Harar

Harar, sometimes spelled Harrar or Harer, is a city in Ethiopia situated in the eastern extension of the Ethiopian highlands, about five hundred kilometers from Addis Ababa. It is located on a hilltop, with an elevation of 1885 meters. It is the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division (or kilil) of Ethiopia. As of 1994, it has a population of 76,378.

History

Called "Gey" ("the City") by its inhabitants, Harar was founded between the 7th and the 11th century (according to different sources) and emerged as the center of Islamic culture and religion in the Horn of Africa. It preserved its political and cultural independence from the rest of Ethiopia for centuries, and in 1520 it became the capital of an independent Muslim kingdom under Abu Bakr. From Harar, Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, also known as "Gragn the Left-handed," launched a war of conquest in the sixteenth century that extended its territory and even threatened the existence of the Christian Ethiopian empire. His successor, Emir Nur ibn Mujahid, encircled the city with a wall, 4 meters high and with five gates. This wall, called Jugol, is still intact, and is a symbol of the town to the inhabitants.

Related Topics:
Islam - 1520 - Abu Bakr - Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi - Sixteenth century - Christian - Nur ibn Mujahid

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The sixteenth century was the Golden Age of Harar. The local culture flourished, and many poets lived and wrote there. It also became known for coffee, weaving, basketry and bookbinding. The rulers of Harar also struck its own currency, the earliest possible issues bearing a date that may be read as AH 615 (= AD 1218/19); but definitely by AD 1789 the first coins were issued, and more were issued into the nineteenth century.1

Related Topics:
Poet - Coffee - Weaving - Basketry - Bookbinding - AH - 1

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The city managed to maintain its independence until 1875, when it was conquered by Egypt. During this period, Arthur Rimbaud lived in the city - his former house now a museum. Ten years later, it regained its independence, but this lasted only two years when the city was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire of Menelik II.

Related Topics:
1875 - Egypt - Arthur Rimbaud - Museum - Menelik II

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Harar lost some of its commercial importance with the creation of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad, initially intended to run via the city but diverted north of the Highlands to save money. As a result of this, Dire Dawa was founded in 1902 as New Harar.

Related Topics:
Djibouti - Dire Dawa - 1902

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In 1995 the city became an Ethiopian region (or kililoch) in its own right. A pipeline to carry water to the city from Dire Dawa is currently under construction.

Related Topics:
1995 - Ethiopian region - Kililoch - Pipeline - Water

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