was a tiny kingdom located in what is now Ethiopia. It lay in the angle formed by the Omo and the Jimma Gibe Rivers; to the west lay the Kingdom of Jimma and to the south the Kingdom of Garo...
, which lay east of Jimma, along the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
, and incorporated it into his kingdom.
Due to the advice of his mother Queen Gumiti, he agreed to submit to Menelik II, negus of Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
in 1884. In 1886, Abba Jifar II paid tribute consisting of "slaves (including eunuchs), ivory, bamboo internodes filled with civet
Civet
The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....
, jars of honey, locally made cloth, spears, shields ornamented with silver plates, and objects of wood (including stools)." Because of these "shrewd politics" (Herbert S. Lewis' words), which included providing military assistance to Menelik in conquering the neighboring kingdoms of Kullo
Kullö
Kullö is a locality situated in Vaxholm Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 539 inhabitants in 2005....
(1889), Walamo (1894), and Kaffa (1897), he was able to preserve the autonomy of Jimma until his death. On the other hand, Alexander Bulatovich
Alexander Bulatovich
Alexander Ksaverievich Bulatovich tonsured Father Antony was a Russian military officer, explorer of Africa, writer, hieromonk and the leader of imiaslavie movement in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.-Biography:...
states that, when Jimma was annexed to Ethiopia, Emperor Menelik imprisoned Aba Jifar "for inspiring excessive enthusiasm in his own standing army and trying to entice Abyssinian soldiers to his own service" in Ankober for a year. "When he was freed," Bulatovich continues, "Aba Jefar again received the throne of Jimma from Menelik, and after that lesson became one of the most obedient of vassals and one of the most regular in paying tribute to the Emperor."
Queen Gumiti also advised him to expand the cultivation of coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
in his kingdom, which provided increased revenue for him and his subjects.
In January 1898, as part of a Red Cross mission to southwestern Ethiopia, Bulatovich visited Jimma, and was the guest of Abba Jifar. While in Jeren, Bulatovich treated the Queen Mother for "a little bronchitis". He left the following description of the king:
Aba Jefar is still a young man -- handsome, well-built, and somewhat in his prime. He has a typical face: a straight thin nose; bright, handsome eyes which shift suspiciously from side to side; a thick black beard; and black, short-cropped, curly hair. His hands are graceful. He wears large gold rings on all his fingers. Dressed in a white shirt and trousers, he has draped over his shoulders the thinnest white shamma. His feet are also very small and handsome, clad in leather sandals.
Towards his later years, Abba Jifar II succumbed to senility. His grandson Abba Jofir
Abba Jofir
Moti Abba Jofir Abba Dula was king of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimma . He was the grandson of Abba Jifar II.When Abba Jifar II grew senile in his later years, Abba Jofir attempted to seize the throne of the Kingdom of Jimma...
attempted to take control and re-assert Jimma's independence. However, Emperor Haile Selassie responded quickly and sent military forces against Abba Jofir. The soldiers brought Abba Jofir back to Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, where he was imprisoned.
In 1930, Haile Selassie removed an enfeebled Abba Jifar II from power and installed his son-in-law, Ras Desta Damtew
Desta Damtew
Ras Desta Damtew was an Ethiopian noble, an army commander, and a son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I.-Biography:...
, in his place. Desta Damtew ruled as Governor (Shum) of Jimma while Abba Jifar II was allowed to remain as King (Negus) in a powerless position as titular head. When Abba Jifar II died in 1932, the Kingdom of Jimma was officially absorbed by the Ethiopian Empire.