2024 - Catalogue of the Manuscripts of the Sherif Harar Municipal Museum, by Sana Mirza
Dr. Sana Mirza’s forthcoming catalogue is the first comprehensive study of the Qur’anic manuscripts housed in the Sherif Harar Municipal Museum in Harar, Ethiopia—home to one of the most important collections of Islamic manuscripts in East Africa. Harar, an ancient Islamic city, has played a central role in the religious and cultural history of the region, yet its manuscript heritage has remained largely undocumented.
This publication will present approximately 250 manuscripts, many dating from the 17th to 20th centuries, providing codicological descriptions, art historical analyses, and valuable social insights drawn from endowment notes and colophons. Notably, the manuscripts reveal the contributions of women as copyists and patrons, the interconnectedness of Harar with Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade networks, and the distinctive local style of book production.
The volume also highlights the pioneering efforts of Abdullahi Ali Sherif, founder of the Sherif Harar Municipal Museum, who has spent decades preserving this heritage despite limited resources and challenging conditions. His story is included as a vital part of the project, giving voice to community-driven heritage preservation.
Dr. Sana Mirza’s project, supported by The Barakat Trust, will provide a lasting resource for scholars of Islamic manuscripts, African history, and global heritage studies.
