Rahanweyn
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The Rahanweyn is a Somali clan, composed of two major sub-clans, the Digil and the Mirifle. It comprises about 20% of the population of Somalia, and is one of the four major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa.
The Digil sub-clan consists mainly of farmers and coastal people, while the Mirifle consists mainly of nomadic pastoralists.
[edit] Language and Location
According to the Rahanweyni, Somalis are linguistically grouped into Mai Terreh and Maxaa Tiri. The speakers of Mai Terreh (altern. Mai-Mai or Maay) are the Rahanweyn, while the speakers of Mahaa Tiri belong to other clans (Dir, Darod and Hawiye).
The Digil and Mirifle are concentrated mainly in southern Somalia including Mogadishu and Upper Juba (Gedo, Bay, Bakool, Lower Shabelle and most parts of Middle Juba regions of Somalia). They are also found in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia but not in Djibouti.
[edit] Clan Structure
The Rahanweyn consists of the following sub-clans:
Digil
- Dabarre
- Jiido
- Shantacaleemood
- Geledi
- Bagadi
- Tunni
- Garre
Mirifle
- Siyeed
- Leysaan
- Xariin
- Boqolhore (consisting the four clans of Qoomaal, Disoow, Eemid and Yalaale)
- Macalinweyne
- Eelaay
- Heledi
- Xaroow
- Waanjaal
- Jiroon
- Reer Dumaal
- Garwaale
- Asharaaf Sarmaan
- Sagaal
- Hadame
- Luwaay
- Geelidle
- Jilible
- Yantaar
- Hubeer
- Gasaargude
- Goobabweyn
Each of these numbered sub-clans has 5 Gamaas (sub-groups). For example the five gamaa of the Qoomaal of the Boqolhore (see above) are: 1.Dhisiraad, 2. Reer Awmashube 3. Reer Towba; 4. Reer Macalin and 5. Idimoole. Traditionally one of these five is the Gamaashore (first sub-group). In the case of the Qoomaal the Gamaashore is the sub-group called Dhisiraad.
