Abba Jifar Palace

Before being incorporated into the central Christian Empire of Ethiopia, Jimma was one and the strongest of the five autonomous Gibe kingdoms of the Oromo people under the leadership of Abba Jifar Abba Gomal, best known as king Abba Jifar also known by his Islamic name (Sultan Muhammad Dawud Ibn Ibrahim) of Jimma.

Towards the end of 1860’s king Abba Jifar built his palace at Jiren which cost him 400 kgs of gold and 65,000 Maria Theresa coins and still stands with unique architecture today. In the compound of the palace are four other buildings: the public mosque, the mosque of Abba Jifar, residential palace of Abba Jifar and residential building of Abba Jobir Abba Dula (the grandson of Abba Jifar). Jimma Museum has on display most of the historic materials of king Abba Jifar and his kingdom