Warsangali

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The Warsangali (also Warsengeli or Warsangeli) ("Son Of Mohamoud Harti") is a Somali clan of the Harti group, part of the Darod clan. In Somali, it means "Bringer of good news" or those who always brought the good news.

It is the fourth largest among the Darod subclans. The Warsengeli live in Sanaag in the former British Somaliland and the western portion of Bari and some parts Of Jubada Hoose. Warsangeli also have the oldest Sultanate amongst the Somali tribes who inhabit the former British Somaliland.[citation needed]

The citizens of Warsangeli Sultanate are well-known throughout Somalia's history, of being peace loving and politically independent citizens. In the article "Seychellois rekindle ties with Sultan of Somaliland" which was featured on one of the newspapers of the Republic of Seychelles captures a glimpse of this history. It writes, "The Warsengeli Sultanate has been in existence for the last six hundred years."[3]. The country of the tribe was recognized in the Arabian Peninsula by whom they named it Makhar or Makhir Coast and the terms are quite territorial but more comparative to the clan than nominal. The country of Warsangeli was considered to be the most commercially valuable region by both the English and Arab traders [5]. The land of Cal Madow which is inside the country of the tribe, is also a chain of stunning mountains that extends the cities of Bosaaso - the capital of the Bari region and Erigavo, the capital of the Sanaag region - in an east-west direction.

Captain S. B. Miles's "On the Neighbourhood of Bunder Marayah"(1872) describes the clan as people who live by the rule as a peaceable and orderly, and generally loth to shed blood while the Galbedh(Western Somali) tribes were in completely opposite state. Miles, states,"The Gulbedh tribes are much more turbulent and predatory than the 'Makhar', and are in chronic state of warfare and anarchy [4] . In fact, Cruttenden reaffirms similar observations of Miles by stating, "It is worthy of remark that in this tribe, theft is looked upon with abhorrence....To call a man a thief is a deadly insult, to be washed out by blood alone. Pity is that the Somali tribes of Edoor(isaaq) have not the same prejudice in favour of honesty" [2] Despite the peaceful and orderly nature of Warsangeli, Cruttenden, however, characterized them as "powerful and warlike", which again stresses their portrait of being an independent and peaceful loving citizens of Somalia.

Contents

[edit] Subclans of the Warsangeli

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures. The divisions and subdivisions as here given are partial and simplified. Many lineages are omitted. (For a comparison of different views on the clan-lineage-structures see *Worldbank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts, [1], p.56.

Richard Francis Burton in his book "First Footsteps of East Africa" (1856) lists 18 principle subclans of Warsangeli, "This extensive branch of the Somal is divided into eighteen principal clans, viz.: 1. Rer Gerad (the royal family). 2. Rer Fatih. 3. Rer Samatar 4. Rer Abdullah. 5. Rer Bihidur. 6. Bohogay Salabay. 7. Adan Yakub. 8. Gerad Umar. 9. Gerad Yusuf. 10. Gerad Liban. 11. Nuh Umar. 12. Adan Said. 13. Rer Haji. 14. Dubbays. 15. Warlabah. 16. Bayabarhay. 17. Rer Yasif. 18. Hindudub. 19. Rer Garwayna."

  • Reer Geraad
  • Dubays
  • Cabdi Cali
  • Aadan Siciid
  • Reer Yuusuf
  • Reer Saalax
  • Muxumud
  • Bih ina Guleed
  • Habar Ahmed
  • Reer Mohamed
  • Cowramale
  • Ogayslabe
  • Xusein Ciise
  • Siciid Ciise
  • Jibriil Siciid
  • Nuux Cumar
  • Reer Xaaji
  • Reer Carab
  • Bah Idoor
  • Bah Ogayslabe
  • Reer Samatar
  • Reer Faatax
  • Reer Cabdale
  • Ahmed Dhegawayn
  • Bah Habar Cusmaan
  • Bah Habar Xasan
  • Bah Yabare
  • Riighaye
  • Tuure
  • Ahmed Waqadsiiye
  • Garwayne
  • Bah Yabare
  • Colmarabe
  • Warlabe
  • Hinjiye
  • Gobyawuud
  • Geraad Liibaan

[edit] Some of the noted Warsangeli clan members

  • Sultan Mohamoud Ali Shire, Sultan of former British Somaliland (1897-1960)
  • Abdillahi Mohamed Ahmed, "Qablan" b 1926 in Las Khorey, "Minister of Planning" in the first Abdirizak Government and "Minister for Finance"
  • General Abdirahman Mohamoud Ali Bair, Garad Abdalle of Warsangali, Major General and Ministry of Defence of Somalia
  • Abwaan Ibraahim Caja'ib, Abwaan of Waaberi, only Somali poet to write in 5 different languages, "Abuur eebe iin malaha" was translated in multiple languages
  • Colonel Abwaan Maxamuud Cismaan Fooldhuub, producer, song-writer, poet, artist, army colonel, produced "Darxumo iyo Nin Diidan Dagaal baa u dhaxeeya" which has the national song, "Ka Tashada Cadaawaha Isku Tiirsanaada" and many other "ruwaayado"
  • Abwaan Siciid Saalax, producer of drama and plays also poet, writer and linguist, wrote "Aqoon iqyo afgarad" with co-authors Saciid Saalax Axmed, Hadrawi, Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac 'Gaarriye' and Muuse Cabdi Celmi. Salax is also the director and producer of the first ever made film in Somalia.
  • Afdhaal, (1797-1876), Garad Cabdale, a traditional warrior and poet
  • Ahmed Bahal-Afdheer, poet, warrior, and an author of more than 150 well-known Somali sayings, Bahalafdheer is a nickname that signifies eloquence.
  • Gerad Ali Dable, the first African Sultan or ruler who started the slave trade (1456-1493)
  • Ali Hassan Ali, former Somali Ambassador to Benelux, EU and UK. Bihina Guleed, Warsangeli.
  • Alim Fatah, Gerad Abdale of Warsangali [2] Scientist and inventor
  • Chief Aqil Awaare Caraale Cali, Nabadon Awaare, senior leaders and was chief of the Gaashaan-Buur Warsangali Sub-Clans
  • Asha Ahmed Abdalla, active politician, first Somali woman to have run for the preidency of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), lost to Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
  • Awad Ahmed Asharo, helped found Puntland, Member of Parliament in the TFG, supporter of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed in Puntland, split by political differenes.
  • Cali Gargaar, former business leader
  • Chief Caqil Dhahar, Dubays of Warsangali, The ruler of Northern Eastern of Bari region
  • Colonel Duaale, Ducaale, Dubeys of Warsangali, hero, fought against the Somali National Movement (1988-92), ambushed by the Muslim Brotherhood died in a plane en route to Nairobi Hospital.
  • Faarax Mohamed Jaamac Awl, Garad Abdalle of Warsangali Cumar, Writer, Ignorance is the Enemy of Love, Garbaduubki Gumaysiga, Dhibahana Aan Dhalan
  • Fatima Jibrell, only Somali person to win the Goldman Environmental Prize 2002
  • Gerad Mohamud Ali, The Great, "The Warsangali Country & The Road To Berbera" by Hanning Speke (1794-1830)
  • General Ilka Jiir, Garad Abdalle of Warsangali, ex-General
  • Major General Jama Ali Korshel, Jibriil Siciid of Warsangali, Police Commandant, ex-Major General involved in SSRC Coup d'état. From 1969-1971, he was vice president of Somalia [3]
  • General Jama Green Isse Hefow, Dubeys of Warsangali, ex-Major General, trained at the military academies of Odessa and Cairo
  • Mahmoud Ali Gaildon, Garaad Abdalle of Warsangali, Ph.D. Nuclear physics, author of "Yibir of Las Burgabo"
  • Maxamed Cabdi Aar, poet and song-writer, produced many songs such as, "Heelladu waa Heello Las-Qoray" and almost all the songs of "Mire Shay Dacar"
  • Maxamuud Ismaaciil Xudeydi, King of Oud Gobyawuud of Warsangali
  • Gerad Mohamed Awl, The Gerad who stopped the slave trade with the British treaty in 1886
  • Ambassador Mohamed Garad, son of Mohamoud Ali Shire, he was the recipient of "meritorious Medal of the State of Qatar" in January 1988 by Ahmad ibn `Ali al-Thani, Emir of Qatar.[4]
  • Colonel Mohamed Jaamac Mohamoud Indhayare, Gerad Abdale of Warsangali
  • Mohamed Shabelle, business leader
  • Dr. Mohamood Abdi Noor, head of Extension and Research for the World Bank Group, author[5]
  • Commander Mohamoud Jaarig, Commander & Chief of Gaadh-haye Army (1897-1940)
  • Mohamoud Jibrell, Gerad Abdale of Warsangali Chief of Technology Officer for the Ford Foundation Leadership Profile
  • Nur Afdhaal, son of Afdhall, poet and raiding warrior
  • Saleh Essa Hassan Awl, Reer Garaad of Warsangali, scientist and statistician
  • Xaaji Maxamed Xuseen Somali Youth League (SYL) President. Also founded Greater Somali League
  • General Yuusuf Axmed Saranle, Taliyahii Ciidanka Dowladii Carta
  • Mohamed Nuur Giriig, Singer
  • E-x General Xideeye, Dubeys of warsengali Taliyihii Ciidanka raadarada Somalia
  • Ahmed Ali Hashi, Reer Garaad of Warsengali, Speaker of puntland from 2006-

[edit] Further reading

"Memoir on the Western or Edoor Tribes, Inhabiting the Somali Coast of N.-E. Africa, with the Southern Branches of the Family of Darrood, Resident on the Banks of the Webbe Shebeyli, Commonly Called the River Webbe" by C. J. Cruttenden, Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London > Vol. 19 (1849), pp. 49-76

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

  1. Burton, Richard. "First footsteps of Africa" DIARY AND OBSERVATIONS MADE BY LIEUTENANT SPEKE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE WADY NOGAL.
  2. Cruttenden, C. J. "Memoir on the Western or Edoor Tribes with Southern Branches of the Family of Darrood. London: Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 19 (1849), pp. 49-76
  3. Seychellois rekindle ties with Sultan of Somaliland Virtual Seychelles. 10 Oct 2005.
  4. Captain S. B. Miles's "On the Neighbourhood of Bunder Marayah"(1872) Jstor
  5. Lieut, Cruttenden. "On Eastern Africa" 8th May 1848. Jstor
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