HARAR (1850m altitude)

Harar located in south Eastern Ethiopia about 526 kms from Addis Ababa, has recently registered by UNESCO as World heritage site.
Harar is among those cities in Africa that enjoy a mild climate throughout the year.
The well-known 19TH century traveler, Sir Richard Burton, who was the first European visitor to enter what he called "forbidden city " left us a vivid memorable ten days in Harar. In his own words " Harar is not hot, cool but not cold" quoting a description of heaven-favored city, according to a Persian poet. He also compares it with the climate of the Italian city of Tuscany. Butchlozer(101,1955) a traveler who visited a century after Burton, has this to say about the natural beauty of Harar; It doesn't matter you go there when the coffee bushes are in flower and the air is heavy with their strong bitter scent, or when the ripe fruit of the Orange trees glow in the sunlight, it is always lovely in Harar; there is always something blooming, always being harvested.
At least seven settlements are mentioned as the precursors of Harar according to a popular legend. These were esshkanti gai (gai means "city" or "settlement").
Fereka gai, harawe gai. Hassen gai; Ruhuk gai; Sammti gai; and Tuhkungai. All this sites are now awaiting archaeological excavation to tell their stories, except Hasseb gai wich still keeps the name north Harar. These settlements resolved their enmity and agreed to establish their center in Harar. This center had fertile soil with abundant water to establish a sustainable agriculture system: it was also a healthier location, being free from the common tropical diseases, such as malaria, which are rampant in surrounding lowland.

There are many legends related to the foundation of the city. However, shakih Abadir, “the patron Saint" comes first when the name of Harar is mentioned. He is said comes with his entourage in the tenth century from Arabia. It is believed that he was the one who organized the administrative system of the city and also gave Harar its name. With its numerous mosques and shrines, Harar is considered the "fourth holy city of Islam" after Mecca, Mediana and Jerusalem. Perched on a gentle hill, drained by network of rivers, Harar is an ancient walled city. It was founded a millennium ago, between the seventh and ninth AD, by a Semitic- speaking people.
The agricultural system of Harar was effective and efficient. Using terracing and irrigation as well as intercropping which is useful for tropical soil and a symbolically correct practice, the harar farmers were able to produce grain and cash crops in adequate supplies for local consumption and export. It is also considered as the original cultivation center of the world famous coffee Arabica and the mild stimulant leaf called (cath edulis). Both are lucrative export items, which provide the Ethiopian economy with substantial financial resources.
Harar was not dependent exclusively on agriculture, but also benefited from caravan trade, since it was geographically a half way house of extensive trade between the
Red Sea, the Indian Ocean littoral and the vast Ethiopian hinterland .To facilitate the international trade of those days; Harar had to mint its own coinage. In the whole of Ethiopian Region, it was the second center after Axum to produce coins since at least the Middle Age on. Harar also played a role bridge between the old Akumite coins and the modern ones since the first coins of Menlik were struck in Harar. This broad and stable economic base helped Harar to become one of the leading center of learning in the horn of Africa and to develop a unique urban culture uninterrupted through the centuries.
The shift of the capital city of the Adal State from Deker, an old settlement, to the city of Harar in 1520 brought about the heyday of Harar. The new capital becomes the springboard for Imam Ahmed Gragn, to incorporate to the Horn of Africa. However, the leading role of Harar did not last long. After the wars of Gragn, Harar was exposed to frequent attack from different sides. Nur, the nephew of Imam Ahmed Gragn, built the remarkable defensive wall popularly known as jugal. This wall warmly engulf the city which is confined within 48 hectares and 362 narrow lanes. The circumference of the wall 3,348 meters; with five traditional gates.
These five gates demarcate the administrative as well as the socio-zones of the old city. Jugal gives a sense of direction and belonging to Harar. This wall, therefore, defines the major cultural texture of holistic fabric of the Harar. Without it, the native feels as if the link with social and cultural environment is missing. The social system is governed by gai a da the culture of Harar Communicated through a unique language which is a mixture of Cushtic and Semitic languages known as gai sinan, the language of the city. The hala mahal etiquette, of the city is a binding force to enhance urban culture. After its heyday as the center of the mighty Adal state, Harar gradually declined and become a small city- state ruled by the dawoodi dynasty from 1647 to 1875. The occupying force of Egypt interrupted the rule of the dynasty between 1875-1885. The closed gates to European travelers were wide open during the Egyptians occupation. Rhmbaud, Paulischke (1888) and many other came to Harar. The last Amir, Abudullahi, took over the mantle power for less than 2 years, but was defeated by Menelik at the Battle of Chelenqo in 1887.
Thereafter, Harar was incorporated into greater Ethiopia, which was then in the process of formation. Although it lost its independence, Harar remained one of the most important economic emporia of the new empire ofthe new empire of Emperor
Menelik. The occupation of Harar is considered one of the major turning point for the success of Menelik against his rival powers, both internal and external. In fact, "it would be impossible to write the history of Modern Ethiopia without reference to Harar".