Abgaal
Encyclopedia
Abgaal is a Somali clan
, and part of the major Hawiye
clan. Its members live in the Shabeellaha Dhexe
, Galguduud
, Banaadir
, Mudug
, Lower Shebelle, Middle Juba, and Jubbada Hoose
regions of Central and southern Somalia
. Abgaals consider Xamar (Mogadishu
) as their traditional territory.
Abgaal is one subclan of the Mudulood family, which also includes Wacdaan, Moobleen, and Ujajeen.
in the interior, and the attraction of the growing Mogadishu wealth as a consequence of its thriving trade controlled by the Muzzaffar dynasty which was allied to the Ajuran in the interior.
's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom
's Home Office
publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.
In the south central part of Somalia the World Bank shows the following clan tree:
In Puntland
the World Bank shows the following:
Two major poetical genres of the Abgaal are:
it is poured in their dish
Somali clan
The demographics of Somalia describes the condition and overview of Somalia's inhabitants. Demographic topics include basic education, health and population statistics, as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.-Somalis:...
, and part of the major Hawiye
Hawiye
The Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
clan. Its members live in the Shabeellaha Dhexe
Shabeellaha Dhexe
-Overview:It is bordered by the Somali regions of Galgudud, Hiran, Lower Shebelle, and Banadir, as well as the Indian Ocean.As part of the former Benadir region, Shabeellaha Dhexe's capital was Mogadishu up until the mid-1980s, when the town of Jowhar became the capital...
, Galguduud
Galguduud
Galguduud is an administrative region in central Somalia.-Overview:It is bordered by Ethiopia, the Somalian regions of Mudug, Hiiraan, Shabeellaha Dhexe , and the Indian Ocean....
, Banaadir
Banaadir
Banaadir is a region in southeastern Somalia.-Overview:The Somali term Banaadir derives from the original Persian word بندر bandar, meaning "port" or "harbour"...
, Mudug
Mudug
Mudug is an administrative region in north-central Somalia. Bordered by the Ogaden, the Somalian regions of Nugaal and Galguduud, and the Indian Ocean, its capital is the city of Galkacyo.-Districts:...
, Lower Shebelle, Middle Juba, and Jubbada Hoose
Jubbada Hoose
Lower Juba is an administrative region in southern Somalia. With its capital at Kismayo, it lies in the Jubaland autonomous region.Lower Juba is bordered by Kenya, the Somalian regions of Gedo, Middle Juba, and the Indian Ocean...
regions of Central and southern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Abgaals consider Xamar (Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
) as their traditional territory.
Abgaal is one subclan of the Mudulood family, which also includes Wacdaan, Moobleen, and Ujajeen.
Yaquub Sultanate
The emergence of the Imamate of Yaaquub in Mogadishu is related to the tyrannical rule of the AjuuraanAjuuraan State
The Ajuuraan state or Ajuuraan sultanate was a Somali Muslim empire that ruled over large parts of East Africa in the Middle Ages. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, the Ajuuraan Empire successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the...
in the interior, and the attraction of the growing Mogadishu wealth as a consequence of its thriving trade controlled by the Muzzaffar dynasty which was allied to the Ajuran in the interior.
Mogadishu Kingdom 900 - 1870 AD
First Sultan of the Mogadishu Kingdom Rulers from 700 - 1870 AD- Sultan Daamey Ali (Xume) Axmed
- Sultan Cumar father of Abu bakr
- Sultan Abu Bakr
- Sultan Axmad I
- Sultan Maxammad I
- Sultan Axmad II
- Sultan Maxmud
- Sultan Cali
- Sultan Cismaan
- Sultan Muxammad II
- Sultan Axmad III-1860
- Sultan Hassan Abdulqadir Haji
Clan tree
There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is taken from the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.
- HawiyeHawiyeThe Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
- Gaaljal
- Hawadle
- Abgal
- Harti
- Angonyar
- Warsangeli
- Yacquub/obakar
- Wabudhan
- Da'oud
- Rer Mattan
- Mohamed Muse
- Wa'esli
- Harti
- Murosade
- SheekhaalSheekhaalThe Sheikhal or Fiqi Omar is a Somali clan whose members inhabit both Somalia and Ethiopia, with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District in Kenya....
(Sheikal) - Habar GidirHabar GidirThe Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
(Haber Gedir)- Sa'ad
- Suleiman
- Ayr
- Sarur
- Waadan
In the south central part of Somalia the World Bank shows the following clan tree:
- Hawiye
- Karanle
- Murusade
- Gorgate
- Abgal
- Habargidir (Habar Gidir)
- Sheikhal (Sheekhaal)
- Duduble
- Ujeien
- Gugun-Dhabe
- Rarane
- Haskul
- Jambeele
- Hawadle
- Galje'el
- Ajuran
- Dagodi
- Karanle
In Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
the World Bank shows the following:
- Hawiye
- Habar Gidir
- Abgaal
- Biyamaal
- Hawaadle
- Murursade
- Ujuuran
Traditional
- Imam Mohamud Imam Cumar ,Is the Imam Of Mudulood and also carries the dual position of The Traditional Imam of HiraabHiraabHiraab is a Somali clan, and one of the Gorgaarte Hawiye subclans. Hiraab members live in central and southern Somalia, from Gaalkacyo to Kismayo. Most of them, such as the Abgaal, live in Mogadishu. Others live in the Somali Region of Ethiopia...
.[ref]http://www.etext.org/Politics/Somalia.News.Update/Volume.3/snu-03.003.
Poetry
Abgaal are perhaps the only Somali clan with its own special poetical genres - the guurow and the shirib - that differ from those of the other Somalis. The language of their poets is often characterised by an admixture of dialectal features. As an example of iyo with long -o, consider the following line from a famous guurow by Cabdulle Geedannaar. It scans properly (the same as a gabay) only if iyo counts as v-, which is also how the poet sings it:- Baasayna haystaan iyo, marasho biid biid ah
- And they have money and fashionable dresses
Two major poetical genres of the Abgaal are:
The badar-tumid
In the farming areas of Middle and Lower Shabeelle women of the Abgaal and related clans often pound sorghum and other edible grains to the tune of a special kind of work song, known as a grain-pounding song or badar-tumid. A few examples of its lines are shown below:- Kurta loogu shubaa
- Caana geel ku caddaaw
- Maakhiidaa la yiraa
- Keena-keena rag waaye
- Karisooy naag waaye
it is poured in their dish
- Become white with camel milk!
- She is said to be a good housewife
- Those who always bring things (keena-keene) are the men
- The one who cooks is the woman
The shirib
This term is used in several areas inhabited by Somalis for different kinds of short songs, often connected with dancing. Typically, however, it refers to a genre of short verse composed by the Abgaal and related clans in the non-Maay-speaking regions of central Somalia. Shiribs are sung during clan or family meetings as well as other gatherings. Often they are improvised in poetic contests. The best surveys on this genre are Maxamad Cosoble M. and Caasha.- Tagtaada tuug haddow yaqaan
- Afar walxaad o ta’ ku taal
- Dhiishaase ninba meel dhigtaa
- Dhicis lagama dhur sugoo
- If a thief knows your wealth
- Four things that are in it
- But everybody stores his own milk vessel in its proper place
- One doesn’t expect offspring from a stillbirth
Prominent members of the Abgaal
- Ali Geedi Shadoor, former Minister under the Siad Barre regime
- Nur Hassan Husein, former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government
- Hussein Kulmiye AfrahHussein Kulmiye AfrahHussein Kulmiye Afrah was Vice President of Somalia in the era of Siad Barre, who governed the nation from 1969 to 1991.-References:...
, vice-president of Somalia under the Siad Barre regime. - Dr. Hussein Ali Ahmed, former mayor of Mogadishu
- Salaad Gabeyre KediyeSalaad Gabeyre KediyeSalaad Gabeyre Kediye , was a Major General in the Somali military and a revolutionary.-Biography:Major General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye was born in September, 15 1934, in the town of Harardhere, situated in the Central Mudug region of Somalia, to an Abgaal family Hawiye clan...
, Major General in the Somali Military, and Chairman of the Somali Revolution - Sharif AhmedSharif AhmedSharif Sheikh Ahmed is the current President of Somalia and former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union .-Biography:...
, President of Somalia, former Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Courts Union - Ismail Jim'ale OsobleIsmail Jim'ale OsobleDr. Ismail Jim'ale Osoble was a Somali lawyer and Minister of Information in the Government of Aden Abdulle Osman before the military took control of the Government in 1969. Following those events, he was one the few lawyers and human rights actvists in the country. He was also one of the signers...
, Somali lawyer and Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdulle Osman - Mohamed Omar Habeb DhereMohamed Omar Habeb DhereMohamed Omar Habeb is a Somali warlord based out of the city of Jowhar. He hails from the Abgaal subclan of Hawiye. He also has significant influence on the northern parts of the capital Mogadishu where he control a militia of around 400 men....
, warlord, governor and mayor of Banadir and Mogadishu - Omar Muhamoud FinnishOmar Muhamoud Finnish- United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance :He is leader of a splinter movement of the United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance , which had been initially loyal to Ali Mahdi Mohammed during the Somali Civil War...
, leader of a splinter movement of the United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance - Ali Mohammed GhediAli Mohammed GhediAli Mohamed Ghedi was the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia from 2004 to 2007. He was relatively unknown in political circles upon his appointment as prime minister in November 2004. He is affiliated with the Abgaal subclan of Mogadishu's Hawiye clan, one of...
, Former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government. - General Daud Abdulle HirsiDaud Abdulle HirsiGeneral Daud Abdulle Hirsi was a Somali national and military hero.-Biography:Hirsi was born in 1925 in the town of Mareeg situated in central Somalia....
, first commander-in-chief of the Somali National Army Forces - Salad Ali JelleSalad Ali JelleSalad Ali Jelle is the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia. He was a political figure in the War in Somalia fought between the TFG and its ally Ethiopia against the Islamic Courts Union .On January 5, 2007, after the victory over the ICU...
, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Transitional Federal Government - Ali Mahdi MuhammadAli Mahdi MuhammadAli Mahdi Muhammad was president of Somalia from January 1991 to November 1991. He rose to power when Mohamed Farrah Aidid forced then president Mohamed Siad Barre out of office. Muhammad, however, was not able in that time to exert control over the country...
, president of Somalia from January - November 1991 - Musa Sudi YalahowMusa Sudi YalahowMuse Sudi Yalahow is a notorious Somali warlord who served as Trade Minister in the Transitional Government of Ali Mohammed Ghedi. He was dismissed in June 2006 after ignoring government requests to halt fighting with the Islamic Courts Union militia....
, warlord who served as Trade Minister in the Transitional Federal Government. - Ali JimaleAli JimaleAli Jimale Ahmed is a Somali poet, essayist, scholar, and short story writer.-Biography:Jimale holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles . Current and former chair of Comparative Literature at Queens College, he teaches courses in African, Middle Eastern, and European literature...
, educator at the City University of New York - Ahmed Maxamed XasanAhmed Maxamed XasanAhmed Maxamed Xasan is a former Somali airforce pilot known for his refusal to bombard Somalia's second capital Hargeysa during the dictatorial rule of Mohamed Siyad Barre. He hails from the Abgaal clan.-References:...
, Lieutenant Colonel in the Somali Airforce who defused the mig-17 jet fighter bombs. - Mohamud Siad ToganeMohamud Siad ToganeMohamud Siad Togane , born in 1943, is a Somali-Canadian poet, professor, and political activist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, Togane was educated by Mennonite missionaries in his home country, and subsequently moved to the United States. Togane graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in 1969, where...
, Somali-Canadian poet, professor, and political activist - Adde GabowAdde GabowMohamed Ali Hassan , known as Adde Gabow, is a Somali politician. He is the former governor of the Banaadir region and was appointed mayor of the capital Mogadishu by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed on 15 January 2007.-Source:*...
(Mohamed Ali Hassan), politician,governor and mayor of Banadir and Mogadishu - Abukar Umar AdaniAbukar Umar AdaniAbukar Omar Adani is the Chief Financier of the Islamic Courts Union. He hails from the Warsangali clan . As of 2008, he lives in Djibouti having fled Somalia following the defeat of the ICU by Ethiopian forces...
, Islamist, businessman who used to control the El-ma`an beach area which served as Mogadishu's port since the closure in 1995 of the city's main port. - Bashir Raghe ShiiraarBashir Raghe ShiiraarBashir Rage Shiiraar is a Somali secular warlord and businessman who hails from the Warsangali clan .He became a member of the US-backed Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism....
, secular warlord who was a Member of the dysfunctional US-backed Alliance for Peace and the Fight Against International Terrorism. - Sheikh Ali DhereSheikh Ali DhereSheikh Cali Sheikh Maxamuud Sheikh Cali Dheere , also known as "Sheekh Cali Dheere", is a Somali cleric and religious fundamentalist based in Mogadishu. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Islamic courts in Mogadishu in 1996. He is from the Hawiye Abgaal clan...
, cleric and the head of the first Islamic Courts Union in northern Mogadishu in 1996. - Farah Weheliye Addow (Sindiko), former Vice President of the Confederation of African Football.
- Abdulahi Ahmed AfrahAbdulahi Ahmed AfrahProf. Dr. Abdulahi Ahmed Afrah is a Somali politician who hails from the Waesle clan . In June 2007, he escaped an assassination attempt in northern Mogadishu.-References:...
, Minister of Commerce - Abdi Mohamed UlussoAbdi Mohamed UlussoDr. Abdi Mohamed Ulusso is a Somali politician who ran for the Somali presidency in 2003. He hails from the Wacbudhan clan . He has served as Guddoomiyaha Golaha Midnimada Mudulood , or Chairman of the United Mudulood Congress...
, Phd holder,intellectual and 2003 somali Presidential candidate. - Hussein Hagi BoodHussein Hagi BoodDr. Hussein Hagi Bood , was a Somali politician from the Abgaal clan. In December 2000, Hussein reached an agreement with the Transitional National Government. On the morning of December 21, 2008, Mr.Bood died in a hospital in Nairobi,Kenya. The late Bood has held different positions in previous...
, politician and Ex minister of National planning 1977-81 - Hilowle Imam OmarHilowle Imam OmarDr. Hilowle Imam Omar is a Somali politician who hails from the Harti abgaal clan . He took part in the Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Kenya. He was a member of the USC/North Mogadishu faction.- References :...
, politician, former co-chairman of the (Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council) (SRRC) Party. - Mohamed Ali AmerikoMohamed Ali AmerikoDr.Mohamed Ali "Ameriko" is the Financial Operation Manager for the Office of the Prime Minister of Somalia. Dr. Mohamed Ali also was an official at the Central Bank of Somalia during the transitional government in the early 1990s. Dr. Mohamed Ali also worked with UNOSOM during the civil war....
, Somali ambassador to Kenya. - Ayub DaudAyub Daudsomalia 11 | goals5 = 7Ayub Daud is a Somali footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for Juventus -Club career:-Juventus:Born in Somalia, Daud moved to Cuneo, Italy with his family at the age of five...
, professional Footballer current playing Juventus - Hussein Sheikh Ahmed KaddareHussein Sheikh Ahmed Kaddare-Biography:Kaddare was born near Mogadishu in the Banaadir region of Somalia to an Abgaal Hawiye family. In 1953, he created the Kaddare script, an orthography named after him that was used to transcribe the Somali language.-See also:* Osmanya script...
, orthographer and the inventor of the Kadariya Script. - Abdulle GeedannaarAbdulle GeedannaarAbdulle Geedanaar is a Somali poet from the Abgaal clan. He is famous for his Guuroow .-References:...
, poet - Sheekh Ahmed GabyowSheekh Ahmed GabyowSheekh Ahmed Gabyow was a famous Somali poet from the Abgaal Hawiye clan who lived in the coastal area north of Mogadishu in the first decades of the Italian occupation. He was well-known for the masafo, a genre of Somali poetry that is usually composed by religious men.-References:...
, poet - Abukar Mahdi Mudey Qashow Mahdi, Business man & politician
- Mohamed Ali Hassan Macali, Frist Coach build Waxool Basketball team man & women