Mesob (Amharic: መሶብ) or Harar Mesob is a Harari basket used for storing injera, an Ethiopian and Eritrean flatbread.[1][2] It is widely depicted as a cultural symbol for Ethiopia, made from locally grown and partially dyed grass and palm leaves known for strength and durability.[3][4]
In a certain form Mesob was identified in Abyssinia as early as the sixteenth century as reported by Portuguese explorer Francisco Álvares however the most prominent Mesob is of Harar origin.[5] In the mid 1970s Amharas began recruiting Harari artisans to develop a particular Mesob which incorporated Abyssinian and Harari designs, this variety would dominate Mesob productions in Ethiopia.[6]
Although generally described as Ethiopian, mesob baskets belong to a larger tradition of Harari basketry. A mesob is depicted on the 10 birr note. Mesob baskets are used in funeral ceremonies to support family of the deceased person and the baskets are widely viewed as a symbolical representation of Ethiopian and Eritrean culture and their cuisine.[4]The Harar mesob is known to be a quality mesob with very complex and prized designs. Today, it is very rare to find old original Harari mesobs, because peoples are making more simplified and lower quality Ethiopian models.
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