Arthur Rimbaud Center
Near the middle of the walled city, and often mistakenly called Rimbaud’s House, is this museum dedicated to French poet Arthur Rimbaud with a series of illustrated wall panels about his life. It’s in an attractive Indian merchant house built on the site of an earlier house where it’s said Rimbaud lived. There’s an excellent photographic exhibition of turn-of-the-20th-century Harar – with several of the photos taken by Rimbaud – that show some similarities to the city of today but also significant differences.
In front is a women’s association where you can sometimes see basket weaving. If you’re looking for gifts, there are colourful baskets for sale.
DESCRIPTION
It’s a beautiful building in Jegol, house of form French poet Arthur Rimbaud who was given shelter in Harar. There was photos of the old Harar taken by Rimbaud which is the major attraction.
The Rimbaud Center and Museum/Harar
“One of the must visit places in ethiopia”
A French trader and poet Arthur Rimbaud used to live in this well decorated old house which became a Center and Museum.
It is G+2 and anyone can simply climb the stairs to the first and second floor and have a look at the beautiful decorated old house, the paintings and the pictures hanged out and on the walls. A nice view of Harar city from the colorful windows.
On the first floor, there is a documentation and reading room. I find, besides Rimbaud’s works and letters, many items and publications in European languages related to Ethiopian history and culture in general, and Harari in particular. A few facsimiles of the poet’s autographs are also displayed.
(1891) to (1891)
In the adjacent rooms, women work on the manufacture of the famous polychrome baskets of Harar. The two floors constitute the museum itself, and present a beautiful collection of old photos: Anyone can imagine what Harar looked like at the time of Rimbaud, in the last quarter of the 19th century Ras Makonnen, the markets, the mosque of Feres Megala before its conversion into a church.
There are also the large-format reproductions of the three self-portraits of Rimbaud (standing) an embarrassed pose and a sullen expression.
The walls talk about the poet’s life or display his lines. The same sta accommodates art exhibitions, song or dance shows, and lectures. It te allows us to admire the architecture of an Indian house.
From one of the windows on the second floor, visitors can enjoy a wonder view of the market, the roofs of Harar, and, beyond, the countryside.
Those who visit the museum can confidentially testify the fact that Rimbaud Center and Museum is one of the most treasured artifacts and must visit places in Ethiopia.