Sultanate of the Geledi
Sultanate of the Geledi Saldanadda Geledi ( Arabic ) | |||||||||
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1695–1911 | |||||||||
Signature flag of the Gobroon dynasty | |||||||||
• Late-17th century–mid 18th century | Ibrahim Adeer | ||||||||
• 1878 – 1911 | Osman Ahmed | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 1695 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1911 | ||||||||
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The Sultanate of the Geledi (
Origins
History of Somalia |
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Somalia portal |
At the end of the 17th century, the Ajuran Sultanate was in its decline and various vassals were breaking free or being absorbed by new Somali powers. One of these powers was the Silcis Sultanate, which began consolidating its rule over the Afgooye region. Ibrahim Adeer led the revolt against the Silcis ruler Umar Abrone and his oppressive daughter, Princess Fay.[6] After his victory over the Silcis, Ibrahim then proclaimed himself Sultan and subsequently founded the Gobroon dynasty.
The Geledi Sultanate was a Rahanweyn Kingdom ruled by the noble Geledi which held sway over the Jubba and Shabelle rivers in the interior and the Benadir coast. The Geledi Sultanate had enough power to force southern Arabians to pay tribute.[7]
The nobles within the Geledi claim descent from Abadir Umar ar-Rida. He had three other brothers, Fakhr and with two others of whom their names are given differently as Shams, Umudi, Alahi and Ahmed. Together they were known as Afarta Timid, 'the four who came', indicating their origins from Arabia. Claims of descent from Arabia was mainly for legitimacy reasons.[8]
Bureaucracy
The Sultanate of Geledi exerted a strong centralized authority during its existence and possessed all of the institutions and trappings of an integrated modern state: a functioning bureaucracy, a hereditary nobility, titled aristocrats, a taxing system, conducting foreign policy, a state flag as well as a standing army.[9][10] The great sultanate also maintained written records of their activities which still exist in museums.[11]
The Geledi Sultanate's capital city was at
At its height, the Sultanate covered all Rahanweyn territories within present-day Somalia. This is what some refer to as the Geledi confederacy. The confederacy was not only confined to Digil and Mirifle but incorporated other Somalis such as Bimaal, Sheekhaal, and Wacdaan. To reign such a diverse Sultanate, the rulers promoted a policy of indirect and flexible administration. They allowed the tribal chiefs, Imams, Sheikhs (religious figures), and Akhiyaars (notable elders) of the community to play significant roles in the administration of the Sultanate. The Geledi rulers were not only the political head of the Sultanate but also considered religious leaders.[13] Akhiyaars were elders who would reconcile and solve cases such as murders and recite Al-Fatiha after adjudication. Between two different lineages groups if an injustice was committed then a googol meeting was held between the Akhiyaar of both.[14]
The Sultan would have a regular guard consisting of armed slaves to protect him from those who wished harm. The Ul Hay would be his intermediaries between the Geledi sub lineages and received his directions and intentions on matters.[15] The symbol of the Sultan's authority was his turban. It would be placed on his head by leading elders of the Abiikarow lineage.[16][1]
Clear devolution of power was also present within the politics of the Geledi Sultan delegating certain regions of the sultanate to be managed by close relatives, who wielded significant influence in their own right. Sultan Ahmed Yusuf's administration was described as such by the British Parliament.
The Somali tribe of Ruhwaina. The Chief of this and other tribes behind Brava, Marka and Mogdisho is Ahmed Yusuf, who resides at Galhed, one day's march or less from the latter town. Two days further inland is Dafert, a large town governed by Aweka Haji, his brother. These are the principal towns of the Ruhwaina. At four, five, and six hours respectively from Marka lie the towns of Golveen (Golweyn), Bulo Mareerta, and Addormo, governed by Abobokur Yusuf, another brother who though nominally under the orders of the first-named chief, levies black-mail on his own account, and negotiates with the governors of Marka and Brava direct. He resides with about 2,000 soldiers principally slaves at Bulo Mareta; the towns of Gulveen which he often visits and Addormo being occupied by somalis growing produce, cattle &c. and doing a large trade with Marka.[17] The brother of Sultan Ahmed Yusuf, Abobokur Yusuf managed the lands opposite the Banadir ports of Brava & Marka and also received a tribute from Brava. This Abobokur Yusuf was accustomed to send messengers to Brava for tribute, and he drew thence about 2,000 dollars per annum.[17]
During the Scramble for Africa period between the 1880s and the first World War, Geledi was bounded to the north by
Economy
The Geledi Sultanate maintained a vast trading network, and had trade relations with
In the case of the Geledi, wealth accrued to the nobles and to the Sultanate, not only from the market cultivation which it had utilized from the
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the
Moordiinle iyo mereeyey iyo mooro lidow, maalki jeri keenow kuma moogi malabside. Bring all the wealth of Moordiinle, Mereeyey, and the enclosures of lidow, I scarcely notice it.[23]
Military
The Geledi army numbered around 20,000 men in times of peace, with a maximum of 50,000 troops in times of war.
The best horse breeds were raised in
Society
The Geledi society is divided into three segments; nobles, commoners, and slaves (to use terms adopted by Helander) Each of these castes consist of several lineage groups whose federation formed the Geledi state; the lineages are divided between two moieties. Tolweyne and Yebdaale, each living in its section of the city. The nobles, in the old society, were the ruling group but depended on the support of the commoner lineages.[26]
Nobility
The noble section of the society belonged to rulers. However, all members of the Geledi clan were also considered to be of noble stock despite the majority of them not being rulers. Nobility was not only exclusive to the Geledi clan as there were rulers of many districts in the Geledi realm that didn't belong to the Geledi lineage.[26]
Commoners
The commoners were typical citizens that mainly consist of non-Geledi
Slaves
The slaves were mostly of
The Bantus were not exclusive to slavery.
Rulers
Detailed biographies of the Sultanate's rulers
# | Sultan | Reign | Notes |
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1 | Ibrahim Adeer | late 17th century–mid 18th century | Founded the Geledi Sultanate after defeating the Ajuran Sultanate. First ruler in the Gobroon dynasty.[32] |
2 | Mahamud Ibrahim | mid-18th-1828[33] | Consolidated Goobron power, incorporated the Murusade as allies and ended the Silcis threat.[14] |
3 | Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim | 1828–1848[33] | Rule marked the start of the golden age of the Geledis. Destroyed the Bardhera Jama'a and revolutionized the Geledi economy. Collected tribute from Said bin Sultan ruler of the Omani Empire[3]
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4 | Ahmed Yusuf | 1848–1878[33] | Defended the Banadir coast from incursion and reestablished Gobroon power after his father's defeat in 1848[34] |
5 | Osman Ahmed | 1878-1910[33] | Inherited throne from father. Reign marked the end of the Geledi Sultanate. Decisively defeated the Abyssinians at the Battle of Luuq and the Dervish at the Battle of Hudur. |
Legacy
The Sultanate left a rich legacy behind which continues to live on in popular memory and poetry composed about the powerful Sultans and other noble figures during the period. One notable poem was recorded by Virginia Luling in 1989 during her visit to Afgooye. Geledi laashins (poets) sang about the ever present issue of land theft by the Somali government. Sultan Subuge was asked to help the community and was reminded of his legendary Gobroon forefathers of the centuries prior.[35]
The law then was not this law was performed by the leading laashins of Afgooye, Hiraabey, Muuse Cusmaan and Abukar Cali Goitow alongside a few others, addressed to the current leader Sultan Subuge .[35]
Here the richest selection of the poem performed by Goitow
Ganaane gubow gaala guuriow Gooble maahinoo Geelidle ma goynin |
You who burnt Ganaane and chased away the infidels |
—Abubakr Cali Goitow The law then was not this law [35] |
See also
- Ajuran Sultanate
- Hiraab Imamate
- History of Somalia
- List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
Notes
References
- ^ a b Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 229
- ISBN 9780810866041. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ ISBN 9781579584542.
- JSTOR 217198.
- ^ The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, pg. 204
- ^ Luling (1993), p.13.
- ^ Luling (2002), p.272.
- ISBN 978-1-874209-98-0.
- ^ Horn of Africa, Volume 15, Issues 1-4, (Horn of Africa Journal: 1997), p.130.
- ^ Michigan State University. African Studies Center, Northeast African studies, Volumes 11-12, (Michigan State University Press: 1989), p.32.
- ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report, Issues 57-67. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1986. p. 34.
- ^ S. B. Miles, On the Neighbourhood of Bunder Marayah, Vol. 42, (Blackwell Publishing on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the institute of British Geographers): 1872), p.61-63.
- ISBN 9780810866041. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ a b The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, pg. 179
- ^ The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, pg. 190
- ^ The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, pg. 191
- ^ a b Great Britain, House of Commons (1876). Accounts and Papers volume 70. HM Stationery Office. p. 13.
- ^ Rayidow, poem 80 ; Diiwaanka gabayadii, 1856-1921, "Huwan oo dadkii Mililiq iyo amxaaro raacay ahaa, Adarina laga maamulayey"
- ^ Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 155
- ISBN 9780844407753.
- ISBN 9780810866041. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ East Africa and the Indian Ocean By Edward A. Alpers pg 66
- ^ ISBN 9780810866041. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society ..by Bombay Geographical Society pg.392
- ^ Reese, Scott Steven (1996). Patricians of the Benaadir: Islamic learning, commerce and Somali urban identity in the nineteenth century. University of Pennsylvania. p. 179.
- ^ ISBN 9781135751746.
- ^ Henry Louis Gates, Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, (Oxford University Press: 1999), p.1746
- ^ Bridget Anderson, World Directory of Minorities, (Minority Rights Group International: 1997), p. 456.
- ^ Catherine Lowe Besteman, Unraveling Somalia: Race, Class, and the Legacy of Slavery, (University of Pennsylvania Press: 1999), p. 116.
- ^ Catherine Lowe Besteman, Unraveling Somalia: Race, Class, and the Legacy of Slavery, (University of Pennsylvania Press: 1999), p. 82.
- ISBN 978-0203493021.
- ISBN 9780313378577.
- ^ ISBN 9780810866041. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ United Kingdom House of Commons (1968). Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers: Slave trade. Irish University Press. p. 475.
- ^ )
Further reading
- Luling, Virginia (2002). Somali Sultanate: the Geledi city-state over 150 years. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-7658-0914-1.
- Luling, Virginia (1993). The Use of the Past: Variation in Historical traditions in a South Somalia community. University of Besançon.
- ISBN 0-7658-0914-1.