The history of Hargeisa as per documentary from Tube taken Hagi Abdi Hussen (Abdi Waraabe) commented by Dr. Mohamed Rashid sheik Hassan (An Ex-BBC Somali broadcaster))
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town, however, many cities have a particular administrative and legal status and treated as head quarter of state legislative body and that is what distinguishes a city government from a town.Cities generally have complex systems for land usage, wider housing and bigger transportation system. The concentration of development greatly facilitates interaction between people and business benefiting both parties in the process.
With regard to my current issue of concentration, Hargeisa is situated in a valley in the Galgodon Ogo) highlands, and sits at an elevation of 4,377 feet (1,334 m). Home to rock art from the Neolithic period, the city is also a commercial hub for precious stone-cutting, construction, retail services and importing/exporting, among other activities. The name Hargisa was named by a famous traditional chief originated from this settlement known as Haji Maygaag ilka Dheere in early 19th century. Originally, the place was watering place for nomadic stock herders and the name Hargeisa means where hides are sold
With regards the how the early settlers have begin, the settlement was inhabited by early settlers of famous strong traditional sultan named as Sultan Deria and his inner group or clan, Eidagale. Sultan deria had lived over 140 years, he was the oldest sultan in age ever lived. To begin with Haji Abdi Hussein was born Hargeisa –Masalaha (At present Hargisa airport). As people in those days had not accustomed depending the diary or the calendar, Haji Abdi did not know the year, which he born, but he said, he born the spring of (tropical rainy season) called Caanaweeyen, but considering his age, it was estimated over 110 years ago.
The history of present Hargeisa had started at the time of Sultan Deria and as reported from Haji, Sultan deria, was peace-loving personality. In those days, there was conflict that resulted fighting between the tribes, which inhabited the localities nearby Hargeisa. Abdillahi Geele (the founder of aw barkhdle) and Haji Farah of Sa’ad Muse, reer samatar had traveled to Adari- in Somali Harrar ) an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethnology-political division (or kilil) of Ethiopia. A city is located on a hilltop, in the eastern extension of the Ethiopian highlands. For centuries, Harar was, linked by the trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. The two men original mission was to gain knowledge of Islamic religion from Adari.
As said by Haji in the documentary Reer Samar, which is sub-clan of Sa’ad Muse ethnic group were inhabited at Haraf, which is east of present Hargeisa city. The rest of Sa’ad Muse ethnic group were inhabited at Bulhar, which was a coastal settlement west of Berbera port(Northern port town at Red Sea). Abdillahi Geele was brother in –law of Haji Farah, as he married his sister khadija farah. Upon their return to Hargeisa, Abdillahi Geele and Haji Farah informed sultan deria that, they saw a respected religious figure called sheikh Madar Ahmed living in Adari -Harar.
Sultan deria enquired from Abdillahi Geele and Haji Farah as whether Sheikh Madar Ahmed can come with them to Hargeisa in an effort of contributing and assistance and help bring to an end for the conflict in the region, being a religious figure. They said, yes, he will come with us in the event we request him to go with us. Then he said, proceed with initiative and influence him coming to Hargeisa. As there was no automobile transport those days, they traveled with horses to Adari –Harar to gain for the aforesaid mission. Trade and business was extremely limited on those days, however, the people inhabited in Hargeisa and nearby localities was dealing for their food supplies and the other essential requirement with sub-tribe of Sa’ad Muse/Nouah Ismail, who were populated at Bulahar and the supplies were transported by camels, as there was no automobile transport to load the supplies. After contacting him, Sheikh Madar Ahmed had accept their request and finally joined with them to Hargeisa. On his arrival to Hargisa, Sultan Deria had built a hut to dwell the Sheikh. This is place nowadays called as Jamaa’a weyn in Hargeisa.
Upon his homecoming to Hargeisa, Sheikh Madar, using his religious tone, he influenced the tribes fighting each other to bring to an end for the hostilities and that led the parties engaged for the fighting accepting his appeal. The conflict had ended and the concerned parties had normalized relationship. Following few years, the British colonial authorities had returned back to the British protectorate via Berbara in 1917 and upon landed back to the protectorate, people in the coastal area were up-dated them how sultan Deria had managed to end hostilities and as a gift, he rewarded him building house for him by the order of Delima, the man, who, built Kenya capital Nairobi later on. The year of the conflict was named as Xaaraamecune (difficult year, which people committed bad acts)
However, as soon as the house was completed, the Sultan presented and gifted the housetoSheik Madar Ahmed in order to protect and keep with his religious Islamic holy books. At present this is the place buried by Sheik Madar Ahmed. After he passed away, Sultan Deria was replaced by his son, Sultan Abdillahi. Both of the sultans were anti colonial power, the British and had campaigned not cooperating with the British including going to schools. As enlightened by Haji Abdi, Sultan Abdillahi was in touch with Farah Oomar, the first Somali from protectorate, who campaigned independence from the British colonial powers after Mohamed Abdulla Hassan.
As informed by Haji, both sultans (Sultan Derai and Sultan Abdillahi) were considered themselves as the sultans of Somalia and for Africa as well. furthermore, as learned from Haji Abdi, he was fifth tribal chief (Caaqlil) nominated by his tribe –Eidagale. He was nominated in 1940 as a tribal chief. The four tribal chiefs before him were Mohamed Dhalin, Haji Maygaag,Yousuf Alin and his brother who also a tribal chief. HaJI abdi was a member of Somali traditional leaders from the protectorate composed of 40 personalities that went to southern Somalia – Mogadishu in 1948 paving for greater Somalia unity. Haji Khaliif Hassan was the man who set up SYL flag in Hargeisa (A place at present head-quarters of Hargeisa local government).
The flag was brought to Hargeisa by ex-Somali late Somali president Adan Abdulla Osman, who was those days southern Somalia political activist. Mr. Adan was guest for Haji Khaliif Hassan during his stay in Hargeisa. Haji Khaliif was having the backing backing of Sultan Abdillahi to welcomeAdan Abdulla Osman,. The entire information detailed above is taken from U tube documentary commented by Dr. Mohamed Rashid sheik Hassan. In the event anyone inquire this information from the U-Tube, let him enter U-Tube and enter the history of Haji Abdi Waraabe – Part – 1.
Before the partition of Africa among the western colonial powers, Somali was the land inhabited by Somali clans with separate boundaries. After the occupation of British Somaliland these clans had entered separate agreements with the British as stated below:
1.Habar Awal – entered an agreement with the British in 1884 in Bulhar.
2.Issa and Gudabirsey – in 1884 in Zeila
3.Garhajis- 1885 in Adan.
4.Hababjlelo 1885 in Adan.
5.Warsengali 1886 Laskhoreh
6.Dholbahata had not entered any agreement with the British.
In the early 20th century Sayid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan has engaged his struggle against the colonial power which was occupying the Somali territories. His struggle ended in January 1920, after which the sultan of Warsengali tried to exert his power to take over the Native power. The Sultan was deported to Seychelles for seven years in detention, after the British felt that the Sultan wanted to replace Sayid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan.As the wind of freedom and aspirations of getting rid of colonial rule was blowing throughout Africa, the Somalis also started their struggle for independence. In 1958 the Somali-land protectorate clans demanded independence from Britain to unite with their Somalia brothers and sisters who were under the trusteeship of the United Nations, which was getting independence on 1st July 1960. The British had promised Somali-land to get independence on 26th June 1960 to join their brothers and sisters in south, the former Italian colony and that union was revoked in May, 18, 1991 after long liberation struggle from oppressive regime of Siyad Barre .
Ismail lugweyne.