Jimma Museum Travel Guide: Top Sights in Ethiopia, Tours & Travel

⁰

Jimma Museum- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Ethiopia; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 1 hours

Jimma Museum is located just a few hundred meters southeast of Jimma's central bus station, offering a focused glimpse into the royal legacy of the former Kingdom of Jimma and the everyday life of the Oromo people. Housed in a compact building of seven rooms, its most notable exhibits include King Abba Jifar II's personal furnishings—such as ceremonial thrones, armchairs, a striking royal portable toilet and ornate utensils—and religious manuscripts, along with regional dress and ethnographic items reflecting local Oromo and neighboring groups. Guided English tours explain the significance of these artifacts, highlighting Jimma's historic role in southwestern Ethiopia's coffee‑growing, trade networks and Islamic monarchy that persisted into the early 20th century.

Operators offering tours in Ethiopia

Attractions in Jimma

Aba Jifar Palace

4.8

Reviews of Jimma Museum

Redwan Jemal

5
Reviewed: 2025-05-12

The Jimma City Museum stands as a remarkable gateway to the history and culture of the Royal family of Abba Jifar. It is packed with a range of historical local artifacts and tools related to the King and his family. Though the pieces inside are particularly impressive, the exhibits are not well curated. The museum itself is very rundown and poorley maintained. Architecture and interior is not kept up. But I was told that the whole exhibition of the museum is set to be moved to the renown Palace of Abba Jifar, located at the outskirt if the city, once the reinnovation of the palace is finished. On the otherhand, the tour guide was able to go indepth on numerous pieces in the museum, which I was satisfied with. The enterance fee is only a 100 ethiopian birr. It is located right besides the Science Cafe in the heart of the city.
Sumantra Misra

2
Reviewed: 2024-12-09

The artifacts and displays need urgent attention. The entire facility is in immediate need of Repair and Restoration preferably with the intervention of Conservation Architects
Yemesrach Assefa

4
Reviewed: 2024-08-24

It's a museum in the center of city of Jimma. You will learn a lot about the story of the legendary King Aba Jefar who was the ruler of Jimma kifle hager in the 19th century. Most of the items, clothings, gifts and all the home appliances they used to use by that time. You will have a guided visit in the museum, a well prepared guide helped us learn a lot. Photography is not allowed in the museum
Beminet Teshome

4
Reviewed: 2023-02-07

It is a must see place with historical artifacts. The museum contains historical artifacts from Aba Jifar to the present, and the items used by kings when they visited Jimma are kept as relics. It is a recommended place for anyone visiting Jimma. Also Abajfar Palace is far from the museum but is a great heritage worth visiting.
Leul Habte

5
Reviewed: 2021-07-24

The Jimma Musuem has a repository of tools, attire, gifts and other articles of Abba Jifar, the last King of Jimma. It also features religious manuscripts and old pictures. It might not be one of the best museums you get to see, but I am personally happy they have managed to collect various items in an organized manner which is not very common in Ethiopia. Located right at the heart of the center and affordable prices (ETB 5 for Ethiopians and ETB 25 for Tourists). Highly recommended. Photography is prohibited so unfortunately no photos🙁