Abgaal

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Abgaal is a Somali clan and a part of the Hawiye major clan. Its members live in the Shabeellaha Dhexe, Galguduud, Banaadir, Mudug and Shabeellaha Hoose regions of Central and southern Somalia. Abgaal Somalis have played an important role in the nation's capital, Mogadishu, where they constitute the majority of Hawiye sub-clans. In Mogadishu today, all clans are to be found with the Hiraab clans, but the Abgaal form the majority. Abgaals consider Xamar (Mogadishu) as their traditional territory.^[1]

Abgaal does not necessarily mean Mudulood:^{[clarification needed]} Abgaal are only subclan of the Mudulood family, which consists of Udeejeen or Ciise ,Wacweytan,Darandoole, Daroo Mudulood, Hiilebi, Wacdaan Osman, Wadalaan Osman, Moobleen Osman, Lilawaay and Abgaal Osman.^[2] Wacdaan Osman and Moobleen Osman's traditional land is Shabelada Hoose.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Yaquub Sultanate 2 Mogadishu Kingdom 900 - 1860 AD 3 Sub-clans of the Abgaal 4 Traditional 5 Poetry 6 Abgaal Folklores 7 Prominent members of the Abgaal 8 References

[edit] Yaquub Sultanate

The emergence of the Imamate of Yaaquub in Mogadishu is related to the tyrannical rule of the Ajuran in the interior, and the attraction of the growing Mogadishu wealth as a consequence of its thriving trade controlled by the Muzzaffar dynasty which was allied to the Ajuran in the interior.

The Yaaquub is a lineage of the Abgal clan who itself is part of the wider Darandoole Mudulood group. The Darandoole Mudulood is a pastoral group that lived in Central Somalia, and throughout the centuries migrated Southwards. As a consequence of this southwards migration, the Darandoole Mudulood encroached slowly but steadily on Mogadishu city and came in conflict with the Muzzaffar dynasty. This dynasty in Mogadishu was itself incapable to withstand this migration and encroachment and opted for negotiation with the Imam of the Darandole.

Cerulli has recorded traditional narrative of how the Darandole conquered Mogadishu against the Muzaffar dynasty:

“In ancient times the Sirasi lived in Mogadiscio. The people called Halawani succeeded the Sirasi. The Mudaffar succeeded the Halawani. The Mudaffar came from the country of Yemen in Arabia. He had guns. He built the palace that is found under the Governor’s house. He was a friend of the Aguran. At that time the Mudaffar governed the coast; and the Aguran ruled in the woodland.

“Later the Mudaffar had an interpreter who was called ‘Ismankäy Haggi ‘Ali. This ‘Ismankäy had the idea of letting the Darandollä enter the city. A message was sent to the imam Mahmud ‘Umar, who lived at Golol. The imam, guiding his warriors, came south and approached Mogadiscio. Then what did ‘Ismankäy do? He spoke with the Mudaffar: ‘By now the Darandollä are near Mogadiscio, let me be accompanied by some soldiers, and I shall go to them.’ ‘How do you want to do it?’ ‘I shall do it this way. I shall come to an agreement with the leaders and make them return to the places in the north.’ ‘So be it!’ said the Mudaffar. Then ‘Ismänkäy took some soldiers with him, but without weapons: ‘Leave your weapons! We go out to conclude an agreement, not really for war.’ They put down the weaons. They went into the woodland. When they had gone into the woodland, the Darandollä came out and took all the soldiers prisoner. Then they continued the raid and entered Mogadiscio. The Mudaffar was caputred and they wanted to kill him. But he, looking at the people who had come close to him, saw among them ‘Ismankäy Haggi Ali. ‘Stop!’ he said then. ‘Before you kill me, I want to speak. O ‘Ismankäy, you are good for nothing, you are capable of nothing, you will not pass seven!’ he said. Thus was 248 ‘Ismankäy cursed. When the Mudaffar was killed, when seven days passed after his death, ‘Ismankäy died too. It happened exactly as he had been cursed."

The Darandoolle have conquered Mogadishu city and killed the Muzzaffar governor sometime between 1590 and 1625. The approximate dates appear to be corroborated by a Portuguese document dated 1624 .

After the Darandoolle Mudulood took control of the Mogadishu city in 1624, they quarrelled with the Ajuraan on the interior.

‘After entering Muqdisho, the Darandoolle quarrelled with the Ajuraan. They quarrelled over watering rights. The Ajuraan had decreed: ‘At the wells in our territory, the people known as Darandoolle and the other Hiraab cannot water their herds by day, but only at night’’…Then all the Darandoolle gathered in one place. The leaders decided to make war on the Ajuraan. They found the imam of the Ajuraan seated on a rock near a well called Ceel Cawl. They killed him with a sword. As they struck him with the sword, they split his body together with the rock on which he was seated. He died immediately and the Ajuraan migrated out of the country.’

The Darandoolle became as such the first group to rebel against the tyranny of Ajuraan in the interior, and ever since this Ajuraan defeat other groups would follow in the rebellion which would eventually bring down Ajuraan rule of the inter-riverine region.

After the defeat of the Ajuraan in the interior the Darandoolle Mudulood established themselves around Mogadishu and Shabelle river valley, in which Wacdaan inhabited the environs of Afgoye and Mogadishu, Hiilebi in Lower Shabelle, Moobleen went to the region now known as Middle Shabelle, while the Abgaal established themselves in and around Mogadishu city.

By about 1700 the entire political structure of Mogadishu city was altered with the ascendancy of a new line of Abgaal Yaaquub imams who established themselves in Shangaani quarter (the northern moiety of Mogadishu city). The Yaaquub imam’s powerbase remained among the people of the interior, while members of the Imam’s Yaaquub lineage intermarried with the BaFadel and Abdi Semen, two famed merchants families of Yemeni origins.

The Yaaquub Imam collected the port tariffs of the city, and emerged as the authority of Mogadishu city, despite its division into two moieties. The Yaaquub imamate would survive until the closing of the 19th century and was a force to reckon with when Zanzibari influence slowly expanded throughout the Banadir region. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

[edit] Mogadishu Kingdom 900 - 1860 AD

First Sultan of the Mogadishu Kingdom Rulers from 900 - 1860 AD

• Sultan Daamey Ali (Xume) Axmed
• Sultan Cumar father of Abu bakr
• Sultan Abu Bakr
• Sultan Axmad I
• Sultan Maxammad I
• Sultan Axmad II
• Sultan Maxmud
• Sultan Cali
• Sultan Cismaan
• Sultan Muxammad II
• Sultan Axmad III-1860
• Sultan Hassan Abdulqadir Haji

[edit] Sub-clans of the Abgaal

Reference:^[6]

• Harti
  • Awbakar
    • Yaquub
    • Yabaorw (qajaf weyn)
  • Agonyar
    • Cabdalle
    • Reer Aadan
    • Gabale
    • Celi
    • Buraale
  • Warsangeli
    • Cumar warsangeli
      • Indhayar Celi
      • Sayad Maxamed
      • Hinlawe Maxamed
      • Recey Roble
      • Gadiid
      • Xasan idares
    • Cabdalle Warsangeli
      • Faqa ilka yar
      • Gesaale Maxed
      • Maxaad Raaf
      • Ilka Guduud
      • Goley Maxamud
      • Axmed Cabdalle
  • Ciise Harti
  • Cabdalle Caroone
    • Jiiryar
    • Ricle
    • Yaryar
    • Idiris
• Wabudhan
  • Cabdulle Galmaax
  • Celi Cumar Galmaax
    • Cali Celi
    • Cosoble Celi
    • Ibraahin Celi
    • Geesaweyn Celi
    • Shige Celi
    • Xassan Gaab Celi
  • Daa’uud
    • Issaq Daa’uud
    • Youssef Daa’uud
  • Kabaale
    • Haile Muse
    • Salebaan Muse
  • Mattan Cumar Galmaax or Reer Mattan
    • Reer Bareesya
    • Reer Diinle
    • Reer Duuliye
    • Reer Weheliye
  • Yuusuf Galmaax
    • Mahamed Muuse
    • Wehliye Muuse
    • Xasan Muuse
  • Yoonis
• Waesli (Waceesle) or Warculus
  • Haaruun Waceysle
  • Jibraa'iil Waceysle
  • Saleymaan Waceysle
    • Cabdiraxmaan Saleymaan
      • Macalin Aflax
      • Dhagageys
      • Cali Gaaf
      • Dhagaweyne
      • Absuge Qombor
        • Macalin Dhiblaawe
          • Cabdi Macalin
          • Cismaan Macalin
          • Eybakargaab Macalin
          • Maxamed Cadde Macalin
  • Faqay (Cumar Waceysle)
• Daylacood
• Daymaculus
• Maxamud
• Cabdulle or Jurtub
• Ceynato

[edit] Traditional

• Imam Mohamud Imam Cumar ,Is the Imam Of Mudulood and also carries the dual position of The Traditional Imam of Hiraab.[ref][20].

[edit] Poetry

Abgaal are perhaps the only Somali clan with its own special poetical genres - the guurow and the shirib - that differ from those of the other Somalis. The language of their poets is often characterised by an admixture of dialectal features. As an example of iyo with long -o, consider the following line from a famous guurow by Cabdulle Geedannaar. It scans properly (the same as a gabay) only if iyo counts as v-, which is also how the poet sings it:^[7]

Baasayna haystaan iyo, marasho biid biid ah

And they have money and fashionable dresses

Two major poetical genres of the Abgaal are:

The badar-tumid

In the farming areas of Middle and Lower Shabeelle women of the Abgaal and related tribes often pound sorghum and other edible grains to the tune of a special kind of work song, known as a grain-pounding song or badar-tumid. A few examples of its lines are shown below:^[8]

Kurta loogu shubaa (And) it is poured in their dish

Caana geel ku caddaaw Become white with camel milk!

Maakhiidaa la yiraa

She is said to be a good housewife

Keena-keena rag waaye Those who always bring things (keena-keene) are the men

Karisooy naag waaye The one who cooks is the woman

The shirib

This term is used in several areas inhabited by Somalis for different kinds of short songs, often connected with dancing. Typically, however, it refers to a genre of short verse composed by the Abgaal and related tribes in the non- Maay-speaking regions of central Somalia. Shiribs are sung during clan or family meetings as well as other gatherings. Often they are improvised in poetic contests. The best surveys on this genre are Maxamad Cosoble M. and Caasha.

Tagtaada tuug haddow yaqaan

If a thief knows your wealth

Afar walxaad o ta’ ku taal

Four things that are in it

Dhiishaase ninba meel dhigtaa

But everybody stores his own milk vessel in its proper place

Dhicis lagama dhur sugoo

One doesn’t expect offspring from a stillbirth

• Xuseen Sheekh Ahmed Kadarre, orthographer and the inventor of the Kadariya Script.^[9][10]
• Abdulle Geedannaar, poet^[11]
• Sheekh Ahmed Gabyow, poet^[12]

[edit] Abgaal Folklores

The following folklore provided by Enrico Cerulli in his book " How a Hawiye Tribe Used to Live," narrates the traditional beliefs of the Abgaal regarding the origins of their clan:

The mother of Hirabä was Faduma Karanle. The mother of Abgaal was Faduma Sargellä, who was an Ajuuraan. She was espoused by ‘Isman Darandollä. By him she had a son, who was called by the name ‘Ali ‘Isman. Later one went to Sargellä Garën. A learned old man went to him. He said: ‘O noble Sargellä, I saw in the books that the children of the boy born to your daughter Faduma will chase your children from the earth. I saw it in the books.’ ‘Did you see these things?’ ‘Yes, I saw them,’ he answered. ‘So be it!’ the noble Sargellä replied; and into his heart came the thought: ‘Rather than that your children, whom you have begotten, be killed, the son of your daughter might rather die!’ This came into his heart. After this he prepared two different amulets, one good and one bad. The bad one would kill the one who drank it. The good one would protect from any evil of this world. Then he went to his daughter. ‘My Faduma, I am bringing you these two amulets: this one here — and it was the good one — you drink; and the other one — and it was the bad one — give to your son ‘Ali ‘Isman!’ The girl took the two amulets; but when it came to drinking them, she made a mistake! Faduma Sargellä drank the bad one and died immediately. ‘Ali ‘Ismän drank the good one and survived. Sargellä went back to the hut and saw his daughter dead. And the boy, when he heard his grandfather arrive, ran to the side of a saddle camel and hid behind it. ‘Oh ‘Ali, oh ‘Ali! Come! I am your grandfather!’ Sargellä cried out, looking for the boy. ‘You are not my grandfather ( abkäy ), my grandfather is the camels.’ The camels ( gel ) in the language of one time were called gal . So afterwards he (‘Ali ‘Isman) had the name of Ab-gal (‘Camel-grandfather’).^[13]

The tradition substantially recalls the ancient fights between the Abgaal, nomadic pastoralists who from places farther north tried to open a way to the river, and the Aguran, who dominated the region of the Middle Webi. This historical content, of course, has been adapted in popular dress with the theme, so widespread in the folklore of quite different peoples, of the prediction of the unborn child destined to drive the reigning prince from the throne.^[14]

[edit] Prominent members of the Abgaal

• Nur Hassan Husein, former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government
• Hussein Kulmiye Afrah, vice-president of Somalia under the Siad Barre regime.
• Salaad Gabeyre Kediye, Major General in the Somali Military, and Chairman of the Somali Revolution Kacdoonkii Soomaaliyeed
• Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, President of Somalia, former Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Courts Union
• Mohamed Omar Habeb Dhere, warlord, governor and mayor of Banadir and Mogadishu
• Omar Muhamoud Finnish, leader of a splinter movement of the United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance
• Ali Mohammed Ghedi, Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government
• General Daud Abdulle Hirsi, first commander-in-chief of the Somali National Army Forces
• Salad Ali Jelle, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Transitional Federal Government
• Ali Mahdi Muhammad, president of Somalia from January - November 1991
• Musa Sudi Yalahow, warlord who served as Trade Minister in the Transitional Federal Government.
• Ali Jimale, educator at the City University of New York
• Ahmed Maxamed Xasan, Lieutenant Colonel in the Somali Airforce.^[15][16]
• Mohamud Siad Togane, Somali-Canadian poet, professor, and political activist
• Adde Gabow (Mohamed Ali Hassan), politician
• Abukar Umar Adani, Islamist, wealthy business man who used to control the El-ma`an beach area which served as Mogadishu`s port since the closure in 1995 of the city's main port.^[17]
• Bashir Raghe Shiiraar, secular warlord who was a Member of the dysfunctional US-backed Alliance for Peace and the Fight Against International Terrorism.^[17]
• Sheikh Ali Dhere, cleric and the head of the first Islamic Courts Union in northern Mogadishu in 1996.^[18]
• Hussein Malin Jimcaale, First Somalian FIFA referee.

Farah Weheliye Addow (Sindiko), former Vice President of the Confederation of African Football.^[19][20]

• Prof. Dr. Abdulahi Ahmed Afrah, Minister of Commerce^[21][22]
• Dr. Abdi Mohamed Ulusso, intellectual and 2003 Presidential candidate.^[23]
• Dr. Hussein Hagi Bood, politician ^[24][25]
• Dr.Hilowle Imam Omar, politician, former co-chairman of the (Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council)(SRRC) Party.^[23][26][27]
• Dr.Mohamed Ali Ameriko, Somali ambassador to Kenya.^[28]
• Ayub Daud, professional Footballer current playing Juventus
• Abdul Arts youngest Somali Cartoonist

[edit] References