Rahanweyn

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This article is about the ethnic group. For the geographical area, see Rehanweyn.
Main article: Somali clan
Rahanweyn
Total population

2,000,000 (est.)[citation needed]
Regions with significant populations
Flag of Somalia Somalia
Languages
Somali
Religions
Islam (Sunni)
Related ethnic groups

Hawiye, Dir clan,other Somali clans groups.

The Rahanweyn (Somali Maay: Reewing; traditional Somali: Raxanweyn)) is a Somali clan, composed of two major sub-clans, the Digil and the Mirifle. It makes up about 20% of the population of Somalia, and is one of the five 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.

According to the Rahanweyn, Somalis are linguistically grouped into Mai Terreh and Maxaa Tiri. The speakers of Mai Terreh (also known as Mai-Mai or Af-Maay) are the Rahanweyn, while the speakers of Mahaa Tiri (i.e. Standard Somali) belong to other clans (Dir, Darod, Isaaq, and Hawiye).

The Digil and Mirifle are concentrated mainly in southern Somalia including Mogadishu and Upper Juba (Gedo, Bay, Bakool, most parts of Jubbada Dhexe) and Shabeellaha Hoose regions of Somalia). They are also found in neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya, but not in Djibouti.

Contents

[edit] Rahanweyn sub-clans

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Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate. (April 2007)
Rahanweyn's location in in red
Rahanweyn's location in in red

[edit] Digil

  • Garre
  • Bagadi
  • Geledi
  • Dabarre
  • Jiido
  • Shantacaleemood
  • Tunni
  • Irroole

[edit] Mirifle

  • Siyeed
    • Eelaay
    • Jiroon
    • Leysan
    • Hariin
    • Macalinweyne
    • Boqolhore (consisting the four clans of Qoomaal, Disoow, Eemid and Yalaale)
    • Heledi
    • Haroow
    • Waanjaal
    • Reer Dumaal
    • Garwaale
    • Asharaaf Sarmaan
  • Sagaal
    • Hadame
    • Luwaay
    • Geelidle
    • Jilible
    • Yantaar
    • Hubeer
    • Gasaargude
    • Goobabweyn

Traditionally, the Mirifle Siyeed subdivide themselves into three major groups: Bogolhore, Boqoldhexe and Boqoldambe.

For example, the Boqolhore is has the four subclans of Qoomaal, Disoow, Eemid, and Yalaale.

Also each Mirifle subclan subdivides itself into subclans or sub-groups called gamaas. For instance, the five gamaas of the Qoomaal of the Boqolhore are: Dhisiraad, Reer Awmashube, Reer Towba, Reer Macalin, and 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.

[edit] Notable Rahanweyn people