Author : ABDULMALIK ABUBAKER
Year : 2016
Key words: Harar, Hararis, values, family, education, trade, social institutions.
The subject under consideration in this dissertation is various values of a particular
society who refer to themselves as gey usu (people of the city). To expound how they utilize
values to regulate their members’ behaviors and the relations they have with other people four
entities are identified: Family, educational, trade and social institutions.
Family as the basic institution is discussed to expound how birth and marriage
ceremonies are perceived by Hararis. How these events are surrounded by various symbols with
the values enshrined in them, which are expressed through rituals, actions, words and gestures,
are as well expounded. The mechanisms how these symbols are used to regulate individual and
social behaviors are also discussed.
Education as one of the vital instruments to develop the individuals and the society which
should enjoy continuous sufficiency and prosperity is also discussed. How successful the society
is in achieving these goals is dependent on the values the education system is promoting.
Trade, which is much related with Harar and Hararis history, how it is used as a means of
securing and maintaining peace through concessions to other people is discussed. This
dissertation suggests the underlying ideas of peaceful trade are values such as righteousness,
honesty, sincerity, diligence, trust, non-discrimination and fairness in the relations among
traders.
The Harari social institutions are used to control the behaviors of their members and the
relations the community should have with other communities