The Eidagalle (Somali: Ciidagalle; Arabic: عيدَجلي) is a major Somali clan of the Isaaq clan family. Members of this clan are concentrated in Somaliland and the Somali region. They are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century.[1] As descendants of Ismail bin Sheikh Isaaq, its members form a part of the Habar Magaadle confederation, and they constitute the largest sub-clan of the Isaaq.[2][3][4][5] They traditionally consist of nomadic pastoralists, merchants and skilled poets.
Distribution
Map of Somaliland showing distribution of the Eidagalle tribe in western and southwestern Somaliland
The Eidagalle, largely clan make up a significant percentage of the population in Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland, as well as the Daroor, Aware and Misraq Gashamo zones in the Somali region of Ethiopia. They also live on the middle and south eastern side of Hargeisa as well as the Salahlay District in eastern Maroodi Jeex region. A subclan of the Eidagale, the Guuyoobe also inhabit the Oodweyne district in Togdheer region. They also have a large settlement in Kenya where they are known as a constituent segment of the Isahakia community.[6][7]
Etymology
The Eidagale clan traces its lineage back to Ismail Shiekh Ishaq. Within the Eidagale clan, there are three prominent sons: Mohamed Daoud, Abokor Daoud, and Muse Daoud.The Eidagale are further classified into four sub-tribes: Abokor Muse, Abdirahman Muse, Abokor Daoud and Mohamed Daoud. Historically, the Eidagale were nomadic pastoralists, merchants, and skilled poets.
History
Lineage
Sheikh Ishaq was one of the scholars that crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of Africa to spread Islam around 12th to 13th century. Hence, Sheikh Ishaaq married two local women in Somaliland that left him eight sons, one of them being Ismail (Garhajis).[8]
Medieval period
Historically the Eidagalle took part in the conquest of Abyssinia and were part of the Adal Sultanate and are mentioned in the book Futuh Al-Habash (Conquest of Abyssinia) as the Habar Magaadle . The Habar Magaadle are known for producing a historical figure known as Ahmad Gurey bin Husain who was the right-hand man of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi.[9]
I. M. Lewis discusses the existence of another leader named Ahmad Gurey, and suggests that the two leaders have been conflated into one historical figure:
The text refers to two Ahmad's with the nickname 'Left-handed'. One is regularly presented as 'Ahmad Guray, the Somali' (...) identified as Ahmad Gurey Xuseyn, chief of the Habar Magaadle. Another reference, however, appears to link the Habar Magadle with the Eidagal. The other Ahmad is simply referred to as 'Imam Ahmad' or simply the 'Imam'.This Ahmad is not qualified by the adjective Somali (...) The two Ahmad's have been conflated into one figure, the heroic Ahmed Guray[10]
For centuries, the tomb of sheikh Aw Barkhadle, which is located between Berbera and Hargeisa, was used by the Isaaq clans to settle disputes and to swear oaths of alliances under a holy relic attributed to Bilal Ibn Rabah. As traditional leaders of the Isaaq clans, the Eidagale placed themselves as mediators during the disputes.
When any grave question arises affecting the interests of the Isaakh tribe in general. On a paper yet carefully preserved in the tomb, and bearing the sign-manual of Belat [Bilal], the slave of one of the early khaleefehs, fresh oaths of lasting friendship and lasting alliances are made...In the season of 1846 this relic was brought to Berbera in charge of the Haber Gerhajis, and on it the rival tribes of Aial Ahmed and Aial Yunus swore to bury all animosity and live as brethren.[11]
The Eidagalle were renowned for their equestrian skills, and their devastating raids extended between the coast and the interior. According to Swayne, who traversed through Somaliland in the late 19th century, the Eidagalle were amongst the clans most addicted to raiding:
The tribes near the northern coast most addicted to raiding appear to be the Habr Awal, the Eidagalle, and the Habr Gerhajis.[12]
Apart from their equestrian skills, the Eidagalle are also famed for their eloquence in traditional Somali poetry (gabay), producing many famous poets such as Xasan Tarabi and Elmi Boodhari. Historically, the Eidagale were viewed as "the recognized experts in the composition of poetry" by their fellow Somali contemporaries:[13]
Among the tribes, the Eidagalle are the recognized experts in the composition of poetry. One individual poet of the Eidagalle may be no better than a good poet of another tribe, but the Eidagalla appear to have more poets than any other tribe. "if you had a hundred Eidagalle men here," Hersi Jama once told me, "And asked which of them could sing his own gabei ninety-five would be able to sing. The others would still be learning."[14]
For centuries, the Eidagalle were influential stakeholders in the long-distance Somali caravan trade. Eidagalle merchants procured various goods from the Somali Region in present-day Ethiopia, such as livestock, acacia gum, myrrh and ghee, which were subsequently exported to Southern Arabia. The Eidagale caravan merchants founded several inland trade entrepôts in the interior, which also includes the modern city of Hargeisa, founded in the 19th century as a caravan junction between Berbera and the Somali interior.[15][16]
Somalis of the Habr Gerhajis tribe arrive from Ogadain with feathers, myrrh, gum, sheep, cattle, and ghee, carrying away in exchange piece goods; they also make four trips in the season; they remain for less than a month, and during their stay reside with fellow-tribesmen, taking their meals in the mokhbâzah or eating-house.[17]
The Eidagalle are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century. The Isaaq Sultanate was established in the mid-18th century by Sultan Guled Abdi Eisa of the Eidagale clan. His coronation took place after the victorious battle of Lafaruug , in which Guled Abdi successfully led the Isaaq and was crowned by the Isaaq clan after defeating the Absame tribes. After witnessing his leadership skills, noble conduct and valiance, the Isaaq chiefs recognized him as their Grand Sultan but Abdi instead put forward his son Guled. Guled's Sultanate predates the Habr Yunis Sultanate, which broke off from Eidagale tutelage several decades after the start of his rule. Sultan Guled ruled the Isaaq from the 1750s up until his death in the early 19th century, where he was succeeded by his eldest son Farah. Sultan Farah further expanded the influence of the Sultanate by establishing ties with various Muslim polities across the Gulf, particularly the Al-Qasimi family whom he corresponded with in regard to military action against the British Navy who blockaded Berbera and temporarily cut off vital trade.[18][19]
