The Kingdom of Limmu Enarya: the hegemony of King Abba Bagibo

Abstract

ABSTRACTLimmu Ennarya was the first of the monarchical Gibe states, built between 1800 and 1802 in what is now southwestern Ethiopia. It rose to prominence during Abba Bagiobo’s reign. Limmu Enarya was an important trading site for both local and foreign traders throughout the nineteenth-century long-distance trade. However, because of internal power struggles and foreign obstacles, Abba Bagibo’s tenure came to an end, and he was eventually absorbed into the modern Ethiopian Empire by Emperor Menilik in 1891. It was subordinate to the Kaffa Governorate General until the Italian conquest in 1936. In 1941, the central government renamed the previous Limmu Ennarya area as Limmu Awraja. This land encompasses the current districts of Limmu Kossa, Limmu Saqa, Chora Botor, and Nonno Benja. Historians have not adequately investigated and explored the history of the kingdom of Limmu Ennarya; little studies have been undertaken on the Gibe states in general, and Limmu Ennarya in particular. The purpose of the article is to investigate the history of the kingdom of Limmu Ennarya and its dominance and hegemony under the reign of Abba Bagibo. Oral informants and secondary literature are utilized to reconstruct the change and continuity of the historical phenomenon of Limmu Ennarya.KEYWORDS: Abba BagibocoffeeEthiopiaLimmu EnaryaSouthwestern Ethiopia Notes1. The Christian kingdom of Ethiopia refers to the historical kingdom that existed in Abyssinia what is now modern-day Ethiopia, known for its strong connection to Christianity. The kingdom emerged in the early 4th century and is often associated with the Aksumite Empire and later consolidated in 1270’s with expansionist dynasty, which was a dominant political and cultural force in the region until the formation of modern Ethiopian Empire (see Tamrat, Citation2009).2. Guddifachaa is the practice of adopting Oromoo or non-Oromoo clan’s children, usually at an early age, by a certain family. Guddifachaa was viewed as a means of maintaining family lineage, permitting the ongoing existence of ancestors, building political ties, and ensuring care for adoptive parents. Where as Moggaasaa is the adoption of a reasonably large number of individuals, typically by an Oromoo clan or clans, to be assimilated into their community. Moggaasaa is seen as a socio-cultural process of ethnic encounters and integration. It also reveals that features of indigenous religion and related cultural traits of the Oromo have resulted in larger connections of diverse peoples between the 16th and 19th centuries (see Tesema Ta’a, Citation2016).3. Gadaa is an indigenous and democratic style of government utilized by the Oromo people, evolved through decades of communal experience. It governs the community’s political, economic, social, and religious activities and acts as a tool for enforcing moral behaviour, fostering social cohesion, and expressing forms of communal culture. Gadaa has been regarded as a more democratic and just style of governing in the region than other types of governance (see Berisso, Citation2018)4. Abba Dula (the war leader or the defense minister) was also a key member of the gada system. He was elected by the people as the leader of the qondala (army). His principal role was to aid the Abba Boku (the head of the government), especially during times of war. The Abba Boku was additionally advised by a council known as shanee or salgee, as well as retired gada officers as well (see Jalata, Citation2010)5. Indeed, in the 1540s and 1550s, Portuguese soldiers engaged on a military expedition to support the Christian kingdom in its struggle against the Sultan of Adal. However, there were no historical documents that attested to the existence of Portuguese soldiers named Sapera and Sigaro in Limmu Ennarya but the name of dynasty called sapera had practically existed in the kingdom so far.6. The researcher has conducted an interview with elders and traditional societal leader in 2014–2015 while collecting data for MA thesis. He has witnessed that still the title ‘abba’ has been widely used among the society. Only those who has got married and indigenous community were entitled for the title.7. The former territory of districts of Limmu Kossa, Limmu Saka, Nono Benja and Chora Botor are now structured under the administration of Jimma province. During the kingdom of Limmu Ennarya, they were served as the center of the kingdom and enjoyed the hegemony of Limmu Ennarya. The informants basically from districts that were parts of former Limmu Ennarya had confirmed that the decedents of the ruling family clan live currently in formentioned districts.Additional informationFundingThe author received no direct funding for this research.Notes on contributorsDagm Alemayehu TegegnDagm Alemayehu Tegegn is a doctoral fellow at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. He got his MA degree in History from Jimma University in 2016. He was an Assistant professor at Bule Hora University, Ethiopia. He has published articles on academic journals on topics such as history, socio-economic history, culture, and the education field.