The Akisho (

Somali Somali may refer to: Horn of Africa * Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region ** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis ** Somali culture ** Somali cuisine ** Somali language, a Cushitic language ** Somali ...

: ''Akiisho'',

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 ...

: أكيشو) is a sub-division of the Ali Madahweyne subclan of the Dir clan family.

Overview

As a Dir sub-clan, the Akisho have immediate lineal ties with the Issa, the

Gadabuursi The Gadabuursi (Somali: ''Gadabuursi'', Arabic: جادابورسي), also known as ''Samaroon'' (Arabic: ''قبيلة سَمَرُون)'', is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family. The Gadabuursi are geographically sp ...

, the Surre (Abdalle and Qubeys), the Biimaal (who the

Gaadsen Overview The Biimaal or Bimal, is a sub-clan of the major Dir clan family. This clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern Somalia for decades which can be compared to the war of the Sayyid in Somaliland. Th ...

also belong too), the Bajimal, the

Bursuk The Bursuuk or also written as Barsuk or Barsuq or Barsuug (Somali: Barsuug) is a clan belonging to Madahweyne sub clan of the Dir clan family. They largely live in Ethiopia, in the Somali Region, especially around the ancient city of Harar and ...

, the Gurgura, (the Quranyow sub-clan to be precise as they claim descent from Dir), Gariire, other Dir sub-clans and they have lineal ties with the

Hawiye The Hawiye ( so, Hawiye, ar, بنو هوية, it, Hauija) is the largest Somali clan family. Members of this clan traditionally inhabit central and southern Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia (Somali, Harar, Oromia and Afar regions) and the Nort ...

(Irir),

Hawadle The Hawadle or Xawaadle ( so, Xawaadle, ar, حوادله, it, Auadleh) are a Somali clan who traces its descent from Mayle Gorgaarte, one of the sons of Hawiye clan. The Hawadle, as well as many other Somali clans like the Dir, trace themselv ...

, Ajuraan, Degoodi, Gaalje'el clan groups, who share the same ancestor

Samaale Samaale, also spelled Samali or Samale ( so, Samaale) is traditionally considered to be the oldest common forefather of several major Somali clans and their respective sub-clans. His name is the source of the ethnonym ''Somali''.. As the purported ...

.The Quranyo section of the Garre claim descent from Dirr, who are born of the Irrir Samal. UNDP Paper in Keyna http://www.undp.org/content/dam/kenya/docs/Amani%20Papers/AP_Volume1_n2_May2010.pdf

Distribution

The Akisho inhabit both the

Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...

and

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 ...

in Somali region. In Somaliland, Akisho members live in the

Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh ( so, Maroodi Jeex, ar, مرودي جيح) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, Togdheer to the eas ...

region, in the cities and towns of

Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...

Arabsiyo Arabsiyo is a town in the Gabiley district of Somaliland. The town is located about 30 km west of Hargeisa. Overview Arabsiyo has a three valleys located on the West, Central and on the Eastern of the city with a number of farming villages s ...

, Wajaale,

Allaybaday Allaybaday is a town in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland, on the border with Ethiopia. It is primarily inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, and is dominated by the Reer Geele, Abdalla Abokor sub divisions of the Sa'ad Musa subc ...

, and

Gabiley Gabiley ( so, Gabiley, ar, غابيلي), also known as Gebiley, is a city in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Gabiley is located 58 km west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. It is in the center of the Gabiley district, bounded ...

In Ethiopia, where the Akisho are among the most widespread Somali group, Akisho members inhabit

Jijiga Jijiga (, am, ጅጅጋ, ''Jijiga'') is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia. It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 70 km (37 mi) west of the bor ...

, Qordhere, Dire Dewa, Bale (Nagelle), Babile, Fayanbiro, Qabri-Bayah, Fiq, Hara-Maaya, Harar, Obra, and Dadar. Fadeyga godanta booraale gursum and many more geographical regions. Currently, the sultan of the Akisho clan is Muhiyadiin Odawa. Also the Madahweyne Dir, Akisho clan is one of the largest Dir sub-clans within the borders of the Somaliland region of

based on the Ethiopian population census.Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency Population of Ethiopia for All Regions At Wereda Level from 2014 p. 21 Somali region
Many Akisho's live in the Afar region of Ethiopia. The Akisho live in

district where they make up a large part of the

Kebri Beyah Kebri Beyah (also spelled ''Kebribeyah'', ''Qebri Beyah'', ''Qabribayah'', Somali: ''Qabribayax'') is a town in southeastern Ethiopia. Located in the Somali Region, 50 kilometers south east of Jijiga, it has a longitude and latitude of and an alti ...

and

Fafan Zone Fafan ( so, Faafan) is a zone in Somali Region of Ethiopia. It was previously known as the Jijiga zone, so named after its largest city, Jijiga. Other towns and cities in this zone include Harshin, Awbare, Derwernache, Kebri Beyah, Tuli Gulled a ...

. The Dir-Madaxweyne Akisho, along with the Gurgura, Issa and

subclans of the Dir represent the most native and indigenous Somali tribes in

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 ...

History

Akisho is one of the oldest Somali clans being mentioned as far back as the 16th century in the book ''The Conquest of Abyssinia'' also known as ''Futuh al-habash''. Akisho members are strict adherents of Sunni Islam. Akisho groups and their related clans are reputed to have migrated from Somali Ethiopian region all the way up North as far as the country Chad, the Sudan, and Northern Eritrea are said to be inhabited by Akisho and many Dir tribes. Ahmed Gurey was one of the Akisho members. The city of

Dire Dawa Dire Dawa ( am, ድሬዳዋ, om, Dirree Dhawaa, 3=Place of Remedy; so, Diridhaba, meaning "where Dir hit his spear into the ground" or "The true Dir", ar, ديري داوا,) is a city in eastern Ethiopia near the Oromia and Somali Re ...

was originally called Dir Dhabe and used to be part of

Adal Sultanate 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 ...

during the medieval times and was exclusively settled by Dir clan which is a major Somali tribe. The Akisho name is originally derived from "Cayisho" which means, in old Somali, the (Cayilsan) "Fat One." The Gurre and Gurgurre both are very closely related to the Akisho, use a nickname and were referred to the Oromo and Somalis as the traders or Gurgure from the old Somali and Oromo word "gorgortan" which means ''one who sells and trades''. According to the folklore historians of the Southern Suure Dir of the Mudug region, the Akisho and Gurre and the Gurgure Madahweyne Dir produced some of the most famous Somali folk heroes like the Somali queen Araweelo who was Warre Miyo. Also the Akisho and Gurgure clans were instrumental in spreading the Muslim faith in the hinterlands of Ethiopia. The Sheikh Abba Hussein in Southern Ethiopia is said to be of Dir, as well as Awbarkadleh and Awbuube who are two major saints of the Somalis. Currently Muhiyadiin Odowa is the Sultan of the Akisho. Famous people of the Akisho clan are Ahmed Gurey

Arawelo Arawelo or Arraweelo or Moroombe ( so, Caraweelo) was a proto-Somali Queen in traditional folklore. Biography Arawelo is said to have been based in lands inhabited by the Habr Je'lo clan, specifically a place called Murihi in the Sanaag region. ...

and Oday Biiqay. The information in contained in this Response was provided by Matt Bryden, a consultant and Somali specialist now working with the United Nations Institute for Research on Social Development (UNRISD) in Nairobi (16 June 1998). He stated that the Akisho "are related to the Dir clan family, and live mainly between Jigjiga n Ethiopia Hargeysa and many regions in Ethiopia. In Somalia, they have been awarded a seat in the constituent assembly. They face no threat of persecution in any of the areas in which they live." The Research Directorate was unable to corroborate the Akisho's participation in the constituent assembly nor whether they face "persecution." According to the Ethiopian Review the Akisho may be more numerous in Ethiopia than they are in Somalia (30 Apr. 1996). For additional information on the Dir clan and the Akisho sub clan, please consult Patrick Gilkes' The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations 1991–1994 pages 144–148, and the appendix of Somali clan families.

Clan tree

The Akisho clan consists of 12 major sub-clans: *Akisho ***Miyo ****Reer Warfaa ****Reer Dalal ****Reer Robleh ****Reer Gadiid ****Reer Hawadee ****Reer Buuke ****Reer Agal ** Reer-Bito ** Reer-Dayo **Reer-Luujo ****Reer Geedi ****Ali Idoora ****Ali Libaan ****Ali Ibrahim ***-Reer-Ito ****** Ree Rooble ****** Ree cadaawe ****** Ree Tukale ****** Ree kibriidle ***Kiyo *** Reer Adeele *** Reer Cadow *** Reer Geele *** Reer Allaale *** Reer Xildiid ***Reer-Heebaan (Curad Akisho) ***-Reer-Kurto **Obo *** Liban **** Jire ***** Reer Biiqe ***** Rear Abayu **** Warimani *** Suubo **Igo *** Reer Ismaacil *** Reer Wadhowr **Asaabo **Gurre ****Eejo There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is taken from the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...

's ''Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics'' from 2005 and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

's Home Office publication, ''Somalia Assessment 2001''.Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001, Annex B: Somali Clan Structure
, p. 43 *Dir * Akisho ** Issa **

** Biimaal "Bimal" ** Surre ** Quranyow of the

Garre The Garre (also Gurreh, Karre, "Binukaaf") (Somali: ''Reer Garre'', Arabic: بنو كاف, romanized: ''Banī kāf'' ) is a major Somali clan whose origins trace back to Samaale who traces the lineage from the Arabian Peninsula through Aqiil A ...

"Gorajno" ** Gurgura "Gurgure" ** Garrire "Gerire" ** Bajimal "Bajumal" ** Barsuug "Bursuk" **

Gurre The Gure or Gurre ( Somali: ''Gurre'') is a Somali clan, a sub-clan of the major Dir clan family. Distribution The Gurre live in Liben zone and Afder zone. They dominate the districts, Qarsadula, Gorobakaks and Guradamol, which are named afte ...

''Goorre'' In the south central part of Somalia the World Bank shows the following clan tree:Worldbank,
Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics
', January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts, p. 56 Figure A-2 *Dir **Akisho **Gadabuursi **Isse **Bimal **Gadsan ** Qubeys

Notable figures

* Ahmed Gurey Ref: Futūḥ al-Ḥabasha. (n.d.). Christian-Muslim Relations 1500 - 1900. doi:10.1163/2451-9537_cmrii_com_26077

Notes

References

* Futūḥ al-Ḥabasha. (n.d.). Christian-Muslim Relations 1500 - 1900. doi:10.1163/2451-9537_cmrii_com_26077 * Country Information and Policy Unit,
Somalia Assessment 2001
', Home Office, Great Britain Bryden, Matt. UNRISD, Nairobi. 16 June 1998. Letter received by electronic mail. Gilkes, Patrick. September 1994. The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations 1991-1994. Bedfordshire, UK: Save the Children Fund, UK. Additional Sources Consulted Africa Confidential ondon January - May 1998. Vol. 39. Nos. 1-11. _____. January - December 1997. Vol. 38. Nos. 1-25. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series xford January - May 1998. Vol. 35. Nos. 1-4. _____. January - December 1997. Vol. 34. Nos. 1-11. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. Horn of Africa Bulletin ppsala Vol. 10. Nos. 1-2. _____. January - December 1997. Vol. 9. Nos. 1-10. The Indian Ocean Newsletter aris January - June 1998. Nos. 793-815. _____. January - December 1997. Nos. 747 - 792. {{Somali clans Somali clans Somali clans in Ethiopia