Somali clan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people. It is an important social unit and clan membership continues to play an important part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are often divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions.
In traditional Somali society, marriage was often to someone from another clan, that is exogamy was practised, but during the 20th century conflicts in Somalia this seems to have become the exception rather than the rule.[1]
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[edit] Hierarchy of clans
Certain clans are traditionally classed as "noble clans", referring to the belief that they share a common Somali ancestry, whereas some minority clans are believed to have mixed parentage.[1] The noble clans are believed to be descended from Samaale (or Samale), and are sometimes referred to collectively by this name. The four noble clans are Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Isaaq.[1] Of these, the Darod, Dir, and Hawiye trace their descent from Samaale through Irir Samaale.[1] "Sab" is the term used to refer to minority clans in contrast to Samaale.[1]
The Digil and Mirifle/Rahanweyn are agro-pastoral clans in the area between the Jubba and Shebelle Rivers. They occupy a kind of second tier in the Somali social system.[1] They do not follow a nomadic lifestyle, live further south and speak a group of Somali dialects (Af-Maay) which have recently been classified as a separate language and so they have been isolated to some extent from the mainstream of Somali society.[1]
A third tier, the occupational clans, have sometimes been treated as outcasts, because traditionally they could only marry among themselves and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean.[1] They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and performed specialised occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting.[1] These clans include the Midgan, Tumal and Yibir.
Other minority clans include the Eyle, who live in the southwest, the Jaji and the Yahar.
[edit] Clan and sub-clan groupings
There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures. The divisions and subdivisions as given here are partial and simplified. Many lineages are omitted. Note that some sources state that the Rahanweyn group is made up of the Digil and Mirifle clans, whereas others list the Digil as a separate group from the Rahanweyn. (For a comparison of different views on the clan-lineage-structures in Somalia see Conflict in Somalia.)[2]
- Darod
- Awrtable, Dhulbahante, Harti, Jidwaq, Leelkase, Majeerteen, Marehan, Ogaden, and Warsangali.
- Isaaq
- Arap, Ayoup, Garhajis (which is split into Eidagale and Habar Yoonis), Habar Awal and Habar Jeclo.
[edit] See also
- Demographics of Somalia
- Transitional Federal Parliament (of Somalia)
- Demographics of Djibouti
- Demographics of Ethiopia
- Demographics of Kenya
- Sixth Clan
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Laitin, David D. & Samatar, Said S. (1987). Somalia: Nation in Search of a State, Colorado: Westview Press. ISBN 0-86531-555-8
- ^ Worldbank, 2005, p. 56
- ^ a b Note that some Sheikhals, claim they are part of the larger Hawiye group, while others dispute this.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- "The Somali Ethnic Group and Clan System", from "Reunification of the Somali People", Jack L. Davies
[edit] References
- David D. Laitin and Said S. Samatar, Somalia: Nation in Search of a State, Colorado: Westview Press, 1987. ISBN 0-86531-555-8
- Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, Worldbank, January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts
- Victims and Vulnerable Groups in Southern Somalia, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
- Somali Clan Structure, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
- Somalia Tribal Study, 2005
