Jimma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimma
Jimmaa
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Scenery in Jimma
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| Nickname(s):
Jimmaa Abbaa Jifaar
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 Jimma
Location in Ethiopia
Jimma
Location in Africa
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| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Region |  Oromia |
| Zone | Jimma |
| Elevation | 1,780 m (5,840 ft) |
| Population
(2007)
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| • Total | 207,000 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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239,022 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Area code(s) | 47 |
Jimma (Oromo: Jimmaa) is the biggest city in southwestern Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It's a special area within the Oromia Region and is surrounded by the Jimma Zone. The city is located at about 7°40′ North latitude and 36°50′ East longitude. Before 2007, Jimma was reorganized to become a special Zone.
Contents
Jimma's Past: A Quick Look
What is now Jimma's northern part, called Jiren, used to be the main city of a big province called Kaffa. This was before the Oromo people moved to the area in the 1700s. The city was first named Hirmata. In the 1800s, Jimma became very important because it was on a major trade route. This route connected Shewa and the Kingdom of Kaffa. It was also close to the palace of the king of Jimma.
A Busy Marketplace
In the early 1800s, Jimma's market was a huge attraction. Thousands of people from nearby areas came to trade. These included people from different groups like the Amhara, Oromo, and many others.
Around the year 1900, a German explorer named Oscar Neumann visited Jimma. He noted that Jimma was one of the richest lands in Ethiopia. He also observed that most of its people were Galla (Oromo) and were Muslim. Their king, Abba Jifar, was very smart. He made a deal with Emperor Menelik, which helped him keep control of his land.
Modern Jimma Develops
The current city of Jimma was built along the Awetu River in the 1930s. This happened during the time when Italy controlled the area. The Italians wanted to make Jimma a major center for Islamic learning. They even started a school to teach Islamic law.
During World War II, the Italian army in Jimma was one of the last to give up. They held out until July 1941.
Jimma Joins Ethiopia
After King Abba Jifar II of Jimma passed away in 1932, the Kingdom of Jimma officially became part of Ethiopia. In 1942, when provinces were reorganized, Jimma became part of Kaffa Province.
In the early 1960s, Jimma was known as the biggest market in southwestern Ethiopia. On a good day, especially during the dry season, up to 30,000 people would come to the market.
In 1975, there was a disagreement in Jimma. College students were helping local farmers who had benefited from new land laws. Local police, who sided with landowners, got involved. This led to more problems, and the government sent a special group to Jimma.
Just before the Ethiopian Civil War ended in May 1991, the city was taken over by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front.
In 2006, the Ethiopian government got a loan to build a paved highway. This road connected Jimma to Mizan Teferi in the southwest.
Jimma's Weather
Jimma has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it has a long rainy season that lasts from March to October.
The afternoons in Jimma are usually warm all year. Temperatures are typically between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius (75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit). Mornings are cooler, usually around 12 to 13 degrees Celsius (54 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) every day.
| Climate data for Jimma | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 35.0 (95.0) |
35.7 (96.3) |
37.7 (99.9) |
38.0 (100.4) |
34.7 (94.5) |
31.1 (88.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.9 (84.0) |
31.6 (88.9) |
30.0 (86.0) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.6 (88.9) |
38.0 (100.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.4 (83.1) |
29.2 (84.6) |
29.3 (84.7) |
27.9 (82.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
25.2 (77.4) |
23.6 (74.5) |
24.1 (75.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.9 (82.2) |
26.7 (80.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.2 (70.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
19.4 (66.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
18.3 (64.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
12.5 (54.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.9 (57.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
13.9 (57.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.3 (54.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
1.5 (34.7) |
4.4 (39.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
8.4 (47.1) |
7.9 (46.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 37 (1.5) |
39 (1.5) |
105 (4.1) |
151 (5.9) |
206 (8.1) |
239 (9.4) |
269 (10.6) |
273 (10.7) |
220 (8.7) |
139 (5.5) |
50 (2.0) |
38 (1.5) |
1,766 (69.5) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 181 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 59 | 62 | 63 | 66 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 73 | 68 | 64 | 70 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 238.7 | 194.9 | 220.1 | 192.0 | 207.7 | 153.0 | 120.9 | 148.8 | 174.0 | 213.9 | 237.0 | 251.1 | 2,352.1 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.7 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 6.4 |
| Source 1: National Meteorology Agency (average high and low) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: World Meteorological Organisation (rainfall 1981–2010)Deutscher Wetterdienst (mean temperatures 1991–2005, humidity 1959–1982, and sun 1991–2005), Meteo Climat (extremes 1952–present) | |||||||||||||
Places to See in Jimma
Some old buildings from the time of the Jimma Kingdom are still standing. One example is the Palace of Abba Jifar. The city also has a museum where you can learn about its history.
Jimma is home to Jimma University, which is a big school. You can also find several busy markets here. The city has an airport for travel.
The Jimma Research Center was started in 1968. It focuses on agricultural research. This center is especially important for improving how much coffee and spices can be grown.
Sports in Jimma
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Jimma. The city has a large stadium called Jimma University Stadium. It can hold 50,000 people and is mostly used for football games.
Getting Around Jimma
Jimma is served by the Aba Jifar (Jimma) Airport. This airport was updated in 2015. The renovations made it possible for bigger planes and more passengers to use it.
Inside the city, people often use "bajajs," which are like small, three-wheeled taxis (similar to "tuk-tuks"). They also use "line taxis," which are converted mini-vans that follow set routes.
Famous People from Jimma
- King Abba Jifar I
- King Abba Jifar II
- President Mengistu Haile Mariam (born in Jimma)
- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
See also
In Spanish: Jima para niños
