Qallo is one of the thirteen sub-clans of the Somali Sheikhal clan.First footsteps in East Africa
by Richard Burton

Etymology

Qallu is a common name known in Oromo and Somali traditions because there is a clan called “Qallu’’ within each of these ethnic groups. However, it is the Somalis who enthusiastically refer to the name.Ulrich Braukämper: ''Islamic History and Culture in Southern Ethiopia. Collected Essays'', Göttinger Studien zur Ethnologie 9, 2003, , pp.112-129, 117 It is said that “Qallu” is referring to "people of the religion" and it describes the Qallu’s main occupation in their societies. That means in the past, most of the persons who belong to Qallu clan were dominantly the teachers of Islam in the areas that they reside.

Variations in the Descriptions of Qallu

The Qallu inhabit

Hararghe Hararghe ( ''Harärge''; Harari language, Harari: ሀረርጌ፞ይ, هَرَرْݘٛىيْ,''Harargêy'', Oromo language, Oromo: Harargee, ) was a provinces of Ethiopia, province of eastern Ethiopia with its capital in Harar. Etymology Harargh ...

Oromia Region 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

Dire Dawa Dire Dawa (; , meaning"where the Dir (clan), Dir hit his spear into the ground" or "The true Dir", , Harari language, Harari: ድሬዳዋ, lit. "Plain of Medicine"; ) is a city in eastern Ethiopia near the Somali Region and Oromia, Oromo borde ...

as well as the Republics 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 ...

and

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 ...

. The Qallu in Ethiopia trace back their genealogy to

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 ...

the immediate ancestor of the Sheekhaal Clan.Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856; edited with an introduction and additional chapters by Gordon Waterfield (New York: Praeger, 1966), p. 165

Geographical Dispersions of the Qallu

Richard Burton describes that Qallu (Sheekhaash) is dispersed among its brothers (other clans) and they can be found from Ifat up to

Ogaden Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled ''Ogadēn''; , ) is one of the historical names used for the modern Somali Region. It is also natively referred to as Soomaali Galbeed (). The region forms the eastern portion of Ethiopia and borders Somalia ...

. This is an exact description of the highly reverend clan of Qallu. Today, as Burton witnessed 150 years ago the Qallu inhabit a vast area. However, the highly concentrated communities of the Qallu can be found in the following areas. * in Babille,

Deder Dader (Amharic: ደደር) is a town located in the East Hararghe Zone of the Oromia, Ethiopia with an altitude of above sea level. It is the administrative center of the Dader District. Between 1954 and 1967, Deder received telephone service. ...

, Jarso and Gursum in

East Hararghe East Hararghe () is a zone in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. East Hararghe Zone is bordered on the southwest by Bale, on the west by West Hararghe Zone, on the north by Dire Dawa and on the north and east by the Somali Region. The Harari Regio ...

; * in the Walled City 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 ...

; * in Shinile Zone

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 ...

; * in Dire Dawa chartered city; * in

Jijiga Jijiga (, , ''Jijiga'') is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia. It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 75 km (37 mi) west of the border with Som ...

woreda of the

; * in Habro, Gubba Qoricha, Qunni, Chiro, Boke and Mieso woredas of West Hararghe, Zone.

References

{{authority control Muslim communities in Africa Oromo groups Ethnic groups in Somalia Ethnic groups in Djibouti Islamic culture Surnames

Etymology

Variations in the Descriptions of Qallu

Geographical Dispersions of the Qallu

See also

References