Harar JugolRevitalization Initiative

Presented by the Harar Jugol Revitalization Team, in partnership with the Jugol Cultural Heritage Conservation Office (JCHCO) and the Bureau Head of Trade, Industry and Urban Development in Harar

Location: Ethiopian highlands

Harar

The ancient city of Harar is about one mile long by half that

breadth. An irregular wall, lately repaired, but ignorant of cannon, is

pierced with five large gates, and supported by oval towers of artless

construction. The material of the houses and defences are rough

stones, the granites and sandstones of the hills, cemented, like the

ancient Galla cities, with clay. The only large building is the Jami or

Cathedral, a long barn of poverty-stricken appearance, with broken-

down gates, and two white-washed minarets of truncated conoid

shape. They were built by Turkish architects from Mocha and

Hodaydah: one of them lately fell, and has been replaced by an

inferior effort of Harari art. There are a few trees in the city, but it

contains none of those gardens which give to Eastern settlements

that pleasant view of town and country combined. The streets are

narrow lanes, up hill and down dale, strewed with gigantic rubbish-

heaps, upon which repose packs of mangy or one-eyed dogs, and

even the best are encumbered with rocks and stones. The habitations

are mostly long, flat-roofed sheds, double storied, with doors

composed of a single plank, and holes for windows pierced high above

the ground, and decorated with miserable wood-work: the principal

houses have separate apartments for the women, and stand at the

bottom of large court-yards closed by gates of Holcus stalks. The

poorest classes inhabit "Gambisa," the thatched cottages of the hill-

cultivators. The city abounds in mosques, plain buildings without

minarets, and in graveyards stuffed with tombs,--oblong troughs

formed by long slabs planted edgeways in the ground. I need scarcely

say that Harar is proud of her learning, sanctity, and holy dead. The

principal saint buried in the city is Shaykh Umar Abadir El Bakri,

originally from Jeddah, and now the patron of Harar: he lies under a

little dome in the southern quarter of the city, near the Bisidimo Gate.

Historic roots & cultural importance

Founded before the 11th century

Soon to emerge as the center of Islamic culture and religion in the Horn of Africa

Claimed to be the 4th holiest city of Islam

Sir Richard Burton became the first European to travel through Harar in 1854 A street in early 19th century

View of the historic townSetting & landscape

Living heritage

Enclosed by stone ramparts Enclosed by stone ramparts Accessed by 5 gatesAccessed by 5 gates Enriched by 82 mosquesEnriched by 82 mosques and 102 shrinesand 102 shrines

Unique urban fabric

Photograph by Pascale Meunier

The old town has conserved its close-knit urban layout and architectural uniqueness, influenced both by African and Islamic traditions

There are still some 1,800 traditional Harari houses (Gebar), of which 43% are in good conditions

House under restoration in the old townPhotograph by Pascale Meunier

Unique architectural inheritance

Well-rooted trading tradition

For centuries, Harar has been a major commercial centre, linked by the trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Europe and Asia

Cultural richness & social tolerance

Variety of ethnic groups, both Muslim and Christian, including:

Oromo, Harari Somali, Amhara, Gurage, Tigray

The Harari, who refer to themselves as Gey 'Usu (People of the City) are a Semitic-speaking people once thought to be descending from an Aksumite military outpost.

Key problems & issues

DETERIORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT:

A legacy of underinvestment in basic infrastructure (hindering tourism receptivity)

Chronic water scarcity affecting people’s health and discouraging potential investors, particularly in the tourism sector

Deteriorating living standards, due to overcrowding, physical neglect and substandard basic services - if any

Poor environmental conditions, mainly due to indiscriminate disposal of solid waste and lack of proper sanitation facilities and sewage channels

Key problems & issues

DETERIORATION OF THE BUILT HERITAGE:

Collapse of properties because owners cannot afford maintenance and repairs

Lack of financial support Loss of unique historic

buildings and homes Gradual abandon of the old

quarters by Harari residents High percentage of poor

tenants living in precarious housing

Key problems & issues

FRAGILE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT:

Weak economic basis, due to limited job opportunities and thus people’s high dependency on poorly paid and unreliable informal activities

Poor tourism infrastructure & services, leading to very short visits (2 days max)

Migration of younger population towards Addis Ababa or foreign countries

Opportunities for development

SUPPORT THE PHYSICAL REHABILITATION OF RESIDENTIAL HERITAGE

Provide incentives for building rehabilitation

Support the setup of businesses (e.g. guesthouses or small business enterprises)

Traditional Harari Houses are evenly distributed in the Hugol, but less than 50% are in good physical conditions

Traditional Harari houses in good conditions

Map excerpt from: CIRPS, Harar in Maps: Atlas fo the Ancient Walled Cityof Ethiopia, Università La Sapienza, Roma, 2006

Opportunities for development

SUPPORT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Harar can count on a steady flow of tourists seeking adventure “off of the beaten track”

Support the offer of accommodation within the old town (to date there is only 1 guesthouse)

Improve basic infrastructure (water, sanitation and power)

Promote responsible tourism development (minimising ecological and social impact)

Develop local restaurants and cafés offering Harari and international food

Improve transportation to and from Dire Dawa

Promote cultural events

Opportunities for development

REVIVAL OF THE CENTRAL MARKET:

modified under the Italian influence in the1930s, and central to the old town

Enhance the use of the market building and its inner court by encouraging the opening of new activities attractive to local customers and visitors

Rehabilitate surrounding houses

Upgrade open spaces

Central market

Opportunities for development

ENHANCE LOCAL PRODUCTS &TRADE

Harar is renown for a number of locally-grown products such as coffee beans

Improve manufacturing of typical Harar products

Enhance working conditionsTrain entrepreneurs in

business developmentEncourage co-operatives

of entrepreneurs and service providers

Improve conservation technology & packaging

Improve sale and distribution systems

Opportunities for development

ENHANCEINCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES LINKED TO TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

The region ,and particularly this town, is famous for its superb basket weaving and coloured wall ornaments

Provide microcredit to support small businesses

Improve working conditionsImprove craftsmanship

skillsEncourage the setup of

small business enterprises (SMEs)

Improve sale and distribution of Harar crafts

Opportunities for development

IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE POOREST

Prioritise investments in infrastructure upgrading and the provision of basic services in the worst-off areas (water, drainage, energy, education and health facilities)

Support incremental housing improvements through grants and micro-credit

Enhance livelihood opportunities for the poorest

Opportunities for development

SETUP A RESTORATION PROGRAM OF KEY LANDMARK BUILDINGS & CULTURAL FACILITIES

Stone wall ramparts Historic gates Mosques Shrines Public buildings

Harar Jugol and its living heritageP

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Thank you