The Hawiye is the largest Somali clan family. Members of this clan traditionally inhabit central and southern Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. They are also the majority in the capital city, Mogadishu.
The Garre are a prominent Somali clan that traces its lineage back to Samaale, who is believed to have originated from the Arabian Peninsula through Aqiil Abu Talib. The Garre clan is considered to be a sub-clan of the Digil-Rahanweynl clan family, which is part of the larger Rahanweyn clan. However, genealogically, they are descended from Gardheere Samaale. The Garre are also categorized as southern Hawiye as well.
The Dir is one of the largest and most prominent Somali clans in the Horn of Africa. They are also considered to be the oldest Somali stock to have inhabited the region. Its members inhabit Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and northeastern Kenya.
Haddis Alemayehu was an Ethiopian novelist and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. His Amharic novel Love to the Grave is considered a classic of modern Ethiopian literature.
Demographic features of Somalia's inhabitants include ethnicity, language, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Somalia is believed to be one of the most homogeneous countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Abgaal is a sub-clan of the Hawiye and the even larger Samaale clan. It is one of the major Somali clans and has produced many prominent historical Somali figures including 3 presidents, and the father of the Somali military.
Ayr, Muhammad Madarkicis Hiraab is a Somali clan, part of the larger Habar Gidir Hawiye clan.Ayr is the power of habargidir. Ayr has two full siblings Sifaadle Madarkicis And Saruur Madarkicis.
The Habar Gidir is a major subclan of the Hawiye. The clan has produced many prominent Somali figures, including the first Prime Minister of Somalia Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Somalia's fifth President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan.
The Hawadle or Xawaadle are a Somali clan who traces its descent from Meyle, one of the sons of the Samaale clan. The Hawadle, as well as many other Somali clans from Samaale.
The Hiraab is a Somali clan of the larger Hawiye. It has produced many major clans in Somalia and has produced many prominent figures including 6 presidents, the first president as well as the first PM. They were also the first military leaders, making Hiraab the forefounder of Somalia. Members live in central and southern Somalia, from Galkayo to Kismaayo. They are also present in Ethiopia and Kenya. Most of them live in Mogadishu.
The Gaalje'el, , or Habar Tigaalle 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 Degodia.
The Degoodi or Degodia is a Somali clan.
The Asharaf, also spelled Ashraf, is a Somali clan. Their name is the plural of sharīf, an originally Arabic term designating those who claim descent from the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
According to tradition, Gardhere Samale Hiil was the first-born child of Samale, the legendary forefather of all Somalis. Gardhere's descendants are now a large Somali clan that inhabits vast territories in Kenya, Southern Ethiopia, Djibouti and Southern Somalia. Notable sub-clans who descend from Gardhere include the Garjante, Degodia, Gaalje'el, Masare, Ciise, Garre, and Awrmale.
The Banadir resistance, also known as the Bimaal revolt,Merca revolt, or simply the Bimaal resistance, was a guerrilla war that lasted from the 1890s to 1924, opposing Italian colonial expansion in southern Somalia.
Sheikh Abdi Abukar Gaafle, Somali:, was a leader of the Biimaal Revolt against Italian occupation of southern Somalia. Born in Armadow (Ceelwareegow) near Marka District, Somalia in 1852, he died in 1922 in Laantabuur, Raaxoole District, Somalia. He is described as one of the best known resistance leaders in the history of southern Somalia.
Sharif Aydarus Sharif Ali Al-Nadheeri or short Sharif Aydarus was a famous scholar of Islamic and Somali history and pan-Islamic leader.
Sheikh Ishaaq bin Ahmed bin Muhammad bin al-Hussein al-Hashimi, more commonly known as Sheikh Ishaaq or Sheikh Isaaq was the Sayyid forefather of the Somali Isaaq clan-family in the Horn of Africa, whose traditional territory is wide and densely populated.
Saransoor is a Somali Samaale clan family, among the largest by population and by area, inhabiting a traditional territory in Somalia spanning from Qorahsin, Hiran, to Ras Kamboni, Lower Jubba. In Kenya's North Eastern Province, Saransor make up the majority of the inhabitants of Wajir and have a significant presence in Mandera County they also have large population in Marsabit County and Isiolo County and Nairobi. In Ethiopia, a majority of the population of Liben Zone is Saransor they have very large population in Afdher, Dollo, Shabelle, Jarar, Dira Dawa and Jijiga.
Hubeer is a Somali clan, Settled in the regions of Bay, Lower Shabelle, Gedo and Lower Juba. The assassinated Somali Minister of Public Works Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji was a member of the Hubeer clan.Other prominent figures of this clan include Prof. Hussein Iman, one of the top Somalia agronomists, and Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Omar, formed Attorney General before the civil war.
