Ahmed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Uthman
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The Hawiye (; ) are one of the principal and largest of the
Somali clans Somali clans (; ) are patrilineal kinship groups based on agnatic descent of the Somali people. Tradition and folklore connects the origin of the Somali population by language and way of life, and societal organisations, by customs, and by a fee ...
, tracing their lineage back to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Uthman, also known as Sheikh Hawiye, the
eponymous An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...
figure of the clan. They are considered the earliest documented clan to have settled in the Somali peninsula, as noted in the 12th century by
Al-Idrisi Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti, or simply al-Idrisi (; ; 1100–1165), was an Arab Muslim geographer and cartographer who served in the court of King Roger II at Palermo, Sicily. Muhammad al-Idrisi was born in C ...
, occupying the regions spanning from
Ras Hafun Ras Hafun (, , ), also known as Cape Hafun, is a promontory in the northeastern Bari region of the Puntland state in Somalia. Geography Jutting out into the Guardafui Channel, the promontory constitutes the easternmost point of mainland Africa ...
to
Merca Merca (, ) is the capital city of the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia, a historic port city in the region. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. Merca is the traditional home territory of the Bimal c ...
, which served as their capital. Presently, the Hawiye reside in central and southern
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
,
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
,
Djibouti Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
,
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
(specifically the
Afar Region The Afar Region (; ; ), formerly known as Region 2, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in northeastern Ethiopia and the homeland of the Afar people. Its capital is the planned city of Semera, which lies on the paved Awash, Ethiopia, Awash� ...
,
Harari Region The Harari Region (; ; Harari: ሀረሪ ሑስኒ), officially the Harari People's National Regional State (; ; Harari: ዚሀረሪ ኡምመት ሑስኒ ሑኩማ), is a regional state in eastern Ethiopia, covering the homeland of the Har ...
,
Oromia Oromia (, ) is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in Ethiopia and the homeland of the Oromo people. Under Article 49 of 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Constitution, the capital of Oromia is Addis Ababa, also called Finfinne. The ...
, and the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
), as well as
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
(specifically the North Eastern Province and Eastern Province). Furthermore, they represent the majority of the population in the capital city of
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
. The Hawiye have historically exercised authority over large sections of the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
as Sovereign
Sultans Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...
and
Imams Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide relig ...
overseeing crucial trade routes that have existed since the early periods of
Somali maritime history Maritime history of Somalia refers to the seafaring tradition of the Somali people. It includes various stages of Somali navigational technology, shipbuilding and design, as well as the history of the Somali port cities. It also covers the histori ...
. The coastal regions experienced a vibrant expansion of foreign trade and commerce, with numerous ships traversing between multiple kingdoms and empires in
East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
,
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
,
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, the
Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
,
North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...
, and
East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
making them very affluent. This political and economic influence continued to have relevance well into the modern age, with the Hawiye clan playing a pivotal and historically significant role in laying the foundations of the Somali nation. The enduring legacy of the Hawiye's governance and control over trade routes has left a lasting impact on the development and shaping of
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
.


Origins and Etymology

Sheikh Hawiye, also known as Ahmed based on oral traditions and Arabic hagiologies, is renowned as a revered
saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
and religious figure who bore the epithet "Hawi al 'Uluum", meaning the conservator of knowledge, denoting his mastery of Islamic knowledge. Through the passage of time, this appellation was condensed to just "Hawiyah" or "Hawiye" and subsequently evolved into the
ethnonym An ethnonym () is a name applied to a given ethnic group. Ethnonyms can be divided into two categories: exonyms (whose name of the ethnic group has been created by another group of people) and autonyms, or endonyms (whose name is created and used ...
of his progeny.Hawiyah, meaning the Conservator of Sciences, his name is Ahmad ibn Irir, (Whose name is Abd al-Rahman) ibn Samaal, (Whose name is Uthman) bin Muhammad ibn Hanbal Bin Mahdi bin Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Aqeel bin Abi Talib. This (Muhammad) is the one to whom the Darod, whose actual name is Daud, tribes trace their lineage to.
The
genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...
of
Sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...
Hawiye, as delineated in these oral narratives, Arabic hagiologies, and indigenous manuscripts, can be traced as follows:
Ahmed Ahmad () is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other English spellings of the name include Ahmed. It is also used as a surname. Etymology The word derives from the root ( ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from ...
(Hawiye) Bin Abdulrahman (Irir) Bin Uthman (
Samaale Samaale, also spelled Samali or Samale () is traditionally considered to be the common forefather of several major Somali clans and their respective sub-clans. His name is the source of the ethnonym ''Somali''.. As the purported ancestor of most ...
) Bin Muhammed Bin Hanbal Bin Mahdi Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Aqeel Bin Abu Talib. It is through these sources that the lineage of Sheikh Hawiye can be comprehensively understood and appreciated within the broader historical and cultural contexts. Some scholars consider these genealogical claims as historically untenable, but instead argue that they reflect a longstanding cross cultural exchange between
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
and
Southern Arabia South Arabia (), or Greater Yemen, is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jazan, ...
. According to the British
anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...
and Somali Studies veteran Ioan Lewis, the traditions of descent from noble
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
families related to the Prophet are most probably figurative expressions of the importance of
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
in
Somali society The Somali people (, Wadaad's writing, Wadaad: , Arabic: ) are a Cushitic peoples, Cushitic ethnic group and nation native to the Somali Peninsula. who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic languages, East ...
. However, "there is a strong historically valid component in these legends."
Hawiye The Hawiye (; ) are one of the principal and largest of the Somali clans, tracing their lineage back to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Uthman, also known as Sheikh Hawiye, the eponymous figure of the clan. They are considered the earliest do ...
, the eldest son of Irir, is known to have a sibling named Aji, whose actual name is documented in oral traditions and further supported by Al Idrus's work "History of Somalia" as Ismail, the father of Dir, also known as Abu-Bakr.
Hawiye The Hawiye (; ) are one of the principal and largest of the Somali clans, tracing their lineage back to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Uthman, also known as Sheikh Hawiye, the eponymous figure of the clan. They are considered the earliest do ...
was married to two women, from whom he had six sons. The first wife, Arbera, hailing from
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
lineage, bore him three sons -
Karanle The Karanle (Arabic: كرنلي ,كرن, Somali: Karanle, Karan) are a Somali clan, forming one of the six branches of the larger Hawiye clan. The Karanle are geographically spread out across three countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Among a ...
, Xaskul, and Raarane. On the other hand, his second wife, Ghirei, belonging to an early Harari, gave birth to Gugundhabe, Gorgarte, and Jambeelle. This genealogical account of Hawiye's family structure is crucial in understanding the historical lineage and heritage of the Hawiye. The oral traditions and written sources provide valuable insights into the familial connections and societal structures prevalent to this day. The tomb of Shiekh Hawiye can be found in Qundhuro, situated within the Haraghe region, which served as his primary residence for the later years of his life as a revered
Sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...
who dedicated himself to the propagation of the teachings of
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
. Alongside Shiekh Hawiye rests his eldest son,
Karanle The Karanle (Arabic: كرنلي ,كرن, Somali: Karanle, Karan) are a Somali clan, forming one of the six branches of the larger Hawiye clan. The Karanle are geographically spread out across three countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Among a ...
, in a burial site. The Hawiye furthered the spread of
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
in the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
.


Distribution

The Hawiye are believed to be the largest Somali clan and comprise the majority in Somalia as well as the majority in the NFD region of Kenya according to respective censuses. The origin and traditional homeland of the Hawiye is believed to be in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, where he was preceded by the arrival of his Samaale ancestors in the areas between Djibouti and Somaliland, before descending southeast and along the Shabelle Valley. In Somalia, Hawiye subclans inhabit the fertile lands along the Shabelle River of
Beledweyne Beledweyne (, ) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region. The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne ...
located in the Hiran region. Their territory stretches from the coastline just south of
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
to the north of the historic port town of Hobyo in the central
Mudug Mudug () is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005. Overview Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia, to the north and south by the Somali regions of Nu ...
region. The Hawiye constitute the majority in the Hirshabelle state of Somalia, with the
Abgaal The Abgaal (Somali language, Somali: Abgaal; Arabic: أبگال) are a Somali clan, Somali sub-clan of the Hawiye and the even larger Samaale clan. This prominent Somali clan, despite being one of the youngest in Somalia, is one of the most ...
clan being present while in Galmudug Hawiye are the majority as well. The Hawiye also have a second majority presence in the
South West State The South-West State of Somalia (), (Af-Maay: ''Koofur Orsé''), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in southwestern Somalia. It was founded by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, leader of the Somalia Rahanweyn Resistance Army, ...
region, They can also be found in
Jubbaland Jubaland (; ; ), or the Juba Valley (), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies no more than east of the Jubba River, stretching from Dolow to the Indian Ocean, while its western side flanks the North Eastern ...
. The Fiqishini subclan of the Habar Gidir inhabit the Sool region of
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
. The Hawiye also live in their traditional birthplace Ethiopia, holding a sizeable population in the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
of Ethiopia as well as cities like Babile in the Oromia region. In the southern parts of the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
, Hawiye can be found in many zones, and are majority in 3/9 of the zones, namely the Liben zone and the Shabelle zone. They can also be found in many other zones, such as the Afdheer, Dollo, Sitti, Erer, Faafan and Korahe zone. In Kenya, the Hawiye can also be found in the
North Eastern Province (Kenya) The North Eastern Province is one of the former provinces of Kenya. It had a land area of 127,358.5 km2, with its capital at Garissa. The North Eastern Province was carved out of the then Northern Frontier District (NFD) prior to indepen ...
region of Kenya where the Degoodi sub-clan is 3rd majority out of Somali clans in Kenya and the majority in the
Wajir Wajir () is the capital of Wajir County in Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province. History A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Maadiinle, a semi-legendary people of high ...
region, followed by another Hawiye sub-clan, the
Ajuran Ajuran may refer to: * Ajuran Sultanate, a medieval Somali empire * Ajuran (clan), a Somali clan * Ajuran currency Ajuran currency was an old coinage system minted in the Ajuran Sultanate. The polity was a Somali Muslim kingdom that ruled over la ...
and then the Murule who are the majority of the Mandera region as shown in the Kenyan census. Major Hawiye cities inhabited by the Hawiye clan consist of the capital of Somalia,
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
, along with various other cities such as
Beledweyne Beledweyne (, ) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region. The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne ...
, Galkayo, Babile, Dusmareb, Jowhar,
Wajir Wajir () is the capital of Wajir County in Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province. History A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Maadiinle, a semi-legendary people of high ...
and Mandera.


Sultanates

The Hawiye has produced various sultanates, some of which ruled large parts of the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
. Some of these include:The Ajuran Sultanate, which was led by the
Ajuran Ajuran may refer to: * Ajuran Sultanate, a medieval Somali empire * Ajuran (clan), a Somali clan * Ajuran currency Ajuran currency was an old coinage system minted in the Ajuran Sultanate. The polity was a Somali Muslim kingdom that ruled over la ...
sub-clan of the Hawiye. Specifically the Ajuran are said to be part of the Jambelle Hawiye but became displaced from modern Hawiye territories in the late 17th to early 18th centuries due to historical conflict particularly in South Central Somalia. Lee Cassanelli in his 1982 book "''The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600-1900''" often refers to the Ajuran as former leaders of a Hawiye clan dynasty. They belonged to the Somali
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
sultanate Sultan (; ', ) is a Royal and noble ranks, position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". La ...
that ruled over large parts of the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
in the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. Trading routes dating from the ancient and early medieval periods of Somali maritime enterprise were strengthened or re-established, and foreign trade and commerce in the coastal provinces flourished with ships sailing to and coming from many kingdoms and empires in
East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
,
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
,
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, the
Near East The Near East () is a transcontinental region around the Eastern Mediterranean encompassing the historical Fertile Crescent, the Levant, Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The term was invented in the 20th ...
,
North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...
and
East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
. The Ajuran Empire's sphere of influence in the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
was one of the largest in the region. The empire covered much of southern
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
and eastern
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
, with its domain extending from Hobyo in the north, to Qelafo in the west, to
Kismayo Kismayo (, , ; ) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region. The city is situated southwest of the capital Mogadishu, near the mouth of the Jub ...
in the south. The Hiraab Imaamate, also known as the Yacquubi Dynasty, which was governed by the Hiraab sub-clan of the Hawiye. It was founded by Imam Omar who successfully rebelled and defeated the
Ajuran Ajuran may refer to: * Ajuran Sultanate, a medieval Somali empire * Ajuran (clan), a Somali clan * Ajuran currency Ajuran currency was an old coinage system minted in the Ajuran Sultanate. The polity was a Somali Muslim kingdom that ruled over la ...
and established an independent kingdom. By 1700, the Hiraab and other clans occupied a large territory stretching the interior from the Shabelle valley to the arid lands of Mudug and to the coastal areas of Mogadishu towards Hobyo. After the immediate fall of the Ajuuraan, the Hiraab established an independent rule for at least two centuries. It was called ''Regno di Magadozo'' or the Kingdom of Magadoxo in official medieval bulletins, and at their peak, they would go on to dominate what became Greater Benadir. These sultanates both ruled over present-day Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Minor Hawiye sultanates throughout these periods include the southern reigns of the Lama Jidle (Afgoi) Sultanate of the
Silcis The Silcis (sometimes spelled "Sil'is" or "Seles" in historical texts) are a Somalis, Somali subclan. They are part of the Gorgaarte subclan of the Hawiye clan, which is one of the major clans of the Somali people. The Silcis inhabit the traditiona ...
and the El Amir (Merca) dynasty of the Wadalaan. In the north, minor sultanates of the Sultanate of Bale and the Imamate of Aussa (preceded by Hubat and Harar principalities), were led by members of the Ajuran and the Karanle, respectively. Under these major and minor sultanates, Somalia flourished and various key port cities and towns were created. Explorer John Kirk arrived in southern
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
in 1873 during a period of great economic prosperity with the region being dominated by the Imamate and the
Geledi Sultanate The Sultanate of the Geledi (, ) also known as the Gobroon dynasty,Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 229 was a Somali people, Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the late ...
. Kirk met Imam Mahmood who reigned over Mogadishu. Trade between the Hiraab of
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
and the
Geledi Sultanate The Sultanate of the Geledi (, ) also known as the Gobroon dynasty,Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 229 was a Somali people, Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the late ...
led by Ahmed Yusuf was flourishing. Kirk noted a variety of other things. Roughly 20 large dhows were docked in both Mogadishu and
Merka Merca (, ) is the capital city of the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia, a historic port city in the region. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. Merca is the traditional home territory of the Bimal c ...
respectively filled with grain produced from the farms of the Geledi in the interior with much of the trade being destined for
Zanzibar Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small Island, islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. ...
.


Role and Influence in Somalia

The Hawiye have historically played a foundational role in Somalia. The majority of Somalia's founding fathers hailed from the Hawiye. At Independence in 1960, the first President, Prime Minister, Parliamentary Speaker and the Father of the Somali Military were all Hawiye. Aden Adde the first President and Speaker was Udeejeen. The first Prime Minister Abdullahi Issa was Habar Gidir. The father of the Somali Military Daud Abdulle Hirsi was Abgaal. As was the initiator of the October revolution coup d'état in 1969, Brigadier General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye. The military leader to overthrow and exile the successor of the coup President
Siad Barre Mohammed Siad Barre (, Osmanya script: , ''Muhammad Ziād Barīy''; 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician, and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 Janu ...
of the Supreme Revolutionary Council in 1991 before fighting and defeating subsequent US occupying forces (1993-1995) was General
Mohamed Farrah Aidid Mohamed Farrah Hasan Garad ( ; ; 15 December 1934 – 2 August 1996), popularly known as General Aidid or Aideed, was a Somali military officer, diplomat, and warlord. Educated in both Rome and Moscow, he began his career during the 1950s servi ...
, a Habar Gidir. Since then the Hawiye have produced five more Presidents and four more Prime Ministers. The Hawiye elite played a leading role during the
Somali Rebellion The Somali Rebellion was the start of the Somali Civil War that began in the 1970s and resulted in the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. The rebellion effectively began in 1978 following a failed coup d’état and Presiden ...
in opposing the post civilian era dictatorship of President
Siad Barre Mohammed Siad Barre (, Osmanya script: , ''Muhammad Ziād Barīy''; 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician, and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 Janu ...
under the auspices of SODAF, the SSDF and the
Somali National Movement The Somali National Movement (, ) was one of the first and most important Guerrilla warfare, organized guerilla groups and Mujahideen groups that opposed the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 1990s, as well as being the main anti-government f ...
(SNM) before converging to form their own branch the infamous
United Somali Congress The United Somali Congress (USC, ) was one of the major rebel organizations in Somalia. Formed in 1989, it played a leading role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre in 1991. Following infighting, the USC later splintered into two win ...
(USC). The long-standing clan conflicts that had engulfed other clans in the rest of the country under the ex dictatorship continued unabated into the late 90s with its eventual victors setting up autonomous regional states (Somaliland and Puntland) while Mogadishu underwent a new Civil War starting in late 1991 with the city divided between warring Hawiye factions of Aidid and Abgaal President Ali Mahdi. Despite 2 interim governments built from
Djibouti Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
and supplanted in the capital with its elected Hawiye Presidencies in Ali Mahdi Muhammad in 1991 and Abdiqasim Salad Hassan (Habargidir) a decade later, 14 national peace conferences throughout their tenures and a 3-year UN/US humanitarian & peacekeeping intervention (1992-1995), the Mogadishu Civil War remained a stalemate until 2006 which saw the rise of the popular Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a predominately Hawiye-based Islamic Fundamentalist Organisation that ended the rule of factional warlords and their chiefdoms, with the ICU promoting religious reform while conquering large parts of the country. But even with its moderate leadership and revolutionary appeal, the International Community, encouraged by the US global War on Terror campaign, endorsed a historically damaging Ethiopian Occupation to overthrow the ICU and prop the weak internationally recognised interim federal government (TFG) of President Abdullahi Yusuf, a
Darod The Darod (, ) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan is Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as Darod. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripheries, the Somali hinterlands adjacent ...
Majerteen, which was built in Kenya in 2004 and based there before moving into the city of
Baidoa Baidoa (, Somali (Af-Maxaa): , ) is the largest city of the South West State of Somalia. Between 2002 and 2014, Baidoa was the capital of the South West State. In 2014, the capital was changed to Barawa. Overview Baydhabo is the main hub of ...
. With the TFG reliant on neighbours Ethiopia and Kenya, adopting their principles of federalism and in particular imitating the state structure of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the moderate ICU leadership moved to Djibouti and Eritrea in exile, eventually returning to power under a new name, the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and successfully ending the Ethiopian occupation. A coalition of sorts in later successive governments have since been formed, with new challenges posed by radical offshoots Al-Shabaab, an Alqaeda affiliate takfeer group notorious for bomb attacks that hasn't spared the old, the women or the children though claiming to solely fight the Government and its partners from the African Union peacekeeping forces. The Hawiye figure prominently in many important fields of Somali society such as the Business & Media sector. For example, Abdirahman Yabarow, the editor-in-chief of VOA Somali is kin. Yusuf Garaad Omar who was the Chairman of BBC Somali for over a decade and helped pioneer its rise during his tenure, is also a member. As are the heads of major national corporations - Jubba Airways and Hormuud Telecom. Currently the Hawiye play a leading role in the regional states of Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Benadir (Mogadishu), but also in Somalia and among the Somali people as a whole.


History

According to 12th-century author
Al-Idrisi Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti, or simply al-Idrisi (; ; 1100–1165), was an Arab Muslim geographer and cartographer who served in the court of King Roger II at Palermo, Sicily. Muhammad al-Idrisi was born in C ...
, the Hawiye clan occupied the coastal areas between
Ras Hafun Ras Hafun (, , ), also known as Cape Hafun, is a promontory in the northeastern Bari region of the Puntland state in Somalia. Geography Jutting out into the Guardafui Channel, the promontory constitutes the easternmost point of mainland Africa ...
and
Merca Merca (, ) is the capital city of the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia, a historic port city in the region. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. Merca is the traditional home territory of the Bimal c ...
, as well as the lower basin of the lower Shabelle river. Al-Idrisi's mention of the Hawiye is the first documentary reference to a specific Somali group in the Horn of Africa. Later Arab writers also make references to the Hawiye clan in connection with both
Merca Merca (, ) is the capital city of the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia, a historic port city in the region. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. Merca is the traditional home territory of the Bimal c ...
and the lower Shabelle valley. Ibn Sa'id (1214–74), for instance, considered Merca to be the capital of the Hawiye, who lived in fifty villages on the bank of a river which he called "the nile of Mogadishu, a clear reference to the Shabelle river.
One must mention the Hawīya and Garğēda who are also represented as clan families or clans among the Somali. Both groups seem to have been long established in the Sultanate of Bale: the early immigrants from Merca started from a Hawiya-occupied region and oral traditions relate the Garğēda with the time of the "holy war" in the 1530s.
Along with
Rahanweyn The Rahanweyn (, Northern Somali, Somali: , ), also known as the Digil and Mirifle () is a major Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large territory in the densely populated fertile valleys of the Jubba ...
, the Hawiye clan also came under the Ajuran Empire control in the 13th century that governed much of southern
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
and eastern
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
, with its domain extending from Hobyo in the north, to Qelafo in the west, to
Kismayo Kismayo (, , ; ) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region. The city is situated southwest of the capital Mogadishu, near the mouth of the Jub ...
in the south.Lee V. Cassanelli, ''The shaping of Somali society: reconstructing the history of a pastoral people, 1600-1900'', (University of Pennsylvania Press: 1982), p.102. Known to medieval writers as the Ajan Coast Harold Marcus credits the role of the Hawiye-led commonwealth alliance in expanding and islamizing the communities of what is now southeast Ethiopia and southern Somalia during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Hawiye are also featured in the early history of the northern
Ifat Sultanate The Sultanate of Ifat, known as Wafāt or Awfāt in Arabic texts, or the Kingdom of Zeila was a medieval Sunni Muslim state in the eastern regions of the Horn of Africa between the late 13th century and early 15th century. It was formed in pres ...
during the reign of Emperors
Zara Yaqob Zara Yaqob (; 1399 – 26 August 1468) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal name Qostantinos I (; "Constantine"). He is known for the Geʽez literature that flourished during his reign, th ...
and Amda Seyon I. Sabr ad-Din of Ifat who declared war on Amda Seyon, had summoned 15 notables for the battle, the 8th notable was the King of
Harla The Harla, also known as Harala, Haralla were an ethnic group that once inhabited Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. They spoke the Harla language, which belonged to either the Cushitic or Semitic branches of the Afroasiatic family. History The ...
and the 9th notable was the King of Hubat. According to best known travel and tourism handbook "Guide to Ethiopia" by author Phillip Briggs and ecologist professor Marco Viganó, the Kundudo (''Qundhura'') mountain ranges which sits at the mouth of Gursum, Somali (woreda) and easiest to access via Babile was the locality of ancient Hubat, an early Hawiye settlement area pre-dating and surrounding Harar particularly towards the South East and also historically inhabited by nomadic highland Hawiye clans who had turned to farming and cultivation during the rainfall season according to J.Spencer's "Islam in Ethiopia" where they later repelled and neighboured the Oromo Invasions. Many old towns and villages bearing Hawiye ancestral names can still be found in the modern Eastern Hararghe region today.With
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, also known as the Adal Empire or Barr Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate'', ''Adal Sultanate'') (), was a medieval Sunni Muslim empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din III on th ...
succeeding
Ifat Sultanate The Sultanate of Ifat, known as Wafāt or Awfāt in Arabic texts, or the Kingdom of Zeila was a medieval Sunni Muslim state in the eastern regions of the Horn of Africa between the late 13th century and early 15th century. It was formed in pres ...
, the Hawiye figured prominently as leaders and soldiers in what culminated to become the 16th century conquest of Ethiopia (''Futuh Al-Habasha''). The most famous and widely read Public Historian of Ethiopia, former Minister of Education, Arts & Culture and Dean of the National Library under
Haile Selassie Haile Selassie I (born Tafari Makonnen or ''Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles#Lij, Lij'' Tafari; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as the Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles, Rege ...
, Takla Sadiq Mekuria, author of the "History of Ethiopia; Nubia, Aksum, Zagoe till the Time of the Reign of Aşe Yækunno Amlak", had state devoted the largest study - a 950-page book in 1961 to the life and times of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (known as Ahmed Gurey or Mohamed Gragne, the Atilla of Africa and the King of Zeila) as well as the history of the elite core family-unit of the Imam often known as the
Malassay A Malassay (Harari language, Harari: መለሳይ ''Mäläsay'', Somali language, Somali: Maalasay) was a member of the elite cavalry units that formed the Adal Sultanate's household troops. According to Manfred Kropp, Malassay were the Harari peo ...
Army in his rough monograph on the Gragn Wars called "Ya Gragn Warara" (The Conquests of Gragn), in it he draws on the evidence from Arab Faqih Sihab Uddin and the chronicles of Sarsa-Dengel. Through the mediation of Dagazmac Wargnah he interviewed Ahmed Ali Shami, the most senior authoritative scholar of
Harar Harar (; Harari language, Harari: ሀረር / ; ; ; ), known historically by the indigenous as Harar-Gey or simply Gey (Harari: ጌይ, ݘٛىيْ, ''Gēy'', ), is a List of cities with defensive walls, walled city in eastern Ethiopia. It is al ...
to have produced the concise manuscript history of Harar (in his Fatah Madinat Harar manuscript) for several European institutions and maintains several preserved Arabic manuscripts, which all provide the only extensive family tree and genealogical known tradition of 8 generations of the father and relatives of Gragne's lineage from the
Karanle The Karanle (Arabic: كرنلي ,كرن, Somali: Karanle, Karan) are a Somali clan, forming one of the six branches of the larger Hawiye clan. The Karanle are geographically spread out across three countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Among a ...
Hawiye branch with his mother stated to be of the ethnic
Harla The Harla, also known as Harala, Haralla were an ethnic group that once inhabited Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. They spoke the Harla language, which belonged to either the Cushitic or Semitic branches of the Afroasiatic family. History The ...
, who are also in several accounts stated to be an ancient section of the Kerenle. This is also found in the Aussa chronicles and books authored by Manfred Kropp, Layla Sabaq and Berhanu Kamal and others. Gragne's wife was also the daughter of Emir
Mahfuz Mahfuz (or Mohammed) ( Harari: መሕፉዝ, , Portuguese: Mafudi, Somali: Maxfuud; died July 1517) was a Garad, Emir of Harar and Governor of Zeila in the Adal Sultanate. Although he was originally only emir of a small region he would rise to ...
, an important relative, ruler of
Zeila Zeila (, ), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila with the Biblical location of Havilah. Most modern schola ...
and a Balaw, a Karanle subclan also listed as a group of tribes from Bale and a commonly Ethiopian mistranslation of the Coptic Christian ''synaxarium of Alexandria's'' "Muslim badawī (bedouin/nomadic descent)" for Muslims in Egypt, Sudan, Somalia and the Red Sea Gulf. See example - Ethiopian chronicles of 10th century Muslim convert Saint George the Egyptian Balaw. Weakened by centuries of northern conflict, a fraction of the Hawiye of the post Adal Harar Emirate continued to remain powerful in the Somali interior and would later form a dynasty of jurists in early modern
Zeila Zeila (, ), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila with the Biblical location of Havilah. Most modern schola ...
.
Since sections of the Hawiyya were migrating southward before and during Gragn's jihad, it is not inconceivable that they brought certain theocratic notions with them. Indeed, the Ajuran maintained a wakil (governor) in the region around Qallafo. This area was not only the traditional Hawiyya homeland, but also stood midway geographically between the emirates of Harar and the Benaadir, an ideal link for the transmission of political and religious ideas.
Enrico Cerulli, an Author on key Somali social development and early history, mentions the following passage on the birth and succession of the Ajuran Sultanate.Enrico Cerulli, ''Come viveva una tribù Hawiyya'', ( A Cura dell'Amministrazione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia ; Instituto poligrafico dello Stato P.V 1959)
The oral sources also provide us with recurrent themes that point to certain structural features of Ajuran rule. The descendants of the Ajuraan (among which are the Gareen imams) can therefore be understood to have inherited the spiritual (Islamic) and the secular (numerical) power provided by the alliance of the first three Hawiyya "brothers". Ajuran power reposed on the twin pillars of spiritual preeminence and Hawiyya kinship solidarity, a potent combination in the Somali cultural context. In historical terms, a theocratic ideology superimposed on an extensive network of Hawiyya-affiliated clans helped uphold Ajuran dominance over a wide region. The Darandoolle, it should be noted, were part of the Gurqaate, a clan section collateral to the Jambelle Hawiyya from whom Ajuran (and Gareen) is said to have been descended. Intermarriage among the descendants of these uterine brothers on the one hand helped reinforce the solidarity of the Hawiyya. On the other hand, competition between collateral lines was very common in Somalia, particularly where the titular leadership of a larger clan-confederation was at stake. Such a struggle for the dominant place within the Hawiyya-dominated Ajuran confederation may also be reflected in the rise of the Silcis and El Amir in the later years of Ajuran rule. Both are said to have been descendants of Gurqaate Hawiyya, as were the Abgaal Darandoolle. Thus it can be argued that the dominant groups which appeared toward the end of the Ajuran era—the Darandoolle near Muqdisho, the Silcis near Afgooye, and the El Amir in Marka—represent the partition of the Ajuran imamate among collateral Hawiyya sections. Or perhaps one branch of the Hawiyya—namely the Gurqaate—forcibly replaced another (the Jambelle) as leaders of the clan.
The
Hiraab Imamate The Hiraab Imamate (), also known as the Yacquubi Dynasty, was a Somali people, Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the 16th century till the 19th century until it was incorporated into Italian Somaliland. The Imamate was ...
was the main successor state of the
Ajuran Sultanate The Ajuran Sultanate (, ), natively referred to as Ajuuraan, and often simply Ajuran/Ajur, was a Muslims, Muslim empire in the Horn of Africa that thrived from the Late Middle Ages, late medieval and Early modern period, early modern period. F ...
. The reason for their rebellion was the Ajuran rulers, in the end, became extremely prideful, neglected the sharia law, and imposed a heavy tax on their subjects which was the main reason for the rebellion. Other groups would follow in the rebellion which would eventually bring down Ajuran rule in the inter-riverine region and Benadir coast.Lee Cassanelli in his book, ''The Shaping of Somali society'', provides a historical picture of the Hiraab Imamate. He writes:
"According to local oral tradition, the Hiraab imamate was a powerful alliance of closely related groups who shared a common lineage under the Gorgaarte clan divisions. It successfully revolted against the Ajuran Empire and established an independent rule for at least two centuries from the seventeen hundreds and onwards. The alliance involved the army leaders and advisors of the Habar Gidir and Duduble, a Fiqhi/Qadi of Sheekhaal, and the Imam was reserved for the Mudulood branch who is believed to have been the first born. Once established, the Imamate ruled the territories from the Shabeelle valley, the Benaadir provinces, the Mareeg areas all the way to the arid lands of
Mudug Mudug () is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005. Overview Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia, to the north and south by the Somali regions of Nu ...
, whilst the ancient port of Hobyo emerged as the commercial border and
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
being its capital for the newly established Hiraab Imamate in the late 17th century. Hobyo served as a prosperous commercial centre for the Imamate. The agricultural centres of El Dher and Harardhere included the production of sorghum and beans, supplementing with herds of camels, cattle, goats and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, whilst the aromatic woods and raisins were the primary exports as rice, other foodstuffs and clothes were imported. Merchants looking for exotic goods came to Hobyo to buy textiles, precious metals and pearls. The commercial goods harvested along the Shabelle river were brought to Hobyo for trade. Also, the increasing importance and rapid settlement of more southerly cities such as
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
further boosted the prosperity of Hobyo, as more and more ships made their way down the Somali coast and stopped in Hobyo to trade and replenish their supplies. The economy of the Hawiye includes the predominant nomadic pastoralism, and to some extent, cultivation within agricultural settlements in the riverine area, as well as mercantile commerce along the urban coast. At various points throughout history, trade of modern and ancient commodities by the Hawiye through maritime routes included cattle skin,
slave Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
s,
ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and Tooth, teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mamm ...
and
ambergris Ambergris ( or ; ; ), ''ambergrease'', or grey amber is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor. It acquires a sw ...
.
Richard Burton, a famous 19th century British explorer said to have been the first European to reach the Holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina in secrecy, on visiting the country of the Somalis in 1854 noted among other authors at the time, the northern and southern expansion of the Hiraab prior to the Imamate's deeper conflicts with the advent of Colonialism, said the following;
To the south the Nogal valley touches the Hawiyah, the Marehan and some small neighbouring countries. The Hawiyah are doubtless of ancient origin; they call all Somal except themselves Hashiyah (Aji) and thus claim to be equivalent to the rest of the nation. The antiquity of the Hawiyah is proved by its present widely scattered state; it is a powerful tribe in the Mijjarthayn country and yet it is found in the hills of Harar. It should be noted that the movement towards the South West is faster for the more northerly Hawiyah tribes and therefore further away from the rivers.
Soon afterwards, the entire peninsula was snapped up by Colonial powers and it led to the birth of a Modern Somalia. However, the Hiraab hereditary leadership has remained intact up to this day and enjoys a dominant influence in national Somali affairs.


Clan tree

Due to antiquity and oldened traditions, there are sometimes no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures or many lineages are omitted. Ali Jimale Ahmed outlines his genealogical clan tree of the Hawiye in ''The Invention of Somalia''. *
Samaale Samaale, also spelled Samali or Samale () is traditionally considered to be the common forefather of several major Somali clans and their respective sub-clans. His name is the source of the ethnonym ''Somali''.. As the purported ancestor of most ...
**Irir ***Hawiye ****
Karanle The Karanle (Arabic: كرنلي ,كرن, Somali: Karanle, Karan) are a Somali clan, forming one of the six branches of the larger Hawiye clan. The Karanle are geographically spread out across three countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Among a ...
*****Kaariye *****Gidir *****Sexawle ******Baad *****
Murusade The Murusade (Somali language, Somali: Murursade, Mursal; Arabic: مرسذه ,مرسل), commonly referred to in contemporary usage as Mursal, are a Somali sub-clan belonging to the Karanle branch, which is part of the larger Hawiye, Hawiye c ...
******
Sabti The Sabti (Arabic: بنو سبتي ) are a Somali people, Somali clan belonging to the larger Murusade, Murusade clan, which itself belongs to the larger Karanle branch of the Hawiye, Hawiye clan. The clan is reputed for having a lengthy and flour ...
******* Abakar Sabti ******* Abdalla Sabti *******Idinle Sabti *******Ibrahim Sabti ******Foorculus *******Habar Ceyno *******Habar Maxamed ****Gugundhabe *****Molkaal (Molcal) ****** Badi Ade *******Afgaab *******Maamiye *******Subeer ******Baydisle ******Saransoor ******* Gaaljecel ********Barsane ********Sooranle *********Doqondiide *********Dirisame *********Dar-Waaq **********Abtisame **********Lahube ***********Aloofi ***********Makahiil Omar ******* Degoodi ********Fai ********Dumaal *******Ciise *******Masarre *****Jidle alias Murule ******Abdi (Yabarsein) ******Kuulow ******Sharmarke ******Nacabsoor *****Jijeele ******Reer Faqay ******Reer Wabar ****Gorgaarte *****Maxamed ( Madhibaan) *****Hiraab ******Mudulood ******* Udejeen ********Kheyre Macalin ********Adan Yacqub *******Cabdi Sheikh ( Sheekhaal) *******Darandole ********Hilibi *********Cismaan ********** Wa'daan ***********Maalinle ***********Samakaay *********Moobleen **********Magacle **********Abidig *********Ilaaway *********
Abgaal The Abgaal (Somali language, Somali: Abgaal; Arabic: أبگال) are a Somali clan, Somali sub-clan of the Hawiye and the even larger Samaale clan. This prominent Somali clan, despite being one of the youngest in Somalia, is one of the most ...
(Cali) **********Harti ***********Warsangeli ***********Suul Harti ************Maxamed Caroone *************Agoonyar *************Owbakar **************Reer Imaam *************Yabar Maxamed ************Nugaale (Habar Nugaal) ************Cabdalla Caroone *******Ciise Harti **********Wa'budhan ***********Galmaax Yonis ************Yusuf Galmaax *************Maxamed Muuse ************Cumar Galmaax *************Celi Cumar *************Reer Mataan (Abdulle) ************Abdulle Galmaax ********Xuseen Yonis *********Sahal Koraaye ********Adan Yonis ***********Kabaale Wacbudhan ************Saleeban Muse ************Xeyle Muse ***********Dauud ************Isaaq Dauud ************Yusuf Dauud *************Reer Ugaas **********Wa'aysle (Warculus) ***********Saleeban Waceysle ***********Cumar Saleeban ************Dhagaweyne Cumar ************Faqay Cumar ************Cabdalle Cumar *************Cali Gaaf *************Absuge *************Macalin Dhiblaawe ***********Abdirahman Saleban ***********Jibraail Waceysle ***********Haaruun Waceysle ****** Duduble (Maxamuud Hiraab) *******Maxamed Camal *******Maqlisame *******Owradeen ****** Sheekhaal *******Loobage ********Maxamed Cagane *******Aw-Qudub ****** Habar Gidir ******* Sacad *******Saleebaan ******* Cayr *******Saruur *****Wadalaan *****
Silcis The Silcis (sometimes spelled "Sil'is" or "Seles" in historical texts) are a Somalis, Somali subclan. They are part of the Gorgaarte subclan of the Hawiye clan, which is one of the major clans of the Somali people. The Silcis inhabit the traditiona ...
*****
Hawadle The Hawadle (, , ) are a Somali clan who trace descent to Meyle, one of the sons of Irir Samaale. The Hawadle, as well as many other Somali clans stem from Samaale. Distribution The Hawadle primarily live in Hiran and Middle Shabelle as w ...
******Samatalis *******Dige Samatalis *********Ciise Dige **********Ibrahim Ciise **********Madaxweyne Ciise ***********Ali Madaxweyne ***********Yabar Madaxweyne ***********Abdalle Madaxweyne ************Agoon Abdalle *********Yabar Dige **********Adan Warsame *******Cabdalle Samatalis *******Faramage Samatalis ********Reer Ugaas *******Yusuf Samatalis ********Abdi Yusuf ****Jambeelle *****Hintire *****
Ajuran Ajuran may refer to: * Ajuran Sultanate, a medieval Somali empire * Ajuran (clan), a Somali clan * Ajuran currency Ajuran currency was an old coinage system minted in the Ajuran Sultanate. The polity was a Somali Muslim kingdom that ruled over la ...
******Gareen ******Waalamage ****Xaskul *****Owsaan ****Raarane Hawiye NOTE: The Sheekhaal, Xawaadle and Saransoor (Gaaljecel, Dagoodi, Ciise, Masarre, Tuuf Garre) are historically counted as Hawiye lineages under Hiraab, Gorgaarte and Gugundhabe respectively. The Ajuuraan are similarly descendants of Jambeelle.


Notable Hawiye figures


Rulers and Nobility

* Dirre Sheikh Hussein (saint), 11th Century Muslim Saint of East Africa and Ruler of the Sultanate of Bale *
Abadir Umar ar-Rida Sheikh Abadir Umar Al-Rida ( Harari: አባዲር ዑመር አል-ሪዳ ፈቂ ዑመር, ), also known as Aw Abadir or Aw Badir was the legendary founder of Harar and a patron saint in modern-day eastern Ethiopia. He is also regarded as the comm ...
, Patron Saint and Ruler of Harar * Garad Abun Adashe, Emir of Adal, Paternal Uncle of Ahmed Gurey *
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (, Harari: አሕመድ ኢብራሂም አል-ጋዚ, ; 21 July 1506 – 10 February 1543) was the Imam of the Adal Sultanate from 1527 to 1543. Commonly named Ahmed ''Gragn'' in Amharic and ''Gurey'' in Somali, ...
nicknamed " Ahmed Gurey", Somali
Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...
, General of the
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, also known as the Adal Empire or Barr Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate'', ''Adal Sultanate'') (), was a medieval Sunni Muslim empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din III on th ...
and Conqueror of Ethiopia *
Wazir Abbas Abbas ibn Abogn ibn Ibrahim () also known as Wazir Abbas was an Adalite general who became Grand Vizier of the Adal Sultanate in 1535. The nephew of Ahmed Gurey, he led the Adalite conquest of Medri Bahri and was briefly the Bahr Negash. He was ...
, Grand Vizier, the Bahr Negash of
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, also known as the Adal Empire or Barr Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate'', ''Adal Sultanate'') (), was a medieval Sunni Muslim empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din III on th ...
* Sultan Talha ibn Abbas, succeeding Sultan of Adal * Muhammad Gasa, First Ruler of the Imamate of Aussa * Caaqil Dheryodhoobe, Legendary Warrior Chief of Central Somalia and Strategic Thinker * Mowlana Abd al-Rahman Nurow, Late Renaissance Era Religious Reformist of East Africa * Malaakh Hassan Geedi Abtow, Traditional leader of Mogadishu * Sheikh Hassan Barsane, National Anti Colonial leader * Laashin Ahmed Gabyow, Somali Patriot and Fighter Poet of the Benadir Coast * Olol Dinle, Last Sultan of the Ajuran Sultanate * Capo Sandhool Guure, Traditional leader of Hiiraan * Capo Hersi Gurey, Traditional leader of Mudug * Nabadoon Mohamed Hassan Xaad, Chairman of Hawiye Elders Council


Politicians

* Abdullahi Issa, Prime Minister of Somalia, 1956–1960 *
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar Aden Abdulle Osman Da’ar (, ) (9 December 1908 – 8 June 2007), popularly known as Aden Adde, was a Somali politician who served as the first president of the Somali Republic from 1 July 1960 to 6 July 1967.
, President of Somalia, 1960–1967 * Haji Farah Ali Omar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Somalia, 1967–1969 * Hussein Kulmiye Afrah, Vice President of Somalia, 1971–1990 * Mohamed Ibrahim Liqliiqato, President of the National Assembly, 1982–1989 * Ali Mahdi Muhammad, President of Somalia, 1991–2000 * Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, President of Somalia, 2000–2004 * Ali Mohammed Ghedi, Prime Minister of Somalia, 2004–2007 * Nur Hassan Hussein, Prime Minister of Somalia, 2007–2009 * Sharif Ahmed, President of Somalia, 2009–2012 *
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali language, Somali: ''Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud''; ; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician serving as the president of Somalia since 15 May 2022. He previously held the office from 2012 to 2017. Hassan was previo ...
, President of Somalia, 2012–2017, 2022–Current * Hassan Ali Khaire, Prime Minister of Somalia, 2017–2020 * Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of Somalia, 2020–2022 * Abdulrahman Kinana, First Ever Speaker of the East African Community (EAC) Legislative Assembly, 2001–2006; Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence of Tanzania * Sheikh Ali Jimale, Cabinet Minister, First Opposition Party Secretary-General and Runners Up in the 1961 Presidential Elections * Hassan Nur Elmi, 1960s Governor of Benadir, Permanent Representative to the United Nations * Abdirahman Haji Mumin, SYL Party Secretary General, Minister of Defence from 1962 to 1965 * Abdullahi Ahmed Addow, 1963-1970 Governor of the Central Bank, Minister of Economic Affairs, later Somali Ambassador to the United States 1970–1980 * Mohamed Sheikh Osman, 1970s-1980s Former Minister of Finance, Commerce and Industry * Omar Hassan Mohamud "Istarliin", 1960s Mayor of Mogadishu and Chairman of the Somali Rebellion SODAF * Ali Mohamed Osoble "Wardhigley", MP Elected from Mogadishu, Minister of Information, Health and Labour, Vice Chairman of SNM, Chairman of USC * Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Politician, Businessman, Chairman of the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) *
Abukar Umar Adani Abukar Umar Adani, also transcribed as Abukar Omar Adan, is a businessman from Mogadishu. He has been mentioned as the chief financial backer of the Islamic Courts Union. He hails of Abgaal). As of 2008, he lives in Djibouti having fled Somalia f ...
, Islamist, Tycoon, Owner of the El-Ma`an Port which served as Mogadishu's temporary Port since its closure in 1995 * Abdullahi Mohamed Ali "Sanbaloolshe", Politician, Diplomat, Secretary of State for National Security and Intelligence Chief (NISA) * Shaaban Ali Issack, Former Member of Kenyan National Assembly/Parliament, Assistant Minister for Urban Development, 1995–2007 *
Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab Hassan Mohamed Hussein "Muungaab" ) is a Somali politician. He served twice as Mayor of Mogadishu & Governor of the Banaadir region between 27 February 2014 and 26 October 2015 and 28 may 2025 to current. He also served as State Minister of Jus ...
, Mayor of Mogadishu, Chief of the Somali Supreme Court, 2012–2016 *
Mohamed Nur Mohamoud Ahmed Nur (, ) is a Somali people, Somali politician. He served as the Mayor of Mogadishu from 2010 to 27 February 2014. Background Personal life Nur was born to a family from the Udejeen sub-clan of the Hawiye. He was raised in Mogadi ...
, Popular Mayor of Mogadishu, 2009–2012, famously nicknamed ''Tarzan'' *
Mohamed Hussein Ali Mohamed Hussein Ali is a Kenyan politician. He belongs to the Orange Democratic Movement and was elected to represent the Mandera East Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya since the 2007 Kenyan parliamentary election General ele ...
, Former Member of Kenyan National Assembly/Parliament, 2007–2013


Military personnel

* Daud Abdulle Hirsi, First Commander-In-Chief of the Somali National Forces in 1960, Commanding Officer of the 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War * Salaad Gabeyre Kediye, Brigadier General, Father of the 1969 ''Kacaan'' Revolution * General
Mohamed Farrah Aidid Mohamed Farrah Hasan Garad ( ; ; 15 December 1934 – 2 August 1996), popularly known as General Aidid or Aideed, was a Somali military officer, diplomat, and warlord. Educated in both Rome and Moscow, he began his career during the 1950s servi ...
, Chairman of the
United Somali Congress The United Somali Congress (USC, ) was one of the major rebel organizations in Somalia. Formed in 1989, it played a leading role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre in 1991. Following infighting, the USC later splintered into two win ...
that toppled Dictator
Siad Barre Mohammed Siad Barre (, Osmanya script: , ''Muhammad Ziād Barīy''; 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician, and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 Janu ...
, battled US Delta forces and UNOSOM during Operation Restore Hope and a self-declared President of Somalia before his Death, 1987–1996
General Galal
Frunze Trained Major General, Former Deputy Defence Minister, Chief Architect of the 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War and the Ogaden War 1977, Commander of the 1990
Somali Rebellion The Somali Rebellion was the start of the Somali Civil War that began in the 1970s and resulted in the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. The rebellion effectively began in 1978 following a failed coup d’état and Presiden ...
in Mogadishu,
Transitional National Government of Somalia The Transitional National Government (TNG) was the internationally recognized central government of Somalia from 2000 to 2004. Overview The TNG was established in 20 April–5 May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Arta, Djibou ...
Head of National Commission for Security and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a Paramilitary Advisor, Four Time War Hero * Dahir Adan Elmi, Chief of Somali Armed Forces, Major General and the Commander of Qabdri-Daharre Battalion in Somalia-Ethiopian War in 1977 and awarded a Medal of Honour. He is regarded as the longest serving General in the Somali Army *Mohamud Barre Faytaan, First Chief of the Somali Air Defence Corps and later Somali Airlines *Mohamed Ali Dhagaxtuur, SYL Horseed Militia leader, Martyr of the 1948 Four-Power Commission Hanoolaato riots in Mogadishu named after the Dhagaxtuur Monument *Mohamed Abdulle Halane, Posthumous Gold Medallist of the 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War commemorated in the Halane Elite Training Camp and Daljirka Dahsoon (Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Monument) *Ahmed Sheikh Mao, Cayr, First Commander of the Somali Air Force *Osman Sheikh Mao, Cayr, First Commander of the Somali Navy * Colonel Ahmed Maxamed Xasan, Abgaal, Award Winner fighter jet pilot who famously refused government orders to bomb
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
in the lead up to the Civil War, 1988–1991 * General Ahmed Jila'ow Adow, former Director of the Somali Secret Services and a Mayor of Mogadishu in 1991 * Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid, Longest reigning Police Commissioner, dubbed ''Tiger Abdi'' in the infamous Black Hawk Down * Mohammed Hussein Ali, Former Commissioner of the Kenya Police. * Hassan Dahir Aweys, Decorated Colonel of the
Ogaden War The Ogaden War, also known as the Ethio-Somali War (, ), was a military conflict between Somali Democratic Republic, Somalia and derg, Ethiopia fought from July 1977 to March 1978 over control of the sovereignty of the Ogaden region. Somalia ...
, Founder of the Islamic Courts Union * Mohamed Abdi Hassan, Entrepreneur, Somalia's "Pirate Kingpin" who captured the MV Sirius Star Ship, 2008


Leading intellectuals

*
Hussein Sheikh Ahmed Kaddare Hussein Sheikh Ahmed Kaddare (, ; 2 March 1934 – 1 February 2015) was a Somali people, Somali inventor, linguist, and researcher in Somali traditions and folklore. Kaddare contributed his linguistic expertise in Somalia's Ministry of information ...
, Linguist, Author of the 1952 Kaddariya script * Ismail Jim'ale Osoble, Human Rights Lawyer, Journalist, Cabinet Minister, Author of the 1990 Somali Manifesto *
Abdulkadir Yahya Ali Abdikadir Yahya Ali () (1957 – July 12, 2005), was a Somali peace activist best known for his work through his own Centre for Research and Dialogue. Yahya also worked from time to time as an independent consultant giving advice and administr ...
, Peace Activist, Founder of the Center for Research and Dialogue * Elmi Ahmed Duale, Director General of Somali Public Health,
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
East Africa Programme Coordinator, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations * Ahmed Mumin Warfa, Senior Government Advisor, Philanthropist, Scientist and Rector of the Zamzam University of Science and Technology, discovered the '' Cyclamen somalense'' species * Farah Weheliye Addo, Politician, Chairman of the Somali Football Association,
Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (, , , ; officially abbreviated as CECAFA) is an association of the football playing nations in mostly East Africa and parts of Central Africa. An affiliate of the Confederation of Afr ...
, Somali Olympic Committee and vice-president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) * Yusuf Garaad Omar, Editor-in-Chief of the BBC Somali Service * Abdi Mohamed Ulusso, Writer, Historian, 2004 Presidential Candidate * Ali Jimale, Educator at the City University of New York * Ali Sheikh Ahmed, Dual President of Mogadishu University and Al-Islaah * Elman Ali Ahmed, Entrepreneur and Social Activist * Hilowle Imam Omar, Chairman of the Somali Civil War Reconciliation Program * Ibrahim Hassan Addou, Former Professor of Washington University, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006 * Hussein Ali Shido, SYL Politician, Ambassador and later founding member of the United Somali Congress * Hawa Abdi, Haskul subclan, Humanitarian, Physician, Writer, 5 time Award Winner and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee in 2012


Music, Literature, Culture and Sports

* Axyaa Waddani, SYL Poet * Farah Gololeey, Poet, Political Bard * Abdi Bashiir Indhobuur, Poet and Composer * Abdulle Raage Tarawiil, Poet and Actor * Abshir Bacadle, Poet and Philanthropist * Abdukadir Osman (Aroma), Story Writer, Historian * Hasan Adan Samatar, Famous Musician in the 1970s and 1980s * K'naan, Somali-Canadian Poet, Rapper and Musician * Magool (Halima Khalif Omar), Musician * Ali Said Hassan, Somali Film Producer * Abdullah Noor Wasughe, Somali Olympian * Ayub Daud, International Footballer, Son of National Somalia Team Captain


Political factions and organizations

* Islamic Courts Union (ICU), an Islamic Revolutionary Group and rival administration to the Transitional Federal Government. *
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism The Somali Warlord Alliance, officially called the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (Abbreviation, abbreviated ARPCT; ), was a Somali people, Somali alliance created by various Somali warlords and businessmen with the ba ...
(ARPCT) a Somali alliance created by various faction leaders and entrepreneurs * Hizbul Shabaab, the Youth Movement wing of the ICU before ceding the organisation to its first leader Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow" who hails from the Habar Gidir * Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a, a rival moderate Sufi paramilitary to Hizbul Shabaab * Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), primary opponent of the Somali Patriotic Movement *
Somali National Alliance The Somali National Alliance (abbreviated SNA) was a major politico-military faction formed on 16 June 1992 by four different rebel groups that had been in opposition to the regime of former President Mohamed Siad Barre. The SNA was among the f ...
(SNA), formed by Mohamed Farrah Aidid * Somali Salvation Army (SSA), the Ali Mahdi Muhammad branch of the United Somali Congress *
United Somali Congress The United Somali Congress (USC, ) was one of the major rebel organizations in Somalia. Formed in 1989, it played a leading role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre in 1991. Following infighting, the USC later splintered into two win ...
(USC), formed in 1987, played a leading role in the ouster of the dictatorship


See also

*
Somali aristocratic and court titles This is a list of Somali aristocratic and court titles that were historically used by the Somali people's various sultanates, Realm, kingdoms and empires. Also included are the honorifics reserved for Islamic notables as well as traditional leader ...


Notes


References


Sources

* * *{{cite encyclopedia, last1=Rubin, first1=Uri, author1-link=Uri Rubin, date=2009, title=ʿAqīl b. Abī Ṭālib, editor1-last=Fleet, editor1-first=Kate, editor2-last=Krämer, editor2-first=Gudrun, editor3-last=Matringe, editor3-first=Denis, editor4-last=Nawas, editor4-first=John, editor5-last=Rowson, editor5-first=Everett, encyclopedia= Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three, doi=10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_23073 Somali clans in Ethiopia