Harar Jugol Revitalization Initiative Presented by the Harar Jugol Revitalization Team, in...
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Transcript of Harar Jugol Revitalization Initiative Presented by the Harar Jugol Revitalization Team, in...
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Hodaydah: one of them lately fell, and has been replaced by an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
hoto
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by
Pasc
ale
Meu
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Thank you