A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD

works.
3.4) History of the <strong>study</strong> area and demographical data
This section leans against Bayon and Placet (2000), Hassen (1994) and Abir (1968)
Oromo people came from south of Ethiopia (Bale, Sidamo) and since 1540 began to
quickly conquer half of southern Ethiopia. They finally conquered a third of current Ethiopia,
and took control of Gibe River region around 1750. Natives got assimilated to the different
Oromo tribes. Huge forest areas were cleared around Jima allowing agricultural practices of
polyculture/livestock since 1770. At the beginning of the 19 th century were created the Gibe
states and kingdoms: Limmu, Gomma, Guma, Gera and then Jimma in 1830. The powerful
Abba Jiffar monarchy of Jima kingdom became quickly dominant in the region. On the high
plateaus were cultivated wheat and orge whereas valleys sheltered teff, sorghum, maize,
cotton, enset and peas. In the mid 19 th century, Hirmata (Jima market) was one of the most
important merchant cities of southern Ethiopia, linking Kaffa (providing slaves, coffee and
ivory) to northern Ethiopian territories. The bulk of the trade passed through the hands of
traders who mainly contributed to increase the coffee production. Unlike Kaffa,
Limmu and Gera kingdoms, coffee didn’t grow naturally in Jimma and Gomma. The
Muslims 27
increasing traders’ demand incited Jima’s king and landowners to plant coffee in forests. Fifty
years after, Jimma production exceeded Gera one. This growth was even more significant for
Goma kingdom becoming the biggest coffee
producer of the region. Before Menelik II
conquests in the end of the 19 th century,
these territories were still states and
kingdoms (sultanates more exactly). The last
king was Abba Jiffar from 1878 to 1932.
But since 1884, Jima kingdom was paying
an annual tax to Menelik II who took control
of southern kingdoms. By this way, this
kingdom kept some autonomy and the king
of Shewa forbade building churches in this
Muslim territory, then the Amhara
landowning (unlike the other Gibe kingdoms).
27 Since Muslims were forbidden to own lands until the end of Haile Selassie regime in 1974.
34