A CITY LIKE NO OTHER IN a country like no other. Hara is where Africa met Arabia, where Ethiopia met Somalia, where Islam met Orthodox Christianity, and farmers met hyenas.
Plastic drums and containers find another life in the market.
The old world meets the new on the streets of Harar, 500 kms from the capital.
Preservation orders protect a large number of historic buildings in the city, which has been a trading post for a thousad years.
Street markets are full of colour and noise.
The walled city is considered the fourth holy city of Islam, and known in Arabic as 'madinat al-awliyaʾ, the City Of Saints.
Harar has 82 mosques and 102 shrines, and links to Islam from the 10th century.
The city grew as a trade route between Arabia, the Horn of Africa, and Ethiopia. Contuing east takes you to Somaliland.
Harar began feeding its hyenas in the 19th century famine, to stop them attacking livestock. Hand feeding is still carried out nightly by two men.
French poet Arthur Rimbaud spent many years in Harar dealing arms and coffee. These girls are playing in the grounds of the museum which was his house.
Christianity and Islam exist side by side peacefully in Harar. Ethiopia enjoys special staus in Islam due to its historical protection of early followers of the Prophet.
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