It is also known as Cambat, Kambata, Cambatta, Kambatta or Khambat by various historians and early explorers.

Kambaata was first mentioned in the chronicles of Emperor Yeshaq I. Kambaata was "one of the southern kingdoms with well-established monarchical system...instituted in 16th century and operated without interruption until it ended at the last decade of ninetieth century"[1] when it was incorporated by Emperor Menelik II.

These three autonomous groups speaking dialects of the same language are collectively referred to as the Kambata people.

It is closely related also to the Hadiyya and Sidama languages, spoken in the neighboring regions.

The officially established spelling usage [orthography] taught currently in primary schools in the region deviates from the International Phonetic Alphabet convention.

They also cultivate a variety of tubers, spices, coffee, crops, and vegetables.

Other clans in Kembata province, such as Tembaro, Alaba, and others, live together and form the Kambaata.

In recent years they experienced a large influx of migration to South Africa and Middle Eastern countries.