The history of Hargeisa as per documentary from U- 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 and 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 come from the famous traditional and influential chief originated from this settlement called Haji Maygaag ilka Dheere in early 19th century ((19th century is from January 1, 1801 – December 31, 1900).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 settlers from famous strong traditional sultan called 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 depend the diary or the calendar, Haji Abdi did not know the year, which he born, but he said, he born the spring of (spring-tropical rainy season) called Caanaweyne, but considering his age, it was approximated over 110 years ago, which means earlier than 1903.
Arab (ethnic group) was also the prominent tribes inhabited Hargeisa and its surrounding localities. Confirming this information when I was 15 years, I joined with group friends to Aw barkhdle, which the people in ex-northern Somalia used to consider as religious shrine although this ideology not practice nowadays, accidentally, I spotted some of my relatives visiting the tomb (burial place) our forefather (Rooble Matan in memory for him, which was wide spread practice those days, saw next the tomb of my forefather another tomb for Mohamoud Samane, a sub clan of Arab tribe (Samane). This an eye witness, which confirms the above story. I was told that, the two men were half brothers (have same mother, but different fathers) and that is why they were buried in the place.
Although Haji Abdi has mentined by name, I have learned from elders originated from Hargeisa, a sub-clan of Habor-Younis (Isaxaaq) was inhabited Hargeisa and nearby localities. Supporting this information is the book written by an English writer in 1958, who is familiar for the Somali Geo-political matters, Ian Louis, which confirms this information.
The history of present Hargeisa had started at the time of Sultan Deria and as reported from Haji Abdi, 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 present aw barkhdle) and Haji Farah from Sa’ad Muse-sub-clan, reer samatar travelled 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 the knowledge of Islamic religion from Adari, which was a wider vision on those days.
As put in the picture, Reer Samatar, which is a sub-sub-clan of Sa’ad Muse exercised watering for nomadic stock herders at Haraf, which is approximated between 15-20 to western side of Hargeisa. Water necessity was the main factor of lively hood, as most people were depending on nomadic stock herders on those days.As said by Haji Abdi in this documentary Reer Samar, which is sub-clan of Sa’ad Muse tribe were inhabited at Haraf, which is towards East of present Hargeisa city. The rest of Sa’ad Muse ethnic clan were inhabited at Bulhar and Berbera, (northern coastal settlement/town respectively). Abdillahi Geele was brother in –law of Haji Abdi Farah, as he married his sister khadija farah. Subsequent their return to Hargeisa, Abdillahi Geele and Haji Farah had informed sultan deria that, they saw a respected religious figure called Sheikh Madar Ahmed residing 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 assisting and lending help to bring 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 told them to proceed with their initiative. As there was no automobile transport those days, they traveled with horses to Adari –Harar to gain for the aforesaid mission subsequent of receiving the blessing of the sultan.Trade and business was extremely limited on those days, however, the people inhabited in Hargeisa and nearby localities were trading for their food supplies and their other essential requirements with sub-tribes of Sa’ad Muse/Nouah Ismail, who were populated at Bulahar and Berbera. The supplies purchased from them were transported by camels, as there was no automobile transport to load their supplies. Subsequent to contacting him, Sheikh Madar Ahmed, he accepted their request and finally joined with them to Hargeisa.
On his arrival to destination (Hargisa), Sultan Deria had built a hut to dwell the Sheikh in respect for him. This is place nowadays called as Jamaa’a -weyn in Hargeisa. Upon returning home (Hargeisa), Sheikh Madar, using his religious tone, had 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. As a result of his imitative, the conflict had ended and the concerned parties had normalized relationship. A peaceful period followed after the hostilities had come into end. Following few years later, the British colonial authorities had returned back to the British protectorate via Berbara in 1917 and upon their landed back to the protectorate, people in the coastal area were up-dated them how sultan Deria had managed to end hostilities between the fighting factions and as a gift, the colonial power rewarded the sultan building a house for him by the order of Dalameye, the man, who, built the present Kenyan capital Nairobi later on.
The year of the conflict was named as Xaaraamecune (difficult year, which people committed awful acts). The hostility in the surrounding area had taken the life of Haji Abdi father, as he was killed while he was less than 40 days old, as informed him by his mother. Another personality taken by the hospitality is the father of the late – prominent Somali businessman, Jirde Hussein, who was too a businessman in those days. As informed by Haji Abdi, Sa’ad Muse tribes populated in the coastal areas were also trading through camel caravans to some Ogden tribes populated in the remote south and those traders were known as Kabadhe.
However, as soon as the house was completed, the Sultan presented and gifted the house to Sheik Madar Ahmed in order to protect and keep with his religious Islamic holy books and secondly in the view of being a religious leader. At present this is the place buried by Sheik Madar Ahmed. His son, sultan Abdillahi succeed him when Sultan Deria had passed away. Both of the sultans (Deria and Abdillah) were anti colonial power, the British as they is to campaigned not cooperating with the British including going to schools.
As enlightened by Haji Abdi, Sultan Abdillahi was in touch and contact with Farah Oomar, the first Somali from protectorate, who campaigned for independence from the British colonial powers after Mohamed Abdulla Hassan. Both men (Sultan Abdillahi and Farah Oomar) were sharing an identical view with respect to the colonial administration and they were friends over a long time. As said by Haji abdi, Sultan Abdillahi and himself had never in agreement with regard cooperating with the colonial administration, the British. Haji Abdi had a contrary vision, which is cooperating with the colonial administration with respect to education and the development matters.
As informed by Haji Abdi, Farah Oomar was educated man (lawyer) who, studied in Aden/ Yemen/India and he shared same vision with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (Indian nationalist opposed the British rule of India). Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Sultan Abdillahi and Farah Oomar were approximated at the matching age as informed by Haji Abdi. Farah Oomar is the person who initiated establishing the public gathering avenue, which is until today a popular avenue, where people discuss their issues of mutual interest known as Khayriye, which established in most Somali-land cities and towns such as Hargeisa, Burao and Berbera.
As Tribal culture was in wide spread those days, Farah Ooomar was originated from Burao and to my understanding, he is Hababjlelo by birth. Whilst Farah Oomar was in Aden, he was arrested by the British administration in Yemen several times, which later influenced him later travelling at home and campaigned against the British administration at home.
The late personalities such as Abdillahi Qarshe and Husein Aw Farah were also taken a noble role for independences in view of their nationalist and patriotic songs. Abdillahi Qarshe was multitalented personality being composer, musician and singer. The later Abdillahi Timacde was also taken a noble role in view of his nationakist poems.
As informed by Haji abdi, both sultans (Sultan Derai and Sultan Abdillahi) were considered themselves as the sultans of whole 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 was also a tribal chief, which he succeed him after he passed away. HaJI abdi was a member of Somali traditional leaders delegation from the protectorate composed of 40 personalities that went to Italian Somali-land – Mogadishu in 1948 paving for greater Somalia unity vision. Haji Khaliif Hassan was the person who set up SYL flag in Hargeisa (A place at present head-quarters of Hargeisa local government).
The flag was brought to Hargeisa from Mogadishu by ex-Somali late Somali president Adan Abdulla Osman, who was those days, a southern Somalia political activist. Mr. Adan was guest for Haji Khaliif Hassan during his short stay in Hargeisa. Additionally, Haji Khaliif was having the backing of Sultan Abdillahi for hospitality extended to Adan Abdulla Osman, as Somali unity was a wide spread vision.
The entire information detailed in this document is translated from U tube documentary commented by Dr. Mohamed Rashid Sheik Hassan recorded from Haji Abdi. However, In the event, anyone inquire this information from the U-Tube, let him enter the U-Tube and enter the history of Haji Abdi Waraabe – (Part – 1) in an effort of accessing as how the small settlement developed to a city (the present Hargeisa).
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 Somali-land 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 back in May, 18, 1991 after long liberation struggle from oppressive regime of Siyad Barre .
Ismail lugweyne.