A man sits in his apartment in Harar, Ethiopia 1935.
Each level of seating space represents social rank. Younger men will sit on lower levels, while the men who are older and have more social rank in terms of marriage, age, or education will sit at a higher level.
Each level of seating space represents social rank. Younger men will sit on lower levels, while the men who are older and have more social rank in terms of marriage, age, or education will sit at a higher level.
The owner of the home usually sits at the top right, where he has a rack for his spears and guns where they are easily accessible if there is trouble.
The ornaments on the wall are traditional Harari cultural items.
On top of the door is a rack for a rolled up carpet.
On top of the door is a rack for a rolled up carpet.
If there is a woman in the house who is ready to be married, there will be a carpet present, if there are two carpets then there are two women ready to be married.
When the women do get married they take the carpets to their new homes and lay them in the seating place.
When the women do get married they take the carpets to their new homes and lay them in the seating place.