One man’s nightly ritual brings solace to a lovelorn in Harar.

Every evening, Youssef Mume Saleh goes to the outskirts of the walled city of Harar to bond with his beloved hyenas, a ritual he has practised for more than thirty five years. HAIRAT is a meditation on this uniquely symbiotic relationship between man and wild beast.

A film by Jessica BESHIR

starring Yussuf Mume Saleh and Elias Shagiz adonai Tesfaye (voice over)

Jessica Beshir was born in Mexico City to an Ethiopian Father and Mexican mother. She grew up in Harar, Ethiopia and is currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Watching Abba Yussuf’s nightly ritual is part of most Hararis’ mesmerizing childhood experience.
Yussuf Mume Saleh, also known as the « Hyena Man of Harar » is one of the last guardians of this century old dying tradition. He has fed hyenas for decades and has now passed the bastion to his son Abbas who has practiced the ritual with his Father since childhood.
In the medieval walled city of Harar, spotted Hyenas roam free and live in harmony with people.
They weigh up to 180 pounds and after the African Lion; they are the largest carnivores in Africa.
Jessica loves to ambulate Jegol, the walled city of Harar, where one never knows what awaits at each turn of the labyrinth.

Type: Short Documentary
Country: Ethiopia / US
Language: Harari, Oromiffa
Subtitles: English
Length: 6:39

JESSICA BESHIR
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/CINEMATOGRAPHER

CHARLIE HOXIE
EDITOR

EFREM DEGU BEKELE
CINEMATOGRAPHER

LANGUAGE GAMES
SCORE

TOM EFINGER
SOUND EDITING AND SOUND DESIGN

NICHOLAS CUCCI
COLORIST

CAST
YUSSUF MUME SALEH, THE HYENA MAN OF HARAR
ELIAS SHAGIZ ADONAY TESFAYE, POET

World Premiere: Sundance Film Festival
International Premiere: Pan African Film Festival Cannes (France)
East Coast Premiere: Sarasota Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival
West Coast Premiere: Arizona International Film Festival
NYC Premiere: New York African Film Festival Rincon Film Festiva

______

ES

Cada atardecer, Yusuf Mume Saleh deja la ciudad amurallada de Harar para reforzar los lazos con sus amadas hienas, un ritual que lleva practicando desde hace más de treinta y cinco años. Hairat es una meditación acerca de una relación simbiótica y única entre el hombre y el animal salvaje.

Una película de Jessica BESHIR

Etiopía, Mejico, Estados Unidos / 2017 / Experimental / 6mins39s | Blanco & Negro | Harari, Oromiffa | Subt. español

con Yussuf Mume Saleh & Elias Shagiz adonai Tesfaye (voice over)

Género: Experimental
País: Estados Unidos, Etiopía, Mejico
Año: 2017
Características: 7′ | Blanco & Negro | Harari, Oromiffa | Subt. español


Producción | Jessica Beshir

Director: Jessica Beshir
Guion | Jessica Beshir
Fotografía | Jessica Beshir, Efrem Degu
Sonido | Tom Efinger
Montaje | Charlie Hoxie
Música | Language Games