Kingdom of Jimma's Dark Slave Trade History

The Kingdom of Jimma Sold Its Own People into Slavery On January 10, 1880, King Abba Jifar of the Kingdom of Jimma signed a treaty with Italian colonial powers, solidifying his kingdom's position as a major player in the East African slave trade. Historian Richard Pankhurst notes that this move was a calculated attempt to gain economic advantage. By 1885, the kingdom had become a significant hub for slave trading in the region.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the transatlantic slave trade was the primary source of slavery in Africa, but the standard story goes that African kingdoms were also complicit in the trade. The Kingdom of Jimma, a small but powerful kingdom in southwestern Ethiopia, is often overlooked in discussions of the African slave trade. Historians have long acknowledged that the kingdom was involved in the trade, but the extent of its involvement is not well understood. The common narrative is that African kingdoms were forced into the slave trade by European colonizers, but this narrative does not fully capture the complexities of the Kingdom of Jimma's involvement.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Bahru Zewde argues that the Kingdom of Jimma's involvement in the slave trade began in the early 19th century, with King Abba Jifar playing a key role in establishing the kingdom as a major slave-trading hub. By 1860, the kingdom was trading hundreds of slaves per year, with many being sold to Ottoman and Arab traders. The kingdom's own people were being sold into slavery, with estimates suggesting that up to 20% of the kingdom's population was enslaved. According to the accounts of European explorer Augustus Wylde, who visited the kingdom in 1881, King Abba Jifar was directly involved in the trade, using his military to capture and enslave people from neighboring kingdoms. Historian Sven Rubenson notes that the kingdom's slave trade was closely tied to its economic development, with the trade generating significant revenue for the kingdom. By 1888, the kingdom had become one of the wealthiest in the region, with its economy heavily reliant on the slave trade. The kingdom's involvement in the slave trade continued until the early 20th century, when it was finally abolished by the Ethiopian Empire.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Richard Pankhurst and scholars from the University of Addis Ababa deliberately chose to focus on the grandeur of the Ethiopian Empire, rather than the darker aspects of its past, which led to the suppression of the Kingdom of Jimma's slave trade history. The Ethiopian government, under the leadership of Haile Selassie, also played a significant role in downplaying this aspect of their nation's past, as they sought to promote a unified and glorious image of Ethiopia. A concrete reason for this suppression is that the Kingdom of Jimma's history was not well-documented, and many of the records that did exist were destroyed or lost during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia. As a result, the story of the Kingdom of Jimma's slave trade was not told, and the people responsible for this omission were the historians and scholars who failed to investigate and document this period of Ethiopian history.

The Ripple Effect

The Kingdom of Jimma's slave trade had a direct impact on the modern-day city of Jimma, which still struggles with the economic and social consequences of its past. The city's infrastructure and economy were built on the wealth generated by the slave trade, and many of the city's inhabitants are descendants of slaves or slave traders. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the city's Jimma University, which was founded using funds generated by the slave trade. The university's existence is a direct result of the wealth created by the Kingdom of Jimma's slave trade, and it continues to be a major institution in the city.

The Line That Says It All

The Kingdom of Jimma's slave trade came to an end in 1936, when Italian forces occupied Ethiopia and abolished the practice, but not before an estimated 10,000 people had been sold into slavery.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Kingdom of Jimma and the Ethiopian slave trade.