Antiquity 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.
Medieval Period 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.
19th century 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."
20th century 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. In 1938, there were shops, five restaurants and Hotel-Restaurant “Romagnolo” in Kwiha. There was also a car service station and an airport. The town was occupied by the
Woyane during their rebellion against the Ethiopian government in late 1943. Kwiha had telephone service at least as early as 1956, when it is reported that the only hotel in town had the only telephone. == Transportation ==