141 Annales d'Ethiopie, 2001, vol. XVII: 135-147.

Some Notes on Harar and the local Trade Routes: A Report on the view of ex-merchants of shâwa (1839-1935)

Ahmed Hassen Omer*

The present researcher is not a specialist of the city of Harar. However, for economic, political and cultural reasons there are possibilities to establish a historical tie between Harar and other regions. Shàwa being one of such regions seems to have developed its ties in many ways.

In this case, there are many possibilities to establish regarding what is Harar to the regional history of northeastern Ethiopia in general and Shâwa in particular. This report takes into account some notes on Harar and the local trade routes. The trade routes we are talking about were those which converged at Aleyu Amba and finally connecting Shâwa with Harar. A rather modest detail will be given on this issue. This report is largely dependent on oral traditions,' written family diaries kept in private hands and the existing literature. The view of the ex-merchants of Shâwa and their family tradition will, however, play an important role in filling some of the inevitable historical gaps. The four informants, from the region of northern Shâwa, who have divulged their intimate knowledge for this report were: Jalâllé Sayed (1879? -1994) was an Oromo, who used to live at Chàffa-élemo. A series of interviews were undertaken with him between July and September 1993; Skeikh Mohammad Saleh