Reviving Harar’s Lost Stories: The Ethiopian Bookbinder Preserving a City’s Past

For three decades, Abdallah Ali Sherif has been on a mission to reconnect the people of Harar with their forgotten history. As a dedicated bookbinder, he has spent years collecting and restoring manuscripts that families in the Ethiopian city have safeguarded for generations. His work is not just about preserving books—it is about reviving a cultural identity that was once suppressed.  

Harar, a city known for its vibrant Islamic scholarship, was a hub for manuscript production, with texts ranging from Qurans to legal documents written in Arabic and Ajami, a modified Arabic script used for African languages. However, following its annexation into a Christian empire in 1887, Harar’s Islamic institutions faced severe restrictions, and much of its literary heritage was lost or hidden.  

Sherif recalls growing up in an environment where discussing Harar’s history was discouraged. Families feared repercussions for expressing their cultural identity. It was only after Ethiopia’s shift to ethnic federalism in 1991 that religious and cultural freedoms were restored, allowing Sherif to begin his journey of rediscovery.  

His collection includes manuscripts that offer insights into Harar’s past, shedding light on traditions, governance, and daily life. Through his meticulous restoration work, Sherif is ensuring that future generations can access these historical records, reconnecting them with a heritage that was nearly erased.  

Sources: Al Jazeera, MSN News.