The Reer Nuur (Somali: Reer Nuur), also known as Nuur Yoonis, is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Makahiil sub-clan of the

Gadabuursi The Gadabuursi (Somali language, Somali: ''Gadabuursi'', Arabic language, Arabic: جادابورسي), also known as ''Samaroon'' (Arabic language, Arabic: ''قبيلة سَمَرُون)'', is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir ...

clan family.

Overview

The Reer Nuur are one of the biggest sub-clans of the

clan family. Historically, they occupied the buffer zone between the

and

Isaaq The Isaaq (, , ''Banu Ishaq'') is a major Somali clans, Somali clan. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. The Isaaq people claim in a traditional legend ...

tribes. Historically, when the clan would meet for political affairs, the Reer Nuur would be counted as one separate branch, on equal standing with the '' Habar Afan'','' Mahad 'Ase '','' Aadan Yonis '' and the '' Jibril Yonis '' sub groups of the Gadabuursi family .

Distribution

The Reer Nuur reside in 3 countries,

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 ...

, and

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 ...

. Within Somaliland, the Reer Nuur reside in the

Awdal Awdal (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in western Somaliland. It was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed and became a province in 1984 and is the most northwesterly province of Somaliland. To the e ...

province, and share the Baki District with the Reer Mohammed (Mahad 'Ase) and Habar Afan, although Dilla District is dominated by them. They also inhabit the Borama District . Within the

Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh (, ), formerly known as Woqooyi Galbeed (lit. ''North West'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, To ...

province, they reside in the Gabiley District, in towns such as

Tog Wajaale Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale, Wajale, Tug Wajale, Togwajaale) is a city on the border of Somaliland and Ethiopia. Tog Wajaale is the main border crossing for goods coming in and out of Somaliland, primarily from the port city of Berbera, So ...

, El Bardale, and

Gabiley Gabiley (, ), also known as Gebiley, is a city in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Gabiley is located 58 km west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. It is in the center of the Gabiley district, bounded on the north by the Gulf of ...

. Within the

Hargeisa District Hargeisa District () is a Administrative District in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Its capital lies at Hargeisa. Other settlements in the district include Daarbuduq. See also *Administrative divisions of Somalia Somalia is offici ...

, they reside in

Hargeisa Hargeisa ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also th ...

, in the Stadium and State Park neighborhoods. Within Djibouti, the Reer Nuur reside in Quarter 4 and 5 of

Djibouti (city) Djibouti (also called Djibouti City and Jibuti in early Western texts) is the capital city of the Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti. It is located in the coastal Djibouti Region on the Gulf of Tadjoura. Djibouti has a population of around 780,000 ...

. Within Ethiopia, the Reer Nuur reside 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 ...

, specifically in the Awbare district, the most demographically popular region of the Jigjiga Zone. The Reer Nuur historically have grazed up to Jijiga and make up the majority of the inhabitants of the city of Awbare.

History

As a member of the Dir clan, the Reer Nuur come under the Makahiil branch of the

. As a member of the Dir clan, the Reer Nuur were a part of the Sultanate of Ifat and 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 ...

. These sultanates were run by the

Walashma dynasty The Walashma dynasty was a medieval Muslim dynasty of the Horn of Africa founded in Ifat (historical region), Ifat (modern eastern Shewa). Founded in the 13th century, it governed the Sultanate of Ifat, Ifat and Adal Sultanate, Adal Sultanates in ...

, who were originated by the famous

Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn () (b. 10th century), popularly known as Aw Barkhadle ("Blessed Father")Abdullahi, p.13 or Yusuf Al Kownayn, was an Islamic scholar and traveler based in Zeila, Somaliland. According to Dr. Enrico Cerulli, Yusuf Al K ...

. The Reer Nuur also occupy some of the oldest towns of these sultanates, the towns of Amud and Awbare. Which are also known as important historical sites and home to many Somali saints. In the colonial age, the Reer Nuur were adamantly anti colonization, and refused to join the British (along with other

) against the Dervish movement. The Balwo style of music and poetry was invented by a member of the Reer Nuur clan, known as Abdi Sinimo. His new style of music also led to the rise of the Heello genre and gave birth to modern Somali music.

Clan Tree

The Reer Nuur claim descent from Dir through Gadabuursi, listed below. * Gadabuursi * Habar Makadur (Makadoor) ** Makahil *** Mussee **** Yuunes (Reer Yoonis) ***** Nuur Yoonis (Reer Nuur) The sub divisions of the Noor Yoonis: * Noor Yoonis (Reer Nuur) ** Reer Mahmuud *** Abdi Mahamuud **** Xuseen ***** Xaad (Buul-xun) ***** Shirdoon ***** Gabbal ****** Koohi (Bafaad) ****** Samatar (Bafaad) ******* Bahdoon Samatar ****** Ali ****** Raage ****** Xergeeye ****** Khayre (bah-caso) ****** Bahdoon (bah-caso) ****** Samatar-yare (bah-caso) ****** Dhaabur (bah-caso) **** Cismaan (Reer – Cismaan) *** Halas Mahmuud **** Cumar Halas ***** Husien Omar ***** Farah Omar ***** Afi Omar ***** Gelleh Omar ***** Roble Omar **** Guled Halas ***** Samatar Guled ***** Xildiid Guled(Xareed-Qoobbuur) ***** Dhidar Guled **** Muse Halas **** Hiraab Halas **** Cali Halas *** Hassan Mahmuud (Nimidoor) *** Hufane Mahmuud (Nimidoor) *** Roble Mahmuud (Ba-Jibra’en) *** Mohamed Mahmuud (Ba-Jibra’en) ** Reer Farah *** Ibrahim Farah **** Guled Ibraahim ***** Amare Guled ****** Xergeeye Amare ****** Faarah Amare ***** Shirwac Guled ****** Gaboobe Shirwac ****** Xirsi Shirwac ****** Samatar Shirwac ****** Geedi Shirwac ****** Geeldoon Shirwac ***** Abrar Guled ***** Rooble Guled **** Gaade Ibraahim ***** Meecaad Gaade ***** Loodoon Gaade ***** Bahdoon Gaade **** Bare Ibraahim ***** Gabdoon Bare ****** Meecaad Gabdoon (Gurey) ****** sareeye Gabdoon ****** Samatar Gabdoon (Qabile) ****** Magan Gabdoon ******* Waadhawr Magan (Reer wadheer) ******* Abdillahi Magan ******* Bahdoon Magan **** Samakaab Ibraahim **** Rooble Ibraahim ***** Samatar Rooble **** Dadar Ibraahim **** Salah Ibraahim (Dadar) *** Geedi Farah also known as (Gabarmadow) **** Wayteen Geedi **** Cali Geedi **** Mahamed Geedi **** Dabeer Geedi **** Hiraab Geedi *** Reer Ali Abdi

References

{{reflist Gadabuursi