Dir (clan)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the ethnic group. For the geographical area, see Dir.

Dir

Total population

1,000,000 (est.)^{[citation needed]}

Regions with significant populations

Somalia

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Languages

Somali

Religions

Islam ^(Sunni)

Related ethnic groups

Hawiye, Isaaq, other Somali clans groups.

This article needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling.
You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (April 2007)

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (April 2007)

This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.
Please help recruit one or improve this article yourself. See the talk page for details.
Please consider using {{Expert-subject}} to associate this request with a WikiProject

Dir is a Somali clan whose members live mostly in northern, southern and central (Mudug) Somalia and Ethiopia's Somali region 5.

The main subclans of the Dir are Gadabuursi, Suure (Cabdalle and Qubeys), Akisho, Biyomaal, Gurgure, Gadsan, and Issa. The Northern branch of the Dir are the Isaaq (Habar Awal and Garhajis), Gadabuursi Hiniftire Mahe Dir who are closely related to them. Also the Madoobe Dir Issas inhabit in Ethiopia, Northern Somalia and Djibouti Republic.

[edit] Lineage

The Southern Dir groups claim direct descent from Hiil, Samaale, Aji, and Irir Samaale. According to the Hawiye and Dir clan histories, Dir had four sons named:

Madahweyn
Mandaluug
Madoobe
Mahe Dir

according to others Dir had a fifth son named

Qaldho Dir

The Northern Dir consist of Isaaq/Gadabuursi Mehe Dir, and Issa Madoobe Dir. The Southern Dir and Western Dir of Ethiopia number over eleven clans who mostly come from the Madahweyn Dir or Mehe Dir.

[edit] Geographical distribution of the Dir clans

[edit] Northern Somalia

The heartland and ancestral lands from which all Dir come from are in present-day Northern Somalia. The Dir clans of the north include Gadabuursi, Isaaq, and the Issa of the Madoobe Dir clan. These Northern Dir clans also inhabit in Ethiopia which is home to also other Dir groups like Madahweyn Dir Akisho, Gurgure, Guure, Layiile, Reer Aw Said, Gaadsan, Fiqi Muhumud, Fiqi Cumar, Fiqi Khayre, Bajimaal, Nacadoor, and other Suure clans of the Mahe Dir.

[edit] Madahweyn in Ethiopia

The Dir in Ethiopia are represented by the Madahweyn Dir. The madahweyn consists of : Gariir, Gurgure, Guure, Layiile, and Akisho. Other Dir clans in Ethiopia are: Issa, Jaarso, Garre-Quranyow Maxamed, Gadabuursi, Gadsan, Fiqi Muhumand, Qubey's(Fiqi Yahye and Fiqi Cumar),Agoon-Fiqi Khayre, Mandaluulg,Layiile, Guure, Baajimaal, Jiido and Wardaai.

Most of the Dir clans in Ethiopia live in the Dira Dhabe area, Jijiga region, and by the Awash River. The rest of the Ethiopian Dir clans live in southern parts near the Somali border near Dollo Ado and as far as Guure Dhamoole and Negele Boran.

[edit] Surre in Bari and Mudug

In the Bari and Mudug region of Somalia and all the way to Hiiraan region is another cluster of Dir clans known as the Surre. The Suure have been associated with spreading the Islamic faith in Somalia and the Qadiriya Sufi tariiqa in southern Somalia. The Suure are among the most influential Dir groups in Southern Somalia, and their territories include large areas of the Mudug and Galguduud regions. Also the Suure have founded major trade cities in the Hiiran area including Alaabay and Kamhanley.

The majority of western scholars (both Italian and British) simply referred to the Surre as the "Dir of central Somalia" without differentiating them, but recent studies in Somalia reveal that the majority of the Dir in Hiiran, Gedo, Jubba and Bakool are divided into two branches, the Qubeyes and Abdalles, both descendants of Surre.

[edit] Biyomaal in Southern Somalia

Other branches of the Dir include the ancient Biyomaal Clan who occupy an area from 35 km south of Mogadishu all the way down to Jilib and Kismaayo, not far from border with Kenya. The Biyomaal of Marka fought against the Italian colonial rulers of Southern Somalia in a twenty-year war known as the Biyomaal Revolt, in which the Dir assassinated several Italian governors.

[edit] Fiqicilmi

Fiqicilmi is one of the main subclans of Biyomaal. The Fiqicilmi live in Somalia, Ethiopia's Somali Region (or Kilil 5) and Kenya.

[edit] Gaadsan in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya

Gaadsan (or Gadsan) is one of the largest tribes of the Dir. They mainly reside in three countries: Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. In Ethiopia, Gaadsan clan reside in three districts: the Liban district (Jarrati, Waladaya, Doolow and Guuredhamole), Godey district (Iimey and Boola), and Gashamo district (Nusdariiq, Marsin, Kabtinuur and Qabridhare). Gaadsan Somalia mainly settle Bakool, Gedo region and lower Jubba region. In Kenya there is a third division of Gaadsan, known as Gaadsan-Kenya, the brother of Wardey Clan (subclan of Madaxweyne Dir). Both Gadsan and Wardey settle the largest and wealthiest land of Somali Kenya such as Bangal, Garseeni, Hoolla and many more cities.

[edit] Gurgure Dir in Dire Dawa

The Gurgure Dir (a sub-clan of the Madahweyn) inhabit the city of Dire Dawa, which is also inhabited by the Madoobe Dir Issas.^{[citation needed]} The first to arrive were the Gurguras who named the city Dira Dhawe, or "the place that Dir conquered or hit with his spear".^{[citation needed]} Finally, the Issas and other Somali groups followed into the region and the Christian Amharas referred the region to as "Gurgura-na Issa Awrajja" (Ge'ez: ጉርጉራና ኢሳ አውራጃ) or the Awrajja of the Gurguras and the Issas.

[edit] Dir clans and Political groups

Political groups associated with the Dir clans include the following groups in Somalia and Ethiopia:

Issas and Gurgure Liberation Front (IGF) of Ethiopia.
Somali Democratic Alliance (SDA) of the Gadabursi Dir clan.
Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM) of the mostly Mohamed Xiniftire Dir Clans (Bimaal, Mandaluug, and Gadsan) of Jubba, Gedo, Bardheere, and Shabeellaha Hoose region.
Democratic Liberation Front (DLF) supported Central Somalia Dir groups.

[edit] Dir sub-clans

This list may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate. (June 2006)

[edit] Madahweyn Dir

Gurgure: The Gurgure are divided into three major groups, Habar Daar, Quwaah and Liiban.

These three groups are made of many sub-clans:

Habar Daar consists of Kunduuble, Cali, Cabdille
Quwaah consists of Nabidoor, Gacal Waaq, Baiido
Liibaan consists of Gufaatiile, Sanceele, Sanaye

others subclans:

Layiile

Guure

Jeerse

Akisho: Iigo Wara-Miyo (Reer-Warfaa, Reer-Dalal, Reer-Hawade, Reer-Agal, Reer -Fofiye, Reer -Buuke, Reer -Naaleyee) and Wara-Ito, Wara-Bito, Wara-Dayo, Wara-Luujo, Wara-Heebaan, gurre, Warre-Kiyo, Obo, Asaabo, eejo

Wardaay

Gariire

Jiido

Reer Aw Said and Abkeey Haji

(Farah Said, Abiikar Said, Sacdi Said, Nuur Said, Ali Said, Cismaan Saciid, Huseen Said, Hassan Said, Cumar Saciid)

[edit] Mandaluug Dir

Celi Mandaluk (or Mandaluug), Garxejis Mandaluk (Hebr-Yonis and Ciida-Gale) and Saciid Dauud Celi Mandaluk Dir Iriir.
Samaroon Saciid, Jibraacin (Malaku-Jibriil) Saciid, Celi Saciid
Makadoor Samaroon, Aydoor Samaroon, Subeer Samaroon, Banii-Cafaan Samaroon, Yeefis Samaroon, Ciise Samaroon and Makadoor ( He who visited Mecca), Maxaad Makadoor, Makaahiil & Mahamed Ase.
Mohamed Ase (Bahabar Eli, Bahabar Muso, Bahabar Abokor And Bahabar Aden)
Bahabar Mouse are Reer Mohamed, Aden, Reer Osman (Abrayn)And Maris
All Mohamed Ase found Lughaya, Baki, Saylac and Borama Destrict

[edit] Issa Madoobe Dir

Howlgati and Walaaldoon (Makahir, Mahamuud, Iidleh)
Uurweeyne (Fiqi and Abdalle)
Hooroone (Habar Walaal and Geelwalaal)
Howleh, Fuurlabe (Mahdle, Saaib)
Ceeleeye (Muuse, mamasan)
wardiq

[edit] Mahe Dir

Maxamed Xiniftire

Isaaq (Garxajis, H.Awal, Arab, and Tol Jecle)

Biyomaal (Dawood, Saad, Ismiin and Suleyman)

Gaadsan, Reera-Same, Adan Yoonis, Maxaad, DHuxul, Da, uud, samatar, faarax, rooble and allaale, Cumar Abokor, Cumarjamac, Tagaleen,(ugaar, aadan maxamuud, dhaaweed, Odeymarke.)

Fiqicilmi, madaluug, Naleeye, Fiqinuur, Cumar-maxamud, Fiqicigal, Reer-ismail, Reer-qaasin, and Reer-sacdi

Dabruube

Barsuug

Bajimaal

Other Clans

[edit] Maxamed Gutaale (Habar deel)

Samater Naaleeye and Maxamud Naaleeye.

[edit] Abdalle (Gutaale)

[edit] Abdi Abdalle

Fiqi Muxumed, Cumar Fiqi, Mohamuud Fiqi, Muuse Fiqi, reer oow Mumin, Fiqi Ahmed, reer macalin farax, reer ow cadow,(Plus 10 more sub-clans)
Reer Hogar, Laxmar

[edit] Nacadoor (Mohamed Abdalle Guutale)

Guuled, Xaraan, Ciise, Qotonsay, Cirday, Giir, and Kaahin

[edit] Gorad

Samkaab, Faahiye and others

[edit] Sulayman Abdalle

Muusa, Samatar Muusa, Reer Dabac, Reer Bayr & Agoon (Guuled Agoon, Warsame Agoon, Cigaal Agoon, Jalaf Agoon)
Dabac, Fiqi Khayre, and Naaleeye Cumar(Lafjoogsato)
Haarun Muusa, Siyaad Muusa, Cabas Muusa, and Food Cade Muusa, cumar Muuse, sacad cumar.

[edit] Qubeys

Tolweyne Qubeys and Reytoonle
Faqi Cumar, Reroow Caalin, Yabarcade Faqi Cumar and Fiqi Walaal (Aw-caalin, Xaaji Cabdalle)
Samafale, Maxamud weyne, Aw-Cisman, Maxamud Yare and Xassan Faqi Cumar
Rooble Cismaan (Faarax, Weheliye, Maxamed) and Aw-Macalin (Macalin Muxumed, Macalin Yusuf, Sheekh Cali, Macalin Macow).
Heeraar and Fiqi Yaxye, Caalin Mooge and Maxamed Abtiudug, Axadoobe Qubeys, Cismaan Diidshe (Cismaan Iyiinta) and Cabdalle Diidshe (Cabaas Iyiinta).
Yabadhaale Qubeys: (1) Wayaagle: Yabarow, Xasan, Cumar, Xeefoow, Faarax, Maxamuud, Dhaayoow. 2) Miidkasse: 2.1 Madoobe: Jibril, Cufaa. Cufaa: reer ow faarax barkaan: Axmed faarax and Afrax faarax. Axmed faarax: Saalax Axmed, Raage Axmed,Guuleed Axmed. Saalax Axmed: reer Cumar Muudeey, reer Maalin Waasuge.

[edit] Sources

This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.