Jakafi

Jakafi is a small town located in the western region of Ethiopia, within the administrative boundaries of the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region. The town sits at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters above sea level and lies along a key road connecting the regional capital, Nekemte, to the major trading center of Jimma. According to the 2007 national census, Jakafi had an estimated population of around 12,000 residents, though recent estimates suggest that the number may have grown to roughly 15,000 by the mid‑2020s.

The local economy is predominantly agrarian, with a significant portion of the population engaged in subsistence farming of coffee, maize, and teff. Coffee production in particular has gained prominence in the past decade as the Ethiopian coffee market has expanded both domestically and internationally. In addition to agriculture, Jakafi hosts a modest commercial sector that includes small shops, a weekly market, and a community health center that serves the surrounding rural areas. The town's strategic location on a main transport corridor has facilitated the movement of goods between the highlands and the lowlands, contributing to modest economic diversification.

Jakafi also has cultural significance for the Oromo people, who form the majority of its inhabitants. Traditional Oromo music and dance are integral to local festivals that attract visitors from neighboring districts. The town's history reflects broader patterns of settlement and development in Ethiopia's western highlands, characterized by a blend of indigenous practices and the influences of colonial and post‑colonial state policies.