Bardera ( ar, بارديرا, so, Bardhere) is a city in
Jubaland
Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...
State of
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. It is the second largest and most populous city in
Jubaland
Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...
with
Kismayo
Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Kismanyy'', ar, كيسمايو, ; it, Chisimaio) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region.
The cit ...
being the largest and most densely populated city in the region. Bardera sits on the
Jubba
Thawb ( ar, ثَوْب "garment"), also spelled thobe or tobe and known by various other names in different regions, is an ankle-length robe, usually with long sleeves. It is commonly worn in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, North Afr ...
River around 250 km west of the city of
Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali: Maay.html"_;"title="f-Maxaa:_Baydhabo,_Maay">f-Maxaa:_Baydhabo,_Maay:_''Baydhowy)''_is_the_largest_city_of_the_South_West_State_of_Somalia.
Between_2002_and_2014,_Baidoa_was_the_capital_of_the_South_West_State_of_Somalia.html ...
and is in a highland area with fertile soil. The city experiences extremely hot temperatures from December to April and heavy rainfalls from April to May knowns as ''Gu'' (spring) The city was formerly known as the "Onion capital of the World" for its production of the vegetable, the name Bardera means tall palm trees. The palms were cut to construct native homes or ''midille''.
Bardhere is also known as the centre of Islamic scholarship, as it is for agricultural production. The climate is ideally suited for year-round crop production and boasts of farms of sorghum, corn, onions, beans, sesame plants, tobacco, and fruits such as bananas, watermelon, oranges, papayas, and mangoes.
Etymology
Bardera is an important agricultural centre living up to its name Bar meaning “palm tree”, and Dhere meaning “tall” a reference to the ubiquitous palm trees that have grown expansively in the area.
The river banks are lined by beautiful palm trees and so are the farms of this town that lies at an intersection of all major roads that links Somalia to Elwak and Mandera in Kenya, Kismayo, Baidoa, Barawe and Dinsoor within Somalia.
History
Medieval
During the Middle Ages, Bardera and its surrounding area was part of the
Ajuran Empire
The Ajuran Sultanate ( so, Saldanadda Ajuuraan, ar, سلطنة الأجورانية), also natively referred-to as Ajuuraan, and often simply Ajuran, was a Somali Empire in the Middle Ages in the Horn of Africa that dominated the trade in the ...
that governed much of southern
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
and eastern
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
, with its domain extending from
Hobyo
Hobyo (; so, Hobyo), is an ancient port city in Galmudug state in the north-central Mudug region of Somalia.
Hobyo was founded as a coastal outpost by the Ajuran Empire during the 13th century.Lee V. Cassanelli, ''The shaping of Somali society: ...
in the north, to
Qelafo in the west, to
Kismayo
Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Kismanyy'', ar, كيسمايو, ; it, Chisimaio) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region.
The cit ...
in the south.
[Lee V. Cassanelli, ''The shaping of Somali society: reconstructing the history of a pastoral people, 1600-1900'', (University of Pennsylvania Press: 1982), p.102.] Bardera was one of the most important cities in the
Jubba
Thawb ( ar, ثَوْب "garment"), also spelled thobe or tobe and known by various other names in different regions, is an ankle-length robe, usually with long sleeves. It is commonly worn in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, North Afr ...
river during the
Ajuran period. It was an agricultural and commercial center. It had roads that connected the Benadir ports built by Ajuran. Bardhere provided many goods to the coastal provinces and many merchants across the region came to Bardera for trade.
Early Modern
![BarderaCitadel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/BarderaCitadel.jpg)
Bardera continued its agricultural and commercial legacy under
Geledi Sultanate
The Sultanate of the Geledi ( so, Saldanadda Geledi, ar, سلطنة غلدي) also known as the Gobroon Dynasty Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 229 was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of th ...
rule where it was surrounded by a
citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
and with increased link between the coast and interior, both the Benadir ports and Bardera flourished with the city serving as the key ivory hub in the southern part of the
Horn
Horn most often refers to:
*Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound
** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments
*Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...
.
In the 1830s, a new militant extremist group rose in the
citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
of Bardera, overlooking the
Jubba River
The Jubba River or Juba River ( so, Wabiga Jubba) is a river in southern Somalia which flows through the autonomous region of Jubaland. It begins at the border with Ethiopia, where the Dawa and Ganale Dorya rivers meet, and flows directly south ...
, and began imposing their interpretation of
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
on the surrounding regions, including the coastal city of
Barawa
Barawa ( so, Baraawe, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Barawy'', ar, ﺑﺮﺍﻭة ''Barāwa''), also known as Barawe and Brava, is the capital city, capital of the South West State of Somalia, South West State of Somalia.Pelizzari, Elisa. "Guerre civile et ...
, which they subdued and captured in 1840. In response, Sultan
Yusuf Mahamud gathered his armies into a coalition and marched towards Bardera. The citadel was besieged and then burned to the ground, solidifying Sultan Yusuf's paramount authority in southern
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
following his
Conquest of Bardera.
Following the defeat of the Bardera recovered and remained relatively quiet until the eventual end of the Geledi Sultanate and subsequent incorporation into
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centur ...
.
Modern
After independence in 1960, the city was made the center of the official
Bardera District
Bardhere District ( so, Degmada Bardhere) is a district in the southwestern Gedo region of Somalia. It was first made a political district in 1941. A decade and a half later, during the 1956 general elections, a Somali parliament was voted to be ...
. Bardera became the first place in Somalia were onions were grown commercially. This production began to increase rapidly but eventually fell off in the 1980s due to failed agricultural policies of the Somali government. The actual quality soil is in a narrow strip on either side of the river where pumps can feed private farms. Other produce such as sorghum can be found in Markabley/Hayranta although still in the district. German Explorer Carl Von Der Decken was killed at this same site in 1860, remnants of his wrecked ship still remain.
Economy
The economy of Bardera is largely agriculture-based. Animal husbandry also figures prominently, with livestock kept for meat, milk and butter.
Agriculture
There are two types of farming which exist in Bardera area: Irrigated farming and seasonal farming.
Many medium- and small-scale farms near the river use water pumping machines. These motors irrigate the land with canals, and farmers plant crops.
The majority of farmers use a low-tech farming method of farming during the two rainy seasons . Small operation farms are found throughout
Jubaland
Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...
, far away from the river banks where families plant sorghum, maize, and beans on any land that is suitable for farming.
Mogadishu's fruit and vegetable market used to have a section containing Bardera's famous onion product. Since the start of the civil war in Somalia, produce from Bardera to large urban centers like Mogadishu, Kismayo, or Baidoa were diverted to Kenyan markets such as Wajir, Garissa,Mombasa, and Nairobi.
There are many beautiful palm trees along the river bank and almost every farm has one or two palm trees.
Large numbers of Bardera's residents make their living working in the many small and large farms on the span of the Jubba River in Bardera District
Sorghum, corn or maize, different types of onions, beans, sesame, tobacco, and fruits such as bananas, watermelon, oranges, papayas, and mangoes, from Bardera farms reach markets as far as Djibouti, about 3,000 km away to the north of Somalia.
Education
Bardera for ages was a center of higher learning, The city is famously associated with the study of Islamic jurisprudence.
Bardera
Islamic
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...
centers are famous and students seeking knowledge as well as moalims (teachers) seeking employment used to come from across Somalia, Also Bardera has 20 elementary schools, Seventeen Primary and Secondary schools.
Bardera polytechnic college was founded in July 2008. This college was established to cover the higher education needs of the Bardera area community, which has been growing since the start of the 1990s.
Bardera polytechnic college s policy is give vocational training, real marketable skills for 16 to 60 age population.
Juba Valley Agricultural Institute The Juba Valley Agricultural Institute ( so, Machadka Beeraha Dooxada Jubba) is an academic institute within the Bardera Polytechnic College in Bardera, Somalia. It is situated within the southern Jubba Valley.
The Juba Valley region of Somalia ha ...
is an academic institute within the
Bardera Polytechnic
Bardera Polytechnic ( so, Kuliyada Farsamada Baardheere, ar, كلية لعلوم التطبيقية بارطيرآ) is a non-profit tertiary polytechnic education centre located in Bardera, Somalia. The college's full name is Bardera Polytechnic ...
College in Bardera,
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. It is situated within the southern
Jubaland
Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...
.
Juba Valley Veterinary Institute
Juba Valley Veterinary Institute or Af Somali Kuliyada Xanaanada Xoolaha ee Dooxada Juba, Arabic: (بالفعل وادي البيطري المعهد), Italian: Giuba Valle Veterinario Instituto is a veterinary institute in Bardera, Gedo Somalia. ...
is a veterinary institute in Bardera,
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. The institute is part of
Bardera Polytechnic
Bardera Polytechnic ( so, Kuliyada Farsamada Baardheere, ar, كلية لعلوم التطبيقية بارطيرآ) is a non-profit tertiary polytechnic education centre located in Bardera, Somalia. The college's full name is Bardera Polytechnic ...
specialized schools and institutes within the college system.
Both Juba Valley Agricultural Institute and Jubba Valley Veterinary institute were part of the second phase of development at Bardera Polytechnic.
For centuries, students traveled from far distances and from all points on the Horn as a whole. Every Somali who came of age before the 1950s, knows the importance of Bardera as a religious education center.
Later generations found different kind of class spaces at
Somali National University
Somali National University (SNU) ( so, Jaamacadda Ummadda Soomaaliyeed, ar, الجامعة الوطنية الصومالية, it, Università Nazionale Somala) is a national university in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Its campus grounds w ...
(SNU), Lafole, Lafole Agricultural College and Sidam management training school.
Geography
Bardera is situated 2-3 degrees latitude north of the equator and at a longitude of 42-43 degrees. It is characterized by warm weather and high humidity.
Climate
Bardera has a
hot arid climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''BWh'') despite receiving around of annual rainfall, owing to its extremely high
potential evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined processes by which water moves from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere. It covers both water evaporation (movement of water to the air directly from soil, canopies, and water bodies) and transpira ...
.
Photos
Notable People
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed ( so, Cabdiweli Sheekh Axmed, ar, عبدالولي الشيخ أحمد; born 1959), also known as Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohammad, is a Somali economist and politician. He previously worked in the Somali military governmen ...
, Former Prime minister of Somalia.
Farah Hussein Sharmarke
Farah Hussein Sharmarke (Af Soomaali: Faarax Xuseen Sharmaaarke, Arabic:فارح حسين شر ماركئ ) was a Somalian poet who composed poems during the 1940s and early 1950s whilst living in Isiolo, Kenya.
Biography
Farah was born in 1926 ...
, Philosopher, Poet.
Fatimo Isaak Bihi
Fatimo Isaak Bihi is a Somali former diplomat. She was the first ever female ambassador (Ambassador to Switzerland). Bihi is also the former Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as being a former Perm ...
, First Somali female ambassador, Ambassador to Geneva, Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi, Author, Somali Politician.
Ahmed Warsame
General Ahmed Warsame was the Head of the former Somali Military Academy and Somali National Front
The ''Somali National Front (SNF)'' (Somali: ''Dhaqdhaqaaqa Jabhada Soomaliyeed'') was a politico-military organization that operated in southern ...
, Head of the Somali Military Academy.
Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag
Colonel Abdulahi Sheik Ismael (Fara-Tag) ( so, Cabdullaahi Sheekh Ismaaciil arataag}) is a commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Republic of Somalia.
He was militia chief commander of the Juba Valley Alliance ...
, Former Head of Jubba valley alliance, Member of sen of upper house in Somalia, Former Vice President Of
Jubaland
Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...
State of Somalia.
Mohamud Ali Magan
Mohamud Ali Magan is a Somali politician. He was the Minister of Planning of Somalia, having been appointed to the position on 12 January 2015 by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, and in March 2017 succeeded by Jamal Mohamed Hassan in ...
, Somali Foreign Affairs, Consul General to United States Of America and Canada.
Ali shire Warsame
Ali Shire Warsame ( so, Cali Shire Warsame), (? in Galgaduud, Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of ...
, Somali Politician
References
External links
Bardhere city portal{{in lang, so
Populated places in Gedo
Jubba River