kingdom · Horn and East Africa

Kingdom of Gumma

1810 CE – 1902 CE (approx.)

A Gibe Oromo kingdom of south-western Ethiopia, known for its fervent Islam and for resisting incorporation into Menelik's empire.

Origins

Gumma emerged around 1810 west of the Didessa, as Oromo groups of the region formed hereditary monarchies. It was one of five Gibe kingdoms, alongside the Kingdom of Jimma, Limmu-Ennarea, the Kingdom of Gomma and the Kingdom of Gera.

Rule and society

Gumma's kings governed through appointed officials and drew revenue from farming and trade in coffee, ivory and slaves. The kingdom became known as a centre of militant Islam, and its rulers waged campaigns against non-Muslim neighbours. Little else is recorded in detail.

Decline and legacy

Gumma was subjected to the Ethiopian Empire in the 1880s, and after a revolt it was finally conquered and annexed in 1902.

Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.

Connections (1)

More states of Horn and East Africa →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Gumma. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gumma
MLA
“Kingdom of Gumma.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gumma. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Gumma.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gumma.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Gumma’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gumma (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻