🕌 Harar Jugol (Old Walled City of Harar)
Ethiopia
About This Sacred Site
Harar, the ancient walled city in eastern Ethiopia, is considered the fourth holiest city in Islam and one of the most important Islamic heritage sites in Africa. The Old City (Jugol), enclosed by a 16th-century wall with five historic gates, contains 82 mosques — three dating to the 10th century — and over 100 shrines. Harar has been a center of Islamic learning and commerce for centuries, sitting at the crossroads of African and Arabian trade routes. The city is also famous for its unique tradition of 'hyena men' who hand-feed wild hyenas at the city gates each night, a practice rooted in centuries-old spiritual beliefs. French poet Arthur Rimbaud lived here in the 1880s.
Key Facts
- •Considered the fourth holiest city in Islam, with 82 mosques within the walls
- •The old walled city contains over 100 shrines within just one square kilometer
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006
- •Famous for the nightly tradition of hand-feeding wild hyenas at the city gates
- •French poet Arthur Rimbaud lived in Harar in the 1880s, trading coffee and weapons
Location
Coordinates: 9.3111, 42.1175
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