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Sheekhaal

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Main article: Somali clan
Sheekhaal
شيخال
Languages
Somali & Arabic
Religion
Islam (Sunni)

The Sheekhaal (var. Sheikhaal, Arabic: شيخال), also known as Fiqi Cumar is a clan that inhabits Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District (NFD) in Kenya.

Overview

Sheekhal traces its ancestry to Sheikh Abadir Umar Ar-Rida, also known as Fiqi Umar, who in turn traced his lineage to the first caliph, Abu Bakr (Sayid Abubakar Al-Sadiq).[1]

According to the explorer Richard F. Burton, in his book First Footsteps in East Africa, the Sheekhaal are described as the only Somalis who maintain a tradition of genealogy not derived from Dir and Darood. They claim descent from "Caliph Abu Bakr" and asserted that their ancestor Khutab bin Fakih Umar crossed over from Al-Hijaz to the Horn of Africa.[2] Fiqi Umar crossed over with his six sons: Umar the Greater, Umar the Lesser, the two Abdillahs, Ahmad and Siddik.[3] Sheikh Ar-Rida is also regarded the patron saint of Harar.[4] The lineage goes back to Banu Taym, through the first Caliph Abu Bakr.[5]

Some clans of Sheekhaal would argue that while they are politically aligned with the larger Hawiye clan, this does not mean that they are Hawiye.[6] This view is shared by the Aw-Qutub, one of the Sheekhaal subclans; they too totally reject the notion that the Sheekhal clan are part of Hawiye. Lobogay (Loboge) are considered part of (Hiraab, Aw Qudub and Gendershe and Ali).[7]

Lewis (1982) mentions that the largest clan of the Sheikhal is the Reer Fiqi Omar, whose most important lineage, the Reer Aw Qutub, inhabit the Somali Region of Ethiopia.[8] The Sheekhal clans were reportedly considered as part of the Hawiye politically until after the civil war.[9]

General Mohamed Ibrahim Liiqliqato, who was a Sheikhal, described in his book how the Sheikhal became associated with the Hawiye and added as ‘Martileh Hiraab’ (literally meaning guests of Hiraab).[10] The Sheekhaal are also mentioned to be one of the religious groups of Somalia along with the Asharaf.[11]

Sheekhaal clans

  1. Reer Axmed Loobage (Martiile Hiraab) [12]
  2. Reer Abdiraxiin (Adeer) (Martiile Hiraab)
  3. Reer aw saciid ( (Martiile Hiraab))
  4. Reer Cabdi Sheekh ( (Martiile Hiraab))
  5. Reer Maxamed Aw Guudle (Martiile Hiraab) [13]
  6. Reer Aw Qudub (Martiile Hiraab)[14]
  7. Reer Aw Xassan [13]
  8. Sheekhaal Jaziira
  9. Sheekhaal Aw Cisman (Gendershe )[15]

[12] 11 Reer Abiib (Martiile Hiraab) 12 Reer Cali Cafiif (Martiile Hiraab)

Prominent figures

  • Abdulrahman Kinana, first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, 2001–2006; former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence of Tanzania.
  • Mohamed Ibrahim Liqliiqato, Prominent Somali politician, diplomat, and Major General from Kismayo lower Jubba region. He was a Somali ambassador to the Soviet Union, and ambassador to West-Germany in 1970s. He also held the ministry of Agriculture and Interior ministry. He is the longest-serving speaker of the parliament, holding the position from 1982 to 1991. The Liiqliiqato bridge in Beledwen named after him.
  • Mohammed Hussein Ali, former commissioner of the Kenya Police and Major General.
  • Dahir Adan Elmi, chief of Somali Armed Forces, major general and the commander of Qabdir-Daharre Battalion in Somalia-Ethiopian War in 1977 who won bravery golden award that war. He is regarded as the most decorated general in Somali army.
  • Mohamed Nadif , Current Member of Parliament, Federal Republic of Somalia
  • Mohamed Ali Kariye, Renowned Somali poet and songwriter

References

  1. ^ Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (2024), Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (eds.), "Clan Configuration and Identity Networks in Somalia", The Somalia Conflict Revisited: Trends and Complexities of Spatial Governance on National and Regional Security, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 39–58, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55732-3_2, ISBN 978-3-031-55732-3
  2. ^ Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894). First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar. Tylston and Edwards. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.
  3. ^ Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894). First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar. Tylston and Edwards. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.
  4. ^ Siegbert Uhlig, Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N, Volume 3, (Otto Harrassowitz Verlag: 2007), pp.111 & 319.
  5. ^ Wolford, Ali; Jimcale (1995-10-04). The Invention of Somalia. First Edition Design Pub. p. 55. ISBN 978-0932415998.
  6. ^ Hassan Ali Jama (2005). Who Cares About Somalia. Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140. ISBN 3-89930-075-0.
  7. ^ Joint British, Danish and Dutch fact-finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya (2000-11-24). "Report on minority groups in Somalia" (PDF). Nairobi, Kenya. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lewis, I.M (1982). A study of pastoralism and politics among the northern Somalis of the Horn of Africa (PDF). New York: Africana Publishing Company. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21.
  9. ^ Hassan Ali Jama (2005). Who Cares About Somalia. Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140. ISBN 3-89930-075-0.
  10. ^ Joakim Gundel, COI Workshop Vienna (December 2009). "Clans in Somalia Report on a Lecture" (PDF). www.ecoi.net.
  11. ^ "The religious minority groups of Somalia" (PDF). www.minorityrights.org.
  12. ^ a b Colucci, Massimo (1924). Principi di diritto consuetudinario della Somalia italiana meridionale: i gruppi sociali, la proprietà con dieci tavole dimostrative, sotto gli auspici del governo della Somalia italiana. p. 97.
  13. ^ a b Censimento della popolazione Somala, 21 Aprile 1931. Amministrazione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia, Ufficio Studi e Statistica Statistica. 1953.
  14. ^ Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856; edited with an introduction and additional chapters by Gordon Waterfield (New York: Praeger, 1966), p. 165
  15. ^ Al-Nadhiiri, Sharif 'Aydarus. "Bughyat al-Amal fi Tarikh al Sumal (The History of Somalia)" (PDF).

Works cited

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