At first, the Badi of Saqqa were the predominant clan (which led to the alternate name of Jimma Badi), but late in the 18th century another group, the Diggo of Mana, began to extend their domain, conquering the Lalo clan who lived around Jiren, and gaining access to the market and trade center at Hirmata (later called Jimma).

[4] Herbert S. Lewis credits Abba Jifar with having initiated "many administrative and political innovations", despite the lack of specific historical evidence.

[7] It was shortly after his son Abba Jifar II assumed the throne that the power of the neguses of Shewa began to reach into the Gibe region for the first time in centuries.

"[8] However, heeding the wise advice of his mother Gumiti, he submitted to Menelik II, and agreed to pay tribute to the negus, and counseled his neighboring kings to do the same.

[11] Following the death of Abba Jifar II, Emperor Haile Selassie seized the opportunity to finally annex Jimma.

Other officers oversaw other day-to-day activities at the palace, including artisanal labor and royal court guest hospitality.

They served as officials in the royal palace, where they attended to the needs of the King's wives and supervised the abattoir and meal preparation, among other activities.

During the evening, the King typically dined alone with one of his wives, and often summoned instrumentalists or Arab merchants with a gramophone for musical accompaniment.

[13] In Jimma, Maria Theresa Thalers (MTT) and salt blocks called amoleh were used as currency until the reign of Emperor Menelik II.

Coffee (Coffea arabica) became a major cash crop in Jimma only in the reign of King Abba Jifar II.