Sheekhaal

Sheekhaal
شيخال
Languages
	Somali&Arabic
Religion
	Islam(Sunni)

TheSheekhaal(var.Sheikhaal,Arabic:شيخال), also known asFiqi Cumaris a clan that inhabitsSomalia,Ethiopia,Djiboutiand with considerable numbers also found in theNorthern Frontier District(NFD) inKenya.

Overview

Sheekhal traces its ancestry to SheikhAbadir Umar Ar-Rida,also known asFiqi Umar,who in turn traced his lineage to the firstcaliph,Abu Bakr(Sayid Abubakar Al-Sadiq).^[1]

According to the explorerRichard F. Burton,in his bookFirst Footsteps in East Africa,the Sheekhaal are described as the only Somalis who maintain a tradition of genealogy not derived fromDirandDarood.They claim descent from "Caliph Abu Bakr" and asserted that their ancestorKhutab bin Fakih Umarcrossed over fromAl-Hijazto theHorn of Africa.^[2]Fiqi Umar crossed over with his six sons: Umar the Greater, Umar the Lesser, the two Abdillahs, Ahmad and Siddik.^[3]Sheikh Ar-Rida is also regarded the patron saint ofHarar.^[4]The lineage goes back toBanu Taym,through the first CaliphAbu Bakr.^[5]

Some clans of Sheekhaal would argue that while they are politically aligned with the largerHawiyeclan, this does not mean that they are Hawiye.^[6]This view is shared by the Aw-Qutub, one of the Sheekhaal subclans; they too totally reject the notion that the Sheekhal clan are part of Hawiye. Lobogay (Loboge) are considered part of (Hiraab,Aw Qudub and Gendershe and Ali).^[7]

Lewis (1982) mentions that the largest clan of the Sheikhal is the Reer Fiqi Omar, whose most important lineage, the Reer Aw Qutub, inhabit theSomali Regionof Ethiopia.^[8]The Sheekhal clans were reportedly considered as part of the Hawiye politically until after the civil war.^[9]

General Mohamed Ibrahim Liiqliqato, who was a Sheikhal, described in his book how the Sheikhal became associated with the Hawiye and added as ‘Martileh Hiraab’ (literally meaningguests of Hiraab).^[10]The Sheekhaal are also mentioned to be one of the religious groups of Somalia along with theAsharaf.^[11]

Sheekhaal clans

Reer Axmed Loobage (Martiile Hiraab)^[12]
Reer Abdiraxiin (Adeer) (Martiile Hiraab)
Reer aw saciid ( (Martiile Hiraab))
Reer Cabdi Sheekh ( (Martiile Hiraab))
Reer Maxamed Aw Guudle (Martiile Hiraab)^[13]
Reer Aw Qudub (Martiile Hiraab)^[14]
Reer Aw Xassan^[13]
Sheekhaal Jaziira
Sheekhaal Aw Cisman (Gendershe )^[15]

^[12] 11 Reer Abiib (Martiile Hiraab) 12 Reer Cali Cafiif (Martiile Hiraab)

Prominent figures

Abdulrahman Kinana,first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, 2001–2006; former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence of Tanzania.
Mohamed Ibrahim Liqliiqato,Prominent Somali politician, diplomat, and Major General fromKismayolower Jubba region. He was a Somali ambassador to the Soviet Union, and ambassador to West-Germany in 1970s. He also held the ministry of Agriculture and Interior ministry. He is the longest-serving speaker of the parliament, holding the position from 1982 to 1991. The Liiqliiqato bridge in Beledwen named after him.
Mohammed Hussein Ali,former commissioner of the Kenya Police and Major General.
Dahir Adan Elmi,chief of Somali Armed Forces, major general and the commander of Qabdir-Daharre Battalion in Somalia-Ethiopian War in 1977 who won bravery golden award that war. He is regarded as the most decorated general in Somali army.
Mohamed Nadif, Current Member of Parliament, Federal Republic of Somalia
Mohamed Ali Kariye, Renowned Somali poet and songwriter

References

^Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (2024), Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (eds.),"Clan Configuration and Identity Networks in Somalia",The Somalia Conflict Revisited: Trends and Complexities of Spatial Governance on National and Regional Security,Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 39–58,doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55732-3_2,ISBN 978-3-031-55732-3
^Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894).First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar.Tylston and Edwards. p. 193.ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.
^Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894).First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar.Tylston and Edwards. p. 193.ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.
^Siegbert Uhlig,Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N,Volume 3, (Otto Harrassowitz Verlag: 2007), pp.111 & 319.
^Wolford, Ali; Jimcale (1995-10-04).The Invention of Somalia.First Edition Design Pub. p. 55.ISBN 978-0932415998.
^Hassan Ali Jama (2005).Who Cares About Somalia.Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140.ISBN 3-89930-075-0.
^Joint British, Danish and Dutch fact-finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya (2000-11-24)."Report on minority groups in Somalia"(PDF).Nairobi, Kenya. p. 55. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-10-21.Retrieved2013-01-02.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Lewis, I.M (1982).A study of pastoralism and politics among the northern Somalis of the Horn of Africa(PDF).New York: Africana Publishing Company. pp. 10–11. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-10-21.
^Hassan Ali Jama (2005).Who Cares About Somalia.Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140.ISBN 3-89930-075-0.
^Joakim Gundel, COI Workshop Vienna (December 2009)."Clans in Somalia Report on a Lecture"(PDF).www.ecoi.net.
^"The religious minority groups of Somalia"(PDF).www.minorityrights.org.
^^a ^bColucci, Massimo (1924).Principi di diritto consuetudinario della Somalia italiana meridionale: i gruppi sociali, la proprietà con dieci tavole dimostrative, sotto gli auspici del governo della Somalia italiana.p. 97.
^^a ^bCensimento della popolazione Somala, 21 Aprile 1931.Amministrazione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia, Ufficio Studi e Statistica Statistica. 1953.
^Richard Burton,First Footsteps in East Africa,1856; edited with an introduction and additional chapters by Gordon Waterfield (New York: Praeger, 1966), p. 165
^Al-Nadhiiri, Sharif 'Aydarus."Bughyat al-Amal fi Tarikh al Sumal (The History of Somalia)"(PDF).

Works cited

http://www.geeskaafrika.com/20606/somalia-the-first-governor-of-hiiraan-1960/
Abbink, G. J. (2009).The Total Somali Clan Genealogy (second edition).Asc Working Paper Series. Vol. 84. Leiden: African Studies Centre.hdl:1887/14007.

[1] Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (2024), Nyadera, Israel Nyaburi; Islam, Nazmul; Agwanda, Billy (eds.),"Clan Configuration and Identity Networks in Somalia",The Somalia Conflict Revisited: Trends and Complexities of Spatial Governance on National and Regional Security,Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 39–58,doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55732-3_2,ISBN 978-3-031-55732-3

[2] Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894).First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar.Tylston and Edwards. p. 193.ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.

[3] Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1894).First Footsteps in East Africa, Or, An Exploration of Harar.Tylston and Edwards. p. 193.ISBN 978-0-7054-1500-2.

[Uhlig-4] Siegbert Uhlig,Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N,Volume 3, (Otto Harrassowitz Verlag: 2007), pp.111 & 319.

[5] Wolford, Ali; Jimcale (1995-10-04).The Invention of Somalia.First Edition Design Pub. p. 55.ISBN 978-0932415998.

[jama2-6] Hassan Ali Jama (2005).Who Cares About Somalia.Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140.ISBN 3-89930-075-0.

[7] Joint British, Danish and Dutch fact-finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya (2000-11-24)."Report on minority groups in Somalia"(PDF).Nairobi, Kenya. p. 55. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-10-21.Retrieved2013-01-02.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[8] Lewis, I.M (1982).A study of pastoralism and politics among the northern Somalis of the Horn of Africa(PDF).New York: Africana Publishing Company. pp. 10–11. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-10-21.

[jama-9] Hassan Ali Jama (2005).Who Cares About Somalia.Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler. p. 140.ISBN 3-89930-075-0.

[10] Joakim Gundel, COI Workshop Vienna (December 2009)."Clans in Somalia Report on a Lecture"(PDF).www.ecoi.net.

[11] "The religious minority groups of Somalia"(PDF).www.minorityrights.org.

[Hagi-12] Colucci, Massimo (1924).Principi di diritto consuetudinario della Somalia italiana meridionale: i gruppi sociali, la proprietà con dieci tavole dimostrative, sotto gli auspici del governo della Somalia italiana.p. 97.

[:1-13] Censimento della popolazione Somala, 21 Aprile 1931.Amministrazione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia, Ufficio Studi e Statistica Statistica. 1953.

[:0-14] Richard Burton,First Footsteps in East Africa,1856; edited with an introduction and additional chapters by Gordon Waterfield (New York: Praeger, 1966), p. 165

[:2-15] Al-Nadhiiri, Sharif 'Aydarus."Bughyat al-Amal fi Tarikh al Sumal (The History of Somalia)"(PDF).

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