Qwiha

The hill of Kwiha Cherqos located on the eastern fringe of the modern city was settled during the Aksumite Period and hosted monumental buildings, possibly including a church. Monumental stone pillars typical of the Aksumite architecture can be seen near the new church at the summit of the hill.[2][3]

A Muslim community is attested in Kwiha between the 10th and 13th century through Arabic funerary stelae discovered in the field known as Bilet, east of the tell of Kwiha Cerqos.[4][5]

On the northern edge of town are ruins, including a set of monolithic pillars. The ruins were first described by Nathaniel Pearce in the early 19th century, which included the presence of inscriptions. he also mentions the presence of a sacred spring whose waters "afflicted with disease resort from far and near to bathe."[1] There is also a tradition that the ruins were part of a church dedicated to saint Cyriakos (in Ethiopia known as Qirqos respectively Chirqos/Cherqos) and destroyed by Imam Ahmad Gragn. Although no other remains of this structure has been recorded, a more recent church stands nearby and "grave digging has exposed rough walls and possibly Aksumite pottery."[6]

The Guida dell'Africa orientale Italiana describes Kwiha in 1938, during the Italian occupation, as having a small Italian settlement below the center of town, and little north of the pass a small church of San Francesco da Páola built by an Italian military unit.[7] In 1938, there were shops, five restaurants and Hotel-Restaurant “Romagnolo” in Kwiha. There was also a car service station and an airport.[8] The town was occupied by the Woyane during their rebellion against the Ethiopian government in late 1943.[9]

Kwiha had telephone service at least as early as 1956, when it is reported that the only hotel in town had the only telephone.[7]