Somali clan

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This 2002 CIA map shows the distribution of Somali clan populations: Hawiye (25%), Isaaq (22%), Darod (20%), Rahanweyn (17%), Dir (7%), Digil (3%), and ethnic minorities (6%)

Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people. It is an important social unit and clan membership continues to play an important part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are often divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions.

In traditional Somali society, marriage was often to someone from another clan, ie exogamy, but during the 20th century conflicts in Somalia this seems to have become the exception rather than the rule (Laitin & Samatar, 1987).

[edit] Hierarchy of clans

Certain clans are traditionally believe sharing a common Somali ancestry, whereas the minority clans are believed to have mixed parentage. These clans are believed to be descended from Samaale (or Samale), and are sometimes referred to collectively by this name. The four clans are Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Isaaq. Of these, Dir, and Hawiye trace their descent from Samaale through Irir Samaale.

The Digil, Mirifle, and Rahanweyn (see major clans for the confusion over these groupings) are agro-pastoral clans in the area between the Jubba and Shabeelle Rivers. Mirifle clan members largely follow a nomadic lifestyle, whereas Digil sub-clan members are largely farmers. These two clan group members live in southwest of the country and speak a group of Somali dialects (Maay) which have recently been classified as a separate language; they have thus been isolated to some extent from the mainstream of Somali society.

A third tier, the occupational clans, have sometimes been treated as outcastes, because traditionally they could only marry among themselves and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean. They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and performed specialised occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting. These clans include the Tomal, Midgan, Yibir, Ayle, Jaji, and Yahar.^[1]

[edit] Major clans

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures. The divisions and subdivisions as given here are partial and simplified. Many lineages are omitted. Note that some sources state that the Rahanweyn group is made up of the Digil and Mirifle clans, whereas others list the Digil as a separate group from the Rahanweyn. (For a comparison of different views on the clan-lineage-structures in Somalia see Conflict in Somalia (Worldbank, 2005, p. 56).)

• Hawiye - 25%
  • Abgaal, Ajuran, Murule, Baadicadde, Hawadle, Degodia, Murusade, Garre, Habar Gidir, Sheikhaal and Gaaljecel.

• Isaaq - 22%
  • Habarawal, Arap, (Garhajis, which is split into Eidagale and Habar Yoonis), Habar Toljeclo, better known as Habar Jeclo, Toljaalo, and Ayuub.

• Darod - 20%
  • Majeerteen, Mareexaan, Warsangeli, Dhulbahante, Awrtable, Ogaadeen (Ogaden) and Leelkase.

• Rahanweyn - 17%
  • Leysaan, Xariin, Hadame, Eelaay, Jiroon, Luwaay, Geelidle, Boqorhore, Gasaargude, Hubeer, Yantaar and Jilible. All of these sub-clans belong to the larger Mirifle clan.

• Dir - 7%
  • Ciise (Issa), Gadabuursi, Biimaal, Suure, Fiqi Muxumed, Qubeys, Gurguure, Baadimaal, Gaadsan, Akiishe, Madigaan, Gariire, Guure, Dabruube, Layiile and Wardaay.

• Digil - 3%
  • Geledi, Tunni, Dabare, Jiiddo, Bagadi and Garre.

• Minorities/others - 6%
  • Tumaal, Madhibaan, Yibir, Eeyle, Yaxar, Ogeyslabe, Midgaan, Jareerweyne, Reer Xamar, Reer Baraawe and other Banaadiri clans.

[edit] Clans under the Transitional Somali Government

According to the interim Somali constitution, created at the last peace conference in Nairobi in the early 2000s, the delegates agreed there being four "major" clans and one "minor" fifth clan, called the "the fifth".^[2]

According to that interim constitution, the four major clans are: Hawiye, Dir (including Isaaq), Rahanweyn, and Daarood, the fifth – minor – clan being a combination of the rest, including but not limited to Jareerweyne (Somali Bantus), Banaadiris, and other ethnically Somali clans, outcaste because of their so-called occupational problems, such as Tumaal, Midgaan [Madhibaan], Yibir, Eeyle, Jaji, and Yahar.^[3].

These latter groups could traditionally only marry among themselves, and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean. They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the North and performed specialised occupations such as metal working, tanning and hunting. Some also lived in the South, especially the Eeyle, a traditional hunter-gathering clan that lived in the Southwest of the country.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notes

1. ^ The information in this section was taken from Laitin and Samatar [1987].
2. ^ http://www.cfr.org/publication/12475/somalias_transitional_government.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F11392%2Feben_kaplan
3. ^ The information in this section was taken from Laitin and Samatar [1987].

[edit] See also

• Somali people
• Culture of Somalia
• Clan

[edit] References

• David D. Laitin and Said S. Samatar, Somalia: Nation in Search of a State, Colorado:Westview Press, 1987. ISBN 0-86531-555-8
• Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, Worldbank, January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts
• Victims and Vulnerable Groups in Southern Somalia, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
• Somali Clan Structure, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
• Somalia Tribal Study, 2005