Abdallah Ali Sherif is reconnecting the community with its cultural heritage by restoring and preserving forgotten historical texts

Abdallah Ali Sherif, a 75-year-old bookbinder in Harar, Ethiopia, has devoted three decades to preserving the city's cultural identity through collecting and restoring manuscripts. His dedication led him to open the Abdallah Sherif Museum, which first opened 14 years ago and reopened in its current location in 2011. The museum now houses an impressive collection of approximately 1,400 Islamic manuscripts from Harar, with nearly half being Qurans, including one that is over 1,000 years old. Beyond manuscripts, the museum also safeguards over 600 old music recordings, along with various tools, swords, coins, jewelry, basketry, and weaponry.

The tradition of manuscript making in Harar is believed to have originated in the 13th century. However, the city's history saw significant disruption, including an estimated 10,000 Hararis fleeing to other Ethiopian cities or Somalia and Middle Eastern countries in the 1940s. Efforts to preserve Harari heritage extend globally, with institutions like the Catholic University of America holding 215 manuscripts from Harar. Sherif's commitment to this art form has also involved training dozens of young people in Harar and Somaliland in bookbinding, including 31-year-old Elias Bule. Harar's unique cultural significance was further recognized in 2006 when its old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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