Raised in Bichena in Gojjam province, Adamu was educated as a priest in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
It is cultivated in Gojjam, and the Semien Omo Zone and Konso special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on lands between 1300 and 2000 meters above sea level.
Although traditional account is that Gelawdewos retreated as far south as Shewa, C.F. Beckingham has produced evidence showing that the Ethiopian Emperor fled far to the south, over the Abay River into Gojjam, then back over the Abay to eventually reach Gindabret, "lying south of the most southerly reaches of the Blue Nile", sometime after 26 May.
Five Ethiopian provinces—Gojjam, Eritrea, Hararghe, Tigray, and Wollo—all received record low rainfalls in the mid-1980s.
Abune Tewophilos was born as Meliktu Jenbere in the Parish of Debre Elias, district of Debre Marqos, in Gojjam.
The Awis live in Agew Awi Zone in Central Gojjam, and have a few communities in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region.
Troops of the Gideon Force departed on December 1940 in small columns towards Mount Belaya in Gojjam (the contemporary Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region).
Landmarks include the fortified mountaintops of Jebelli and Mutera, which was used as a stronghold of the rulers of Gojjam until Birru Goshu was defeated and captured by Kassa Hailu (later known as Tewodros II) in the Battle of Amba Jebelli.
After being delayed for about a year in Massawa, Rassam at last received permission from the Emperor to enter his realm, but due to rebellions in Tigray was forced to follow a circuitous route taking him to Kassala, then to Metemma, along the western shore of Lake Tana to finally meet with Emperor Tewodros in northern Gojjam.
These were the remnants of 51 battalions which had managed to escape from Gojjam ahead of Gideon Force, and were trapped in the town when Wilfred Thesiger completed a 50-mile march in 24 hours with his men and seized the ridge connecting two hills the Italians had intended to use for their retreat.
In more recent times, it was used as an honorific negus for life title bestowed on governors of the most important provinces (kingdoms): Gojjam, Welega and the seaward kingdom (where the variation Bahr Negasi 'King of the Sea', was the ancient title of the ruler of present-day central Eritrea) and later Shewa.
One of Salomon's first acts as Emperor was to make a series of appointments: Ras Ayadar became the Ras Betwoded, Kenfu Adam governor of Damot, Wand Bewsossen governor of Begemder, Dejazmach Hailu Adara governor of Gojjam, Dejazmach Hailu Eshte governor of Semien, and Basha Mebaras Boqatu deputy to the Blattengeta.
His father, a local scholar and Muhib, initiated him to continue his Islamic studies at a nearby famous learning centre called Gojjam, near Bati, and stayed for seven years learning fiqh.