Abgaal


The Abgaal is a subclan of the Hawiye and the even larger Samaale clan. It is one of the major sub-clans of the Hawiye and Somali clans in general. The Abgaal have produced many prominent Somali figures including 3 presidents, and the father of the Somali military.

Etymology

Italian scholar of Somali and Ethiopian studies Enrico Cerulli studies discusses the origin story of the name Abgaal in his book How a Hawiye tribe used to live.

The mother of Hirabä was Faduma Karanlä. The mother of Abgal was Faduma Sargellä, who was an Aguran. She was espoused by 'Isman Darandollä. By him she had a son, who was called by the name 'Ali 'Isman. Later one went to Sargellä Garën. A learned old man went to him. He said: 'O noble Sargellä, I saw in the books that the children of the boy born to your daughter Faduma will chase your children from the earth. I saw it in the books.' 'Did you see these things?’
'Yes, I saw them,’ he answered. 'So be it!’ the noble Sargellä replied; and into his heart came the thought: 'Rather than that your children, whom you have begotten, be killed, the son of your daughter might rather die!’ This came into his heart. After this he prepared two different amulets, one good and onebad. The bad one would kill the one who drank it. The good one would protect from any evil of this world. Then he went to his daughter. 'My Faduma, I am bringing you these two amulets: this one here – and it was the good one – you drink; and the other one – and it was the bad one – give to your son 'Ali 'Isman!’ The girl took the two amulets; but when it came to drinking them, she made a mistake! Faduma Sargellä drank the bad one and died immediately. 'Ali 'Ismän drank the good one and survived. Sargellä went back to the hut and saw his daughter dead. And the boy, when he heard his grandfather arrive, ran to the side of a saddle camel and hid behind it. 'Oh 'Ali, oh 'Ali! Come! I am your grandfather!’ Sargellä cried out, looking for the boy. 'You are not my grandfather, my grandfather is the camels.' The camels in the language of one time were called gal. So afterwards he had the name of Ab-gal.”
The tradition substantially recalls the ancient fights between the Abgal, nomadic pastoralists who from places farther north tried to open a way to the river, and the Aguran, who dominated the region of the Middle Webi. This historical content, of course, has been adapted in popular dress with the theme, so widespread in the folklore of quite different peoples, of the prediction of the unborn child destined to drive the reigning prince from the throne.
'In this tradition Abgal has, besides his Somali name, which is explained, also a Mussulman name, 'Ali 'Isman. It does not seem necessary to me to suppose that the name 'Ali replaced the Somali one of Abgal in the genealogies in order to make them more Islamized, as one might say. The custom of several names for one single person, among which names, for the Mussulmans, are found an Arab one and one in the local language, is common in East Africa, even now.''


—Enrico Cerulli, How a Hawiye Tribe use to Live

Overview

The Abgaal are part of the Mudulood and the even larger Hiraab clan. Hiraab consists of the Mudulood, Habar Gidir, and Duduble. Besides the Abgaal Mudulood includes Wacdaan, Moobleen, and Ujajeen. The Imam of both Mudulood and Hiraab traditionally hails from the Abgaal. Currently Imam Mohamed Yusuf is the Imam of Mudulood and also carries the dual position of the Imam of Hiraab.
The Abgaal are also a sub-clan of the Hawiye. The Hawiye descend from Irir Samaale who was one of the sons of Samaale. Due to this the Abgaal have kinship with the Dir and the other Samaale sub-clans that are the Ajuran, Hawadle, Degoodi, and Gaalje'el clan groups.

Distribution

The Abgaal primarily live in the Mudug, Galguduud, Hiran, Banadir, Middle Shabelle, and Lower Shabelle, regions of Central and Southern Somalia. Moreover, they can be found in some parts of Jubaland. The clan also lives in the Somali region in Ethiopia. They can also be found in the expatriate communities of the Somali diaspora.

Role and influence in Somalia

The Abgaal have historically played an important role in Somali affairs. They are the Somali sub-clan that has produced the most Somali Presidents. These three politicians are Ali Mahdi Muhammad, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud. These officials constitute three of the four living former Presidents of Somalia. Additionally they are the first and only Somali sub-clan to have had consecutive presidencies in the terms of Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamed. Furthermore, in terms of politics the clan has produced two Prime Ministers. The father of the Somali military Daud Abdulle Hirsi was also Abgaal. Moreover, the clan has prominent members within the Somali business and media communities. For instance Abdirahman Yabarow, the editor-in-chief of VOA Somali hails from this clan. Currently the Abgaal play a large role primarily in the Somali regions of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State and Banadir but also Somalia as a whole.

Poetry

The Abgaal have their own form of Somali poetry. The guurow and shirib are unique poetical genres that are performed by the Abgaal and sometimes neighboring clans. Their poetry has distinctive dialect characteristics. For instance "iyo" with a long 'o' is a feature within their poetry. The most popular of Abgaal poetry is the shirib. The shirib are short songs that usually accompany dancing. They are sung during various gatherings such as family meetings, clan meetings, and celebrations.

Clan tree

Ali Jimale Ahmed outlines the Hawiye clan genealogical tree in The Invention of Somalia: