Warsangali

Warsangali
ورسنجلي
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Somali and Arabic
Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Related ethnic groups
Meheri, Ogaden, Awrtable, Marehan, and other Harti groups and other Somali clans.

The Warsangali (Somali: Qabiilka Warsangeli; Arabic: قبيلة أوسنجلي‎), (also Moorasaante/Awrkii Cirka, Warsengeli, Warsingeli, Oor Singally[1]) is a Somali clan, part of the Harti confederation of Darod sub-clans. In the Somali language, it means "bringer of good news."[1]

The Warsangeli clan primarily inhabits the Maakhir region of northern Somalia, which consists of eastern Sanaag, northern Sool, and the northwestern part of the Bari region, along with some parts of southern Somalia (Bay, Bakool and Jubbada Hoose). The Warsangali also have the oldest Sultanate amongst the Somali clans who inhabit the area comprising the former British Somaliland.

Citizens of Warsangeli

Ruins of the Warsangeli Sultanate in Laasqoray.

An article titled "Seychellois rekindle ties with Sultan of Somaliland" which was featured in one of the newspapers of the Republic of Seychelles captures a glimpse of Warsangeli history. It writes, "the Warsengeli Sultanate has been in existence for the last six hundred years."[2] The clan's territory was recognized in the Arabian Peninsula, where it was referred to as Makhar or Makhir Coast. In 1848, C. J. Cruttenden reported that Warsangeli and Majeerteen territories were the most commercially valuable in the Nugaal Valley, and that Banians had become successful exporters.[3] The Cal Madow chain of mouintains, which is inside the clan's territory, extends to the cities of Bosaso (the capital of the Bari region) and Ceerigaabo (the capital of the Sanaag region) in an east-west direction.

Western explorers and Warsangeli

Captain S. B. Miles's "On the Neighbourhood of Bunder Marayah" (1872) describes the Burri (eastern) clans, including the Warangeli, as being "as a rule, peaceable and orderly, and are generally loth to shed blood" and the Gulbêdh (western) clans as "much more turbulent and predatory than the Burri, and are in a chronic state of warfare and anarchy."[4] C. J. Cruttenden, writing of the Dubeiss, an "Oor Singally" clan, reports 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 the Edoor have not the same prejudice in favour of honesty."[1] In contrast to Miles' account, Cruttenden characterized them as "powerful and warlike".[1]

Clan tree

Warsangali clan genealogy

As the Warsangali have one of the oldest Sultanates in Somalia, members of the clan have long preserved their lineage and genealogy. The latter is summarized version in the clan tree to the right.

The United Kingdom's Home Office publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.[5][6]

In his book "First Footsteps of East Africa" (1856), Richard Francis Burton lists 18 principal subclans of Warsangeli, as follows:[7]

  1. Rer Gerad (the royal family of cumar)
  2. Reer Yusuf (the royal family of dubays)
  3. Reer Cali Muuse
  4. Reer Mohamed Omar
  5. Reer Xasan
  6. Reer Cumar
  7. Xaniif
  8. Reer Mohamed
  9. Rer Fatih
  10. Rer Abdullah
  11. Rer Bihidur
  12. Bohogay Salabay
  13. Adan Yakub
  14. Gerad Umar
  15. Gerad Yusuf
  16. Gerad Liban
  17. Nuh Umar
  18. Adan Said
  19. Rer Haji
  20. Warlabah
  21. Bayabarhay
  22. Rer Yasif
  23. Hindudub
  24. Rer Garwayna

Notable members

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cruttenden, C. J. "Memoir on the Western or Edoor Tribes, inhabiting the Somali Coast...". London: Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 19 (1849), pp. 72-73
  2. ↑ Seychellois rekindle ties with Sultan of Somaliland Virtual Seychelles. 10 Oct 2005.
  3. ↑ Cruttenden, C.J. (1848). "On Eastern Africa", London: Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 18, pp. 137-138.
  4. ↑ Captain S. B. Miles's "On the Neighbourhood of Bunder Marayah" (1872), London: Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 42, p.69
  5. ↑ Worldbank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts, p.55 Figure A-1
  6. ↑ Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001, Annex B: Somali Clan Structure, p. 43
  7. ↑ Richard Burton; Lieutenant Speke. "First footsteps in East Africa". Retrieved 2007-05-26. Diary and Observations Made by Lieutenant Speke, When Attempting to Reach the Wady Nogal.

External links

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