Kaffa

The place-name "Kaffa" has a rich history and significance. It was the name of an early modern state located in what is now Ethiopia, with its first capital at Bonga¹². The Kingdom of Kaffa was founded around 1390 and existed until it was annexed by Ethiopia in 1897¹².

The etymology of Kaffa is thought to be from the Arabic "qahwah" meaning "a drink from berries"¹. Interestingly, the English word "coffee" is derived from the same root¹⁴. This is likely due to the region's historical association with coffee production.

Today, Kaffa is a province on the southwestern side of Ethiopia¹. The land where this former kingdom lay is in the southern parts of the Ethiopian Highlands with stretches of forest. The mountainous land is very fertile, capable of three harvests a year¹². The administrative center of this province is Bonga⁵.

So, the place-name "Kaffa" carries both historical significance as a former kingdom and cultural significance in relation to coffee.