This is a list of Somali aristocratic and court titles that were historically used by the
Somali people
The Somalis ( so, Soomaalida 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒆𐒖, ar, صوماليون) are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic Somali language is the shared mo ...
's various
sultanates,
kingdoms
Kingdom commonly refers to:
* A monarchy ruled by a king or queen
* Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy
Kingdom may also refer to:
Arts and media Television
* ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...
and
empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
s. Also included are the
honorific
An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
s reserved for
Islamic notables as well as traditional leaders and officials within Somali
customary law (''
xeer
''Xeer'' (pronounced ) is the traditional legal system of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Somali Region, and the North Eastern Province in Kenya. One of the three systems from which formal Somali law draws its inspiration, the others being civil ...
''), in addition to the
nobiliary particles set aside for distinguished individuals.
Monarchs and aristocrats
Below is a list of the
royal court
A royal court, often called simply a court when the royal context is clear, is an extended royal household in a monarchy, including all those who regularly attend on a monarch, or another central figure. Hence, the word "court" may also be appl ...
titles historically retained by the Somali
monarchies
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutional monarchy), ...
and
aristocracies
Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'.
At the time of the word' ...
.
Male titles
Kings or Rulers
*Suldaan: From the
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
for
Sultan or English "Ruler". Very common title for rulers in the pre-colonial and colonial periods; used throughout the Somali territories, particularly by the
Isaaq
The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak, Isaac) ( so, Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, ar, بني إسحاق, Banī Isḥāq) is a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. Pe ...
.
Famous Sultans include Fakr ad-Din, the first Sultan of the
Sultanate of Mogadishu
The Sultanate of Mogadishu ( so, Saldanadda Muqdisho, ar, سلطنة مقديشو) (fl.9th- 13th centuries), also known as the Kingdom of Magadazo, was a medieval Somali sultanate centered in southern Somalia. It rose as one of the pre-eminent po ...
, who built the 13th-century
Fakr ad-Din Mosque;
Nur Ahmed Aman
Sultan Nur Ahmed Aman ( so, Suldaan Nuur Axmed Amaan; (1841–1907); Somali nickname Nuur Dheere), was a learned religious leader and the 5th Sultan of the Habr Yunis Sultanate and later also one of the leaders behind the Somali Dervish movement ...
, 5th Sultan of the
Habr Yunis
The Habar Yoonis ( ar, هبر يونس , Full Name: '' Said ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'' ) alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the sub-clan ...
and one of the founders of the
Dervish state
The Dervish Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Daraawiish) was a popular movement between 1899 and 1920, which was led by the Salihiyya Sufi Muslim poet and militant leader Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, also known as Sayyid Mohamed, who called for independe ...
; Sultan
Abdillahi Deria
Sultan Abdillahi Deria ( so, Cabdillaahi Diiriye, ar, عبدالله بن ديريه) was the fifth Grand Sultan of the Isaaq Sultanate and a notable Somali anti-colonial figure.
Biography
Abdillahi was the son of Sultan Deria Hassan whom he s ...
of the
Isaaq Sultanate
The Isaaq Sultanate ( so, Saldanadda Isaaq, Wadaad writing, Wadaad: , ar, السلطنة الإسحاقية) was a Somali people, Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. It spanned the territorie ...
, who was an anti-colonial figure in the mid-20th century;
Mohamoud Ali Shire
Sultan Mohamoud Ali Shire, MBE ( so, Maxamuud Cali Shire, ar, محمود علي شري) was a Somali elder of the Warsangali clan. He bore the title Sultan
* (also referred to as Senior Akil) of the Warsangali. He was centered at Las Khorey.
...
, the 1st Sultan of the
Warsangali
The Warsangali ( so, Warsangeli, ar, قبيلة ورسنجلي) is a major Somali sub clan, part of the Harti clan which itself belongs to one of the largest Somali clan-families - the Darod. In the Somali language, the name Warsangali means ...
;
Mahmud IV
Mahmud IV ( so, Maxamuud IV, ar, محمود), also known as Mahamud Hawadane (''Xawadane''), was a Somali ruler. He was among the earliest Kings of the Majeerteen Sultanate.
Reign
The Majeerteen Sultanate was established around 1600s CE by Soma ...
, who reigned in the early 19th century as one of the first Sultans of the
Majeerteen Sultanate
The Majeerteen Sultanate ( so, Suldanadda Majeerteen 𐒈𐒚𐒐𐒆𐒖𐒒𐒖𐒆𐒆𐒖 𐒑𐒖𐒃𐒜𐒇𐒂𐒜𐒒, lit=Boqortooyada Majerteen, ar, سلطنة مجرتين), also known as Majeerteen Kingdom or Majeerteenia and Migiu ...
;
Yusuf Ali Kenadid
Yusuf Ali Kenadid ( so, Yuusuf Cali Keenadiid; 1837 - 14 August 1911) was a Somali Sultan. He was the founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo in April 1878. He was succeeded atop the throne by his son Ali Yusuf Kenadid.
Family
Yusuf Ali Kenadid was bo ...
, founder of the
Sultanate of Hobyo
The Sultanate of Hobyo ( so, Saldanadda Hobyo, ar, سلطنة هوبيو), also known as the Sultanate of Obbia,''New International Encyclopedia'', Volume 21, (Dodd, Mead: 1916), p.283. was a 19th-century Somali kingdom in present-day northeaste ...
; and
Ibrahim Adeer
Ibrahim Adeer ( so, Ibraahin Adeer, ar, ابراهيم أدير) was a Somali ruler. He founded the Sultanate of the Geledi. He subsequently established the Geledi sultanate's ruling house, the Gobroon dynasty, after having to successfully rebe ...
, founder of the
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 ...
. The title was also employed by the leaders of the influential
Ajuran Sultanate
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 th ...
, the House of Garen.
* Ugaas: Authentic Somali term for "Sultan". Used throughout the northern and western Somali territories; particularly in the Somali region of Ethiopia and
Somaliland, but also in central Somalia, southern and northeastern Somalia.
The Gadabursi, and
Gaalje'el
The Gaalje'el ( so, Gaaljecel), ( it, Galgial), ( ar, الجعل) Galjecel is one of the largest Somali clans, whose origins trace back to Samaale. The Galje'el clan belong to the Saransor family of clans, alongside the Issa, Masare and Degodi ...
gave their sultan the title of "Ugaas" romanized as "Ughaz".
*Boqor: Literally denotes
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
.
However, in practice, it is the ''
primus inter pares'' or "King of Kings".
The title is etymologically derived from one of the
Afro-Asiatic Somali language terms for "belt", in recognition of the official's unifying role within society.
According to Kobishchanow (1987), ''Boqor'' is also related to the
style
Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to:
* Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable
* Design, the process of creating something
* Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...
''Paqar'', which was employed by rulers in the early
Nile Valley state of
Meroe.
Various Somali
honorific
An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
s and designations have ''Boqor'' as their root. The latter include ''Boqortooyo'', signifying "monarchy", "kingdom" or "empire"; ''Boqornimo'', meaning "
royalty
Royalty may refer to:
* Any individual monarch, such as a king, queen, emperor, empress, etc.
* Royal family, the immediate family of a king or queen regnant, and sometimes his or her extended family
* Royalty payment for use of such things as int ...
", "
nobility
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The character ...
" or "dignitaries";
and ''Boqortinnimo'', denoting "kingship".
Historically, the title was mainly used by
rulers
A ruler, sometimes called a rule, line gauge, or scale, is a device used in geometry and technical drawing, as well as the engineering and construction industries, to measure distances or draw straight lines.
Variants
Rulers have long ...
in the northeastern
Puntland
Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
region 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 ...
.
The most prominent Boqor in recent times was
Osman Mahamuud
Osman Mahamuud ( so, Cismaan Maxamuud, ar, عثمان محمود), also known as `Uthman III ibn Mahmud, was a Somali king. He led the Majeerteen Sultanate during the 19th century.
Majeerteen Sultanate
The Majeerteen Sultanate was established by ...
, who governed the
Majeerteen Sultanate
The Majeerteen Sultanate ( so, Suldanadda Majeerteen 𐒈𐒚𐒐𐒆𐒖𐒒𐒖𐒆𐒆𐒖 𐒑𐒖𐒃𐒜𐒇𐒂𐒜𐒒, lit=Boqortooyada Majerteen, ar, سلطنة مجرتين), also known as Majeerteen Kingdom or Majeerteenia and Migiu ...
(Majeerteenia) during its 19th-century heyday. Also used among the
Gadabuursi as the law of the King and the 100 men' (heerka boqorka iyo boqolka nin).
*
Garaad: Often employed interchangeably with "Suldaan" to denote a Sultan. Etymologically signifies "wisdom", "mind" or "understanding". According to Basset (1952), the title corresponds with the honorific ''Al-Jaraad'', which was used during the Middle Ages by
Muslim governors in the
Islamic parts of
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 ...
. ''Gerad'' was historically employed throughout
Somaliland by the Tol Je'lo as well as the
Habar Awal
The Habr Awal, also contemporarily known as the Subeer Awal, and alternately romanized as the Zubeyr Awal ( so, Habar Awal, ar, هبر أول, Full Name: '' Zubeyr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad)'' is a major clan of ...
until the clan's leadership adopted a
Suldaan
This is a list of Somali aristocratic and court titles that were historically used by the Somali people's various sultanates, kingdoms and empires. Also included are the honorifics reserved for Islamic notables as well as traditional leaders and ...
in the 20th century. It is still used by the
Dhulbahante
The Dhulbahante ( so, Dhulbahante, ar, دلبةنتئ) is a Somali clan family, part of the Harti clan which itself belongs to the largest Somali clan-family — the Darod. They are the traditional inhabitants of the physiographic Nugaal in its ...
today.
Garad also denotes a ''"chief"'' in
Harari and
Silt'e languages respectively.
*
Imaam: Denotes the Head of State. Style was used especially by rulers in the
Sultanate of Adal
The Adal Sultanate, or the Adal Empire or the ʿAdal or the Bar Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate, ''Adal ''Sultanate'') () was a medieval Sunni Muslim Empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din II ...
and the Ajuran Sultanate. Notable Imams include
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi ( so, Axmed Ibraahim al-Qaasi or Axmed Gurey, Harari: አሕመድ ኢብራሂም አል-ጋዚ, ar, أحمد بن إبراهيم الغازي ; 1506 – 21 February 1543) was an imam and general of the Adal Sultan ...
, also known as Ahmed Gurey or Gran (both meaning "the Left Handed"), who led a military campaign during the Middle Ages known as the
Conquest of Abyssinia (''Futuh al-Habash'').
*
Emir
Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cer ...
: Used by leaders in the Adal Sultanate. Also employed by commanders in the Ajuran Sultanate's
armed forces and navy. Prominent Emirs include
Nur ibn Mujahid
Nur ibn Mujahid ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah al Dhuhi Suha ( Harari: ኑር ኢብን ሙጃሂድ, so, Nuur ibn Mujaahid, ar, نور بن مجاهد; died 1567) was a Muslim Emir of Harar who ruled Sultanate of Harar. He was the primary reason f ...
, the Emir of
Harar
Harar ( amh, ሐረር; Harari: ሀረር; om, Adare Biyyo; so, Herer; ar, هرر) known historically by the indigenous as Gey (Harari: ጌይ ''Gēy'', ) is a walled city in eastern Ethiopia. It is also known in Arabic as the City of Saint ...
who built the great wall (''Jugol'') around the city.
Royal family
*Amiir:
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...
. Honorific set aside for the hereditary son of the King or Sultan.
Notable Princes include
Dolal Nur of the
Rer Ainanshe
The Rer Ainanshe ( so, Reer Caynaanshe) are a royal Somali clan and the traditional rulers of the Habr Yunis. They divide into 17 major sub-clans that together form the Baha Ainanshe and Rer Sugulle, from the latter descend the rulers of the Habr ...
, the son and heir of Sultan
Nur Ahmed Aman
Sultan Nur Ahmed Aman ( so, Suldaan Nuur Axmed Amaan; (1841–1907); Somali nickname Nuur Dheere), was a learned religious leader and the 5th Sultan of the Habr Yunis Sultanate and later also one of the leaders behind the Somali Dervish movement ...
.
* Ina Boqor: Alternate court style for the Prince.
A term used by
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 th ...
and a powerful Ajuran princess called
Faduma Sarjelle
Court officials
*
Wasiir:
Minister and/or tax and revenue collector. Title used in the northern Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo, as well as the southern Ajuran Sultanate. Wazirs were also quite common at the royal court of the medieval Sultanate of Mogadishu. When the
Moroccan traveller
Ibn Battuta visited
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...
in 1331, he indicated that the city was ruled by a Somali sultan of
Barbara origin, who had a retinue of wazirs, legal experts, commanders, royal
eunuch
A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function.
The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2nd millenni ...
s, and other officials at his service.
Other notable wazirs include the maternal grandfather of the Somali General
Abdullahi Ahmed Irro, who was part of the Sultanate of Hobyo's aristocratic contingent in the southern town of
Kismayo
Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, 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 city is situa ...
.
*Boqortiishe:
Viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning " ...
.
Style reserved for court officials governing territory on behalf of their Kingdom was mostly used by
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 th ...
that established many colonies and a famous ruler was
Abd al-Aziz of Mogadishu who ruled
Maldive
Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...
islands on behalf of
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 th ...
*Wakiil-Boqor: Alternate court title designating a Viceroy.
*
Na'ib
Nawab ( Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب;
bn, নবাব/নওয়াব;
hi, नवाब;
Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ;
Persian,
Punjabi ,
Sindhi,
Urdu: ), also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Nobab, ...
/Naïb:
Deputy or representative of the Sultan. Duties included the administration of
tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
, which was collected by court soldiers. Style was used in the Ajuran Sultanate, Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo.
*
Qaadi: Denotes a
Chief Judge
A chief judge (also known as presiding judge, president judge or principal judge) is the highest-ranking or most senior member of a lower court or circuit court with more than one judge. According to the Federal judiciary of the United States, th ...
. Especially common title in Somaliland, but also used in the southern Ajuran Sultanate. Prominent Qadis include Ismail ibn
Ash-Shaykh Ishaaq, the ancestor of the
Garhajis
The Garhajis ( so, Garxajis, ar, غرحجس , Full Name: ''Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin'' ''al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'') historically known as the Habar Gerhajis () is a major clan of the wider Is ...
clan,
Abd al Aziz al-Amawi
‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Amawī ( ar, عبد العزيز الأموي; 1838–1896) was a Somali scholar following the Shāfi‘ī school of jurisprudence and the Ash'arite school of theology, and was a Sufi shaykh of the Qādiryya Sufi order, of w ...
, an influential 19th-century diplomat, historian, poet, jurist and scholar who was appointed Qadi of the
Kilwa Sultanate at the age of 18 by
Muscat and Oman
The Sultanate of Muscat and Oman ( ar, سلطنة مسقط وعمان, Salṭanat Masqaṭ wa-‘Umān), also known briefly as the State of Muscat and Oman () during the rule of Taimur bin Feisal, was a sovereign state that encompassed the prese ...
's Sultan
Said bin Sultan
Sayyid Saïd bin Sultan al-Busaidi ( ar, سعيد بن سلطان, , sw, Saïd bin Sultani) (5 June 1791 – 19 October 1856), was Sultan of Muscat and Oman, the fifth ruler of the Busaid dynasty from 1804 to 4 June 1856. His rule commenced fol ...
; and the father of Sheikh
Abdurahman Sheikh Nuur
Sheikh Abdurahman Sh. Nur ( so, Sheekh Cabdiraxmaan Sheekh Nuur, ar, شيخ عبد الرحمن شيخ نور) was a Somali Sheikh (religious leader), qādi (judge) of the government at that time and the inventor of the Borama script for the Som ...
, inventor of the
Borama script
The Gadabuursi script also known as the Borama alphabet (Borama: ), is a writing script for the Somali language. It was devised around 1933 by Sheikh Abdurahman Sh. Nur of the Gadabuursi clan.
History
Though not as widely known as Osmanya, ...
for the Somali language.
Female titles
Consorts
*Boqorad: Literally translates as "Queen". Title mainly reserved for the
queen consort of the King (''Boqor'').
Royal family
*Amiirad:
Princess
Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince.
Princess as a subs ...
. Honorific set aside for the hereditary daughter of the King or Sultan.
*Ina Boqor: Alternate court style for the Prince or Princess.
Religious leaders
Islamic leaders within Somali society were often drawn from or elevated to the noble ranks. Below is a list of the titles most often used historically by the clergymen (
ulama
In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...
):
*
Sheekh
Sheikh ( so, Sheekh, ar, شَيخ), also known as Shiikh, is a town in the northwestern Sahil[Somalilan ...](_blank)
: Honorific for senior Muslim clerics (''wadaad''). Often abbreviated to "Sh".
Famous Sheikhs include
Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti
Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, ( ar, عبدالرحمن بن اسماعيل الجبرتي) also known as Daarood, Dawud or Da'ud (), is the semi-legendary common ancestor of the Somali Darod clan. According to local tradition, Abdirahman d ...
, an early Muslim leader in northern Somalia;
Abadir Umar Ar-Rida, the patron saint of Harar;
Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti, Sheikh of the
riwaq in
Cairo
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...
who recorded the
Napoleonic invasion of Egypt;
Abd Al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Zayla'i, scholar who played a crucial role in the spread of the
Qadiriyya
The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
movement in Somalia and East Africa;
Shaykh Sufi
Abd Al-Rahman bin Abdullah al Shashi ( ar, عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله الشاشي) (b. 1829 - 1904), popularly known as Sheikh Sufi, was a 19th-century Somali scholar, poet, reformist and astrologist.
Life
Sheikh Sufi was born in M ...
, 19th-century scholar, poet, reformist and astrologist who authored ''Shadjarat al-Yakim'' ("The Tree of Certitude");
Abdallah al-Qutbi
Abdallah ibn Mu'allim Yusuf al-Qutbi ( ar, عبد الله يوسف قطبي ) (c. 1879 – 1952) was a Somali polemicist, theologian and philosopher who lived in Qulunqul (Kolonkol), Somalia.
Biography
Sheikh Al-Qutbi is best known for his ' ...
, polemicist, theologian and philosopher best known for his five-part ''Al-Majmu'at al-mubaraka'' ("The Blessed Collection"); and
Muhammad Al-Sumaalee
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mono ...
, teacher in the
Masjid al-Haram in
Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow ...
who influenced many of the prominent Islamic scholars of today.
*
Sayyid
''Sayyid'' (, ; ar, سيد ; ; meaning 'sir', 'Lord', 'Master'; Arabic plural: ; feminine: ; ) is a surname of people descending from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, sons of Muhamma ...
: Title of high honour meaning "
Lord
Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...
" or "
Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
".
Denotes males accepted as descendants of the
Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mo ...
through his grandsons,
Hasan ibn Ali
Hasan ibn Ali ( ar, الحسن بن علي, translit=Al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī; ) was a prominent early Islamic figure. He was the eldest son of Ali and Fatima and a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He briefly ruled as caliph from Jan ...
and
Hussein ibn Ali
Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, أبو عبد الله الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب; 10 January 626 – 10 October 680) was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi ...
, sons of the prophet's daughter
Fatima Zahra
Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, t ...
and his son-in-law
Ali ibn Abi Talib.
[Ho, Engseng, ''Graves of Tarim'', (University of California Press: 2006), Berkeley. p.149] Used by leaders in the
Dervish State
The Dervish Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Daraawiish) was a popular movement between 1899 and 1920, which was led by the Salihiyya Sufi Muslim poet and militant leader Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, also known as Sayyid Mohamed, who called for independe ...
; notably by
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
Sayid Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan ( so, Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan; 1856–1920) was a Somali religious and military leader of the Dervish movement, which led a two-decade long confrontation with various colonial empires including the British, ...
("Mad Mullah").
*
Shariif (pl. Ashraaf
): Historically used to distinguish descendants of Hassan 'Ali Abuu Taalib (Hasan ibn Ali).
Often reserved for early Islamic leaders such as Sharif
Yusuf Barkhadle (popularly known as ''Aw Barkhadle'' or the "Blessed Father"),
a man described as "the most outstanding
saint in northern Somalia".
Sharif Aydurus
Sharif Aydarus Sharif Ali Al-Nadheeri or short Sharif Aydarus was a famous scholar of Islamic and Somali history and pan-Islamic leader.
History
He was born in the city of Mogadishu in the year 1311 A.H. (1893) and belonged to the coastal Reer ...
was also a notable Sharif and Somali scholar from Mogadishu.
*
Xaaji: Honorific reserved for distinguished individuals who have performed the
hajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
Traditional leaders and officials
Below is a list of the titles traditionally employed by leaders and officials within the Somali
customary law or ''
xeer
''Xeer'' (pronounced ) is the traditional legal system of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Somali Region, and the North Eastern Province in Kenya. One of the three systems from which formal Somali law draws its inspiration, the others being civil ...
''.
Leaders
*Islan: Clan chief.
Title evolved after the fragmentation in the 18th century of the great
Harti
Harti ( so, Harti, ar, هرتي), meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangali, Tinle, Maganlabe and Dishiishe, while other minor sub-clans ...
confederation that dominated the northeastern
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 ...
region since at least the 14th century. A general process of decentralization ensued, with new leaders known as ''Islaan'' assuming at the local level some of the power that was previously solely commanded by the Sultan of Majeerteenia, the titular head of the entire confederation. Although they nominally asserted independence from the sultanate, Islaan's mainly wielded religious rather than political authority.
*Malakh: Signifies "War Leader". Historically used mainly by the
Rahanweyn
The Rahanweyn ( Maay: ''Reewin or Roowing'', Northern Somali: ''Raxanweyn'', ar, رحنوين), also known as the Digil and Mirifle () are a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large territory and dense ...
clan that today forms one of the largest constituencies in southern Somalia, in addition to a few sympatric clans. Usually assigned to the Herabow sub-lineage, from which two male constituents were selected to manage the group's military affairs.
*Akil: From the Arabic for "wise man".
A common title for male elders, who are the traditional clan chiefs. Used particularly in
Somaliland.
[Abdullahi, p.140]
Officials
*Oday (pl. Odayaal): Literally "elder". The most common title for
advisor
An adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser's role is that of a mentor or guide and differs categor ...
s to the clan head or
judges in xeer hearings. Used throughout the Somali territories.
*Heer begti or Heer boggeyal:
Jurists or legal experts in xeer.
*Gurtiyal:
Detectives.
*Garhajiyal:
Attorneys in xeer cases.
*Murkhatiyal:
Witness
In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...
es in official xeer proceedings.
*Waranle:
Police officer
A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...
s to enforce the customary law.
[
]
Nobiliary particles
* Aw: Nobiliary particle meaning "honorable", "venerable", or simply "Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
". Reserved for learned Islamic clerics, and used throughout the Somali territories. During his research in the ancient town of Amud, the historian G.W.B. Huntingford
George Wynn Brereton Huntingford (19 November 1901 – 19 February 1978) was an English linguist, anthropologist and historian. He lectured in East African languages and cultures at SOAS, University of London from 1950 until 1966.Awbare
Awbare (Amharic: አውበሬ, so, Aw Barre), officially known as Teferi BerTeferi Ber is the name used by the Central Statistical Agency in it''Agricultural Sample Enumeration 2001-2002 (1994 E.C.): Report on Area and Production - Somali Regi ...
and Awbube
Awbube (Amharic: አውቡቤ, so, Aw Bube), ( en, Aububah ("Flying Saint"), (also spelt ''Awbuube''), called after its patron Saint ''Awbube'', also known as Alaua or Halaua, is an ancient and ruined town located in the western Fafan Zone in the ...
), it denoted the final resting place of a local saint.[G.W.B. Huntingford, "The Town of Amud, Somalia", ''Azania'', 13 (1978), p. 184] Similarly, the ancient island of Aw Garweyne
Aw Garweyne is an island of ancient habitation in the southeastern Lower Shabelle province of Somalia.
Overview
Aw Garweyne was originally positioned off of the Benadir littoral. It is now joined to the mainland by sand.
The small island is a ...
on the southeastern Benadir littoral was named for the late Sheikh 'Ismaan, whose tomb is found there. Surveys by A.T. Curle in 1934 on several of these important ruined cities recovered various artefacts, such as pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and ...
and coin
A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...
s, which point to a medieval period of activity at the tail end of the Sultanate of Adal's reign. Somaliland and northeastern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology a ...
s, with similar edifices found at Haylan
Haylan ( so, Heylaan), is a town in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland.
Overview
An old settlement, Haylan is the site of numerous ancient ruins and buildings, many of obscure origins. Northeastern Somalia in general is home to numer ...
, Qa’ableh, Macajilayn
Macajilayn, also spelled Mecajilayn, is a proto-Somali archaeological site located in the Sanaag region of Somaliland.
Overview
Macajilayn is situated to the east of the old coastal town of Heis.
The site contains a number of cairns, from whic ...
, Booco
Booco is an archaeological site in the northeastern Bari, Somalia, Bari province of Somalia.
Overview
Booco is situated in the Aluula District, near Aluula.
The site features a number of ancient structures. Two of these are enclosed platform mon ...
, Qombo'ul
Qombo'ul ( so, Qumbucul) is a very old and historical town in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland.
Overview
Qombo'ul lies approximately 40 km east of Badhan, on the road to Bosaso and west of the town of Mindigale.
An old settlement t ...
, El Ayo
El Ayo ( so, Ceelaayo, ar, عيلايو), also known as El Ayum, is a coastal town in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland, near the border with Somalia. There is a base of the Puntland Maritime Police Force, which is effectively controlled ...
, Heis, Botiala
Botiala ( so, Butiyaalo), also known as Bottiala or Bandar Kor, is an archaeological site in the northeastern Bari region of Puntland.
History
Botiala is located in a valley to the east of the ancient port city of Qandala, between Cape Guardafui ...
, Salweyn
Salweyn, also known as Salwine, is a proto-Somali archaeological site located in the Sanaag region of Somaliland.
Overview
Salweyn is situated to the east of the old coastal town of Heis. A small eponymous creek is located in the area.
The site ...
, Mudun
Mudun (Ancient Greek: Μουδών) is an archaeological site in the northeastern Bari province of Somalia.
Overview
Mudun is situated in the Wadi valley of the Iskushuban District. The area features a number of ruins, which local tradition ho ...
, Abasa, Maduna
Maduna ( so, Maduuna) is a medieval town in western Sanaag region of Somaliland, near El Afweyn.
History
The ruined Islamic city of Maduna is considered the most substantial and most accessible ruin of its type in Somaliland. The main feature o ...
, Gelweita
Gelweita ( so, Geel Wayta), also known as Las Galwayta or Galwayta is an archaeological site and a key rock art site in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland.
Overview
Gelweita is at an altitude of 7500ft and is near a plateau. The archeolog ...
and Damo, among other areas.[Michael Hodd, ''East African Handbook'', (Trade & Travel Publications: 1994), p.640.]
See also
*Maritime history of Somalia
Maritime history of Somalia refers to the seafaring tradition of the Somali people. It includes various stages of Somali navigational technology, shipbuilding and design, as well as the history of the Somali port cities. It also covers the histor ...
*Somali architecture
Somali architecture is the engineering and designing of multiple different construction types such as stone cities, castles, citadels, fortresses, mosques, temples, aqueducts, lighthouses, towers and tombs during the ancient, medieval and early ...
*Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Mesafint ( gez, መሳፍንት , modern , singular መስፍን , modern , "prince"), the hereditary nobility, formed the upper ...
*
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Warsangeli Sultanate
(Official website)
External links
Warsangeli Sultanate
(Official website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somali aristocratic and court titles
Somalian monarchy
Somali culture
Court titles
Gubernatorial titles
Noble titles
Royal titles
Titles of national or ethnic leadership