Degoodi

The Degoodi or Degodia (Somali: Degoodi or Degoodiya, Arabic: دغودي) is a major Somali clan. They are genealogically related to the other Samaale, but in particular to the Garjante, Gaalje'el, Masare, Isa (Saransor) and 'Awrmale, with which they share the same ancestor Gardhere Samaale.

Degodia

Degoodiya, دغودي
Regions with significant populations
Somalia	N/A
Kenya	N/A
Ethiopia	N/A
Languages
Somali, Swahili, English,
Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Related ethnic groups
Dir, Hawiye and other Samaale groups.

When Arthur Donaldson Smith traveled through what is now Bare woreda in 1895, he found that the Degodia were neighbors of the Majertein Afgab clan (whom they were at endless war with), their territory stretching east to the Weyib and Dawa Rivers.

So far there are 12 Wabars who served the community:

1. Wabar Cuudow 2. Wabar Amiin 3. Wabar Ali 4. Wabar Omar 5. Wabar Caalin 6. Wabar Abdi 7. Wabar Omar 8. Wabar Ali 9. Wabar Hassan 10. Wabar Osman 11. Wabar Abdi 12. Wabar Abdille (incumbent).

The Degodia clan is made up of 10 sub-clans which are present both in Kenya and Ethiopia and Somalia but with traditional leadership structured and bases in Ethiopia Filtu area.

1-Fai, 2-Jibrail, 3-Dumal, 4-Masara, 5-Radayi, 6-Abrisha, 7-Idiris, 8-Walajela, 9-Rer Mohamud and 10-Abadwaqa.

History

The Degodia are said to have originated around the rivers Dawa, Parma and Ganale Daria in South East Ethiopia and from Eel Ali in Somalia where clansman are still present today.

Flag

Degodia flag

The Degodia Wabar System

According to data gained from key informant interview, Wabar system, is one of the most popularly used traditional jurisprudence and conflict resolution, leadership system applicable among the Degodia clan. Wabar is a title given to the leader of this clans.The Wabar is the king of Degodia clan and are selected from one of clan of Degodia called Abrisha clan.The wabar functions based on succession, so to be a successor of the Wabar, the person should be the son of the former king (Wabar), and the former Wabar must indicate or mention his successor with especial testimonials and the successor must have indications of testimonials made by his father (Wabar). Other important condition related to the inheritance of the kingship has to do with the mother of the wabar’s children eligible for inheritance is born from. That the child should be born from mothers who belong to a sub- clan called Gabow. In addition to this age of the wabar should be Forty years in order to be the proper inheritor of wabarship. Upon fulfilling all the aforementioned and other criteria’s the member of the Degodia clans give to the clan of the wabar (Abrishe) one hundred camels. These camels are given to avoid the claim that that the King belongs to his sub clan alone but the wabar represents and belongs o all Degodia clan, not to especial clan, coronation of th Degodia king is made through preparation of a big event and festive. In this inauguration ceremony all clans of Degodia are invited and come to assembly under a big tree. The neighboring clans and government officials are also invited during the ceremony and he becomes the Wabar (King) of Degodia, wabar is highly respected among the Degodia wherever they live in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and every member of is there; this may lead to a dispute between her family and the family of the man of her choice.

The Guurti in Wabar System

Based on the elders interview the Guurti are the council of elders that are selected from each clan of Degodia. The selection of Guurti members have certain criteria which is considered first, each clan is informed to bring one person that can serve as the Guurti member, then the clan chooses that person on the bases of his cultural knowledge, ability of speech or oratory (cod kar), religiously, honesty and experience that he participated previously in conflict resolution and these persons are given one hundred goats by their sub-clans as support, since they are working on affairs of the sub-clan. The role of the Guurti members is to solve any dispute that occurs among the Degodia clans and sub-clan and usually to perform other tasks within them. Whenever conflict happens, the Guurti goes to that place. First, they work for stopping of conflict, then they call the disputants to forward their complaints turn by turn, and the Guurti also summons neighbors that are not part of the conflict in order to collect their testimony. After the Guurti receives the information, the elders of the disputants and the others who are not part of the conflicting parties share the information. According to Gedi then the Guurti identifies the wrong doer and pass their final discussion (17). When the clan selects the one who represent them in to the Guurti institution, there is also another person that is supposed to work with him for affairs of the sub-clan. That means if the clan is divided into five sub-sub-clans, then each of them will have one person that represent them. The role of the latter is to solve minor cases happening within the sub- sub-clans. Anything that is needed from the sub-clans is their duty to collect, and if conflict occurs within the sub-clan, then the Ugaas, his deputies and some knowledgeable elder from the sub-clan solve it. (iii) The Role of Religious Leaders in Conflict Resolution Religious leaders (Ulamaudin) play a crucial role in restoring peace. If any one of the conflicting parties refuses to stop the fight, it is the role of the religious leaders to convince them and bring them to the tree for negotiation. In the study area, it is strongly believed that disobeying the ulamaudin causes curse or Habar as they call it locally It is believed that at the end of the conflict the clan that accepted the solution of the ulamaudin will get the upper hand over the one that has turned it down. In addition, if a conflict causes only physical injuries, it is the role of the ulamaudin to decide the compensation that has to be paid for the victim by referring to the Sharia law. Any disputes that are related to marriage, divorce, and inheritance are usually resolved by the religious leaders.

Clan tree

The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology's Conflict analysis in Bakool and Bay, South-western Somalia (2004) shows the following clan tree for the Degoodi:

- Samaale

• Gardere
  • Garjente
    • Riyole
      • 'Owrmale
      • Mantan
        • Saransur
          • Degodia
          • Gaalje'el
          • Massare
          • Isa

References