Benadiri people

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Banaadiri people
البنادريون
Total population
~10,000 (est, 2022) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Mogadishu, Merca, Baraawe, Kismayo, Gendershe, Jaziira and other towns in Koonfuur Galbeed
Languages
Benadiri Somali, Somali, Chimwini and Mahdoonte
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Bajuni, [2] Bravanese, Swahili, Somalis

The Banaadiri people (Somali : Reer Benaadir, Arabic : البنادريون) are a people group in Somalia. Banaadiris largely inhabit Somalia's southern coastline.

Contents

Overview

Although the Benadiri are sometimes described as the founders of Mogadishu (hence, their colloquial name Reer Xamar or "People of Mogadishu", [3] though the city itself is postulated to be a successor of ancient Sarapion [4] ), the Benadiris originate from Arab tribes who settled the southern coast of Somalia and built stone towns for defense and trade. [5] [6]

The group members also trace their origins to diverse groups. The latter includes Arab, Indian, Persian, Bantu, and Somali people. [7] [8]

Reer Xamar were instrumental in helping to consolidate the local Muslim community, especially in the coastal Benadir region. [9] During the colonial period, they were also among the founding members of the Somali Youth League, Somalia's first political party. [10]

Banaadiri Confederates

The Banaadiri people split up based on their settlements which range from Mogadishu to Barawa , named after the towns in which they are based in. The largest settlements being Mogadishu (Xamar), Marka and Barawa. In the three big cities there are clans that can also be found in other town umbrella's in the example of Haatim, Reer Faqi and Shanshiyo these clans can be found among all 3 towns. (Shanshiyo and Reer Faqi are part of the Biido confederacy in Baraawe)

Reer Xamar


Reer Jaziira ( Sheekhaal Jaziira)


Reer Gendershe ( Sheekhaal Gendershe)

Reer Marka

Reer Marka are also known as locally and politically as 12 koofi iyo mashayikh (Somali: 12 caps and 3 Sheikhs); there are currently 15 clans in the traditional elder council. With the clan group Reer Maanyo being considered one despite they themselves being a confederation of 4 different clans in the city of Marka.

Reer Baraawe

Distribution

Mogadishu's coast in 1994 Black Hawk Down Super64 over Mogadishu coast.jpg
Mogadishu's coast in 1994

The Banadiri people are primarily and traditionally based on the southern coastal towns of Mogadishu, Marka and Baraawe where Reer Hamar, Reer Marka (12 koofi) and Reer Baraawe confederacies are traditionally based. They can also be found in Warsheikh and other coastal towns between Mogadishu and Baraawe such as Jaziira, Abaay Dhahaan, Dhaanane, Jilib Marka, Gendershe, Munghiya [12] and further south in the town of Kismayo. Off the coast Benadiri people are also found in towns such as Afgooye, Genale, Bulo Burto, Mahadei Weyne, Balcad, Jowhar, Beled Weyne, Diinsor, Bur Hakaba, Baidoa, [13] Bardheere, Buale, Jilib, Jamaame [14] and villages surrounding these towns.

In Mogadishu the Benadiri people are primarily found in the 2 oldest districts of the city: Hamar Weyne and Shingani. However they also have a large presences in adjacent districts to the ancient districts of Mogadishu such as 'Abdiaziz, Shibis, Boondheere, Hamar Jajab, Waaberi and Madina. [15] With the Benadiri presences in these districts being made of both the native reer Xamars and other Benadiri people who had moved to the city after the expansion that came with it being made the capital of Somalia.

Much like Mogadishu the Benadiri people in Merca are primarily based in the oldest part of the city, Saraha and Aw Balle. Much like Mogadishu the Benadiri clans in Merca also have a huge presence in the newer parts of the towns such as Ruusiya, Beytuuras, 'El Bashiirow and Buulo Jaan. Majority of the benadiri in the town are from member clans of the 12 Koofi confederacy however Bravenese and Reer Hamar people can be found here in Merca, the latter primarily moving to the city after the civil war

In Baraawe, the Bravenese people primarily live in the two oldest towns of Mpayi and Biruune. They also have a presence in Al Bamba, Baghdaadi and Bulo Baazi where they live with groups who are more recent to the town. These towns later on had their names changed by the Siad Barre government, where Biruune and Al Bamba are now Dayax (Somali: Moon), Mpaayi has been renamed Wadajir (Somali: United) and Baghdaad being renamed Hawlwadaag (Somali: Work-sharing). [16] These name changes under the nationalist socialist regime mainly came about to deny the peculiarities of the history of that city compared to other cities in Somalia.  

In the hinterlands of the coast these groups from Mogadishu, Merca and Baraawe are primarily found in trading hubs such as; Afgooye, Bur Hakaba, Baidoa, Wanlaweyne, Jowhar, Diinsoor, Bardheere and Luuq. Many of these communities were established in these places due to trade with the local clans living there or in a lot of the cases being part of a Sufi Jama'ah being found in these towns and their surroundings. In the case of Reer Shaykh Muminoow clan from Hamar Weyne district clan founder is buried in Bur Hakaba and is a Sufi saint for the Rahanweyne local clans in Bur Hakaba, Baidoa and as far as Luuq where they do siyaaro at his grave yearly along with descendants of his from both the hinterlands and the coast. [17]

Languages

The Benadiri community is not a homogenous group in regards to the languages they speak. As the language they speak is usually dictated by the region they hail from than anything.

The 12 Koofi speak a dialect of Somali colloquially referred to as Mahdoonte (Somali: Mahaa rabta, English: What do you want) or as some linguists have named Aff Asharaf [18] and in some communities in Mogadishu. Especially in the historic Shingani district. This dialect according to Benadiri elders is very similar to the Af-Reer Xamar dialect spoken in the Hamar Weyne district and it surrounding districts. [19] As there was a 3-4% difference in the dialects according to some of the elders. [19]

The Bravanese speak the Bravanese language (Chimwiini or Chimini), Northern Dialect of Swahili. Chi- is a prefix denoting "language", and Miini (Mwiini) is the alternative name of Barawa, the Bravanese people themselves would never call the town as Barawa or Brava, but rather as Miini. [20] Chimini is a standard version of the original Bravanese language which is called Chambalazi, the standard Chimini language contains and Arabic. Chambalazi contains some of the oldest Swahili words and dialects, it started to evolve through time and intermixing of other ethnicity and languages. The Barawa language is over 1000 years old, and still spoken today by approximately 30,000 Bravanese, this is due to the preservation of the language by the early scholars in Barawa. Sheikh Qassim al Barawi was the first Bravanese Scholar to start writing standard Chimini, it was written in Persian and Arabic. Throughout history, the language was used to spread Islam in the Swahili Coast, this was done via poetry and Religious books or manuscripts. [21]

Festivals

Istaqfuurow

Istaqfurow or Istaqfurlow derives form the Arabic word Astaġfiru (Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ) which translates to "seeking forgiveness". Istighfar, seeking forgiveness from Allah is a common practice of Muslims all around the world and you'll hear in everyday conversation between Muslims. Istaqfuro is an annual Benadiri event held in the Hamar Weyne district of Mogadishu when there is high winds and high tides. The festive goers chant "Astaqfuru Rabukum, Innahu Kaana Qaffuura Yursilo Samaa calaykum Mitraaran" a passage from the Quran Surat Nur verse 10 which translates as "Ask Allah forgiveness, for He is forgiving He will send rain from the sky" (Arabic: فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا). During this Festival, animals are slaughtered and prayers are said, in search of God‟s forgiveness for transgressions, to ask for the calming of the winds so that ships can sail, and for the rains to come. [22] Despite the locals treating this festival as a festival with Islamic, many believe this festival is a pre-Islamic festival where locals on the coast of southern Somalia. As the festival is a reaction to a natural phenomenon of a particular season, which is linked to the solar calendar and not the lunar which Muslims follow. [23] [24]

Shirka

Shirka being done in 1885 Annual Shirka festival.jpg
Shirka being done in 1885

The Shirka is a festival that happens annually in the Hamar Weyne district of Mogadishu. This festival is most generally known as dabshiid which translate to lighting of the fire in Somali (Neyrus in Persian), this festival occurs in Mogadishu at the same time as the Istunka in Afgooye, and is so similar as to be the same. The men gather in groups by lineage, and wear different coloured shirts with matching headbands to identify their clan affiliations, they also carry long sticks that they thrust up and down in rhythm as they chant and shuffle through the designated route of the neighbourhoods of Hamar Weyne. [25] At the start of the shir festivities, the Reer Faqi elders, in keeping with their position of neutrality in the community, are called upon to bless the occasion. [26] The festival starts and ends at Jama'a Xamar Weyne, Xamar Weyne near the Moorsho neighbourhood.

Notable Figures

Religious leaders

From Barawe

Politics

Sports

Film

Art

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamar Weyne District</span> District in Banaadir, Somalia

Hamar Weyne District is a district in the southeastern Banaadir region of Somalia. It includes a part of central Mogadishu. Hamar Weyne is the oldest district with in Mogadishu and up until 1938 the city of Mogadishu was made up of Shingani and Hamar Weyne.Somali word "xamar" means tamarind tree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shangani District</span> District in Mogadisho, Somalia

Shangani District is a district in the southeastern Banaadir region of Somalia. It lies in central Mogadishu. Shingani along with Hamar Weyne are the oldest districts in Mogadishu. Shangani means On the sand in Swahili, as this district was originally a Benadir settlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jama'a Xamar Weyne, Xamar Weyne</span> Mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia

Xamar Weyne's Friday mosque is said to be one of the oldest mosques in Mogadishu and in Africa.

Shingani's Friday mosque is said to be one of the oldest mosques in Mogadishu and in Africa. Historically, Jamacaha Shingani is the most important building in the historical quarter of Shingani.

The Awooto Eeday Mosque is a small mosque located in one of the old historical alleyways of Hamar Weyne in Mogadishu.

The 'Adayga Mosque also known as Aw Musse mosque or Haji Musse mosque is small mosque in the historical Hamar Weyne district in Mogadishu.

Mohamed Al Taani Masjid is a mosque in the medieval Hamar Weyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia.

Sheikh Rumani Ba 'Alawi Masjid is a small mosque found in the historical Hamar Weyne district in Mogadishu.

The Aw Mukhtar & Aw Sheikh Omar also known as the Twin Mosques is now a large mosque in the historical Hamar Weyne district in Mogadishu.

The Sheikh Ahmed Sharif Mosque is small mosque in the historical Shangani District in Mogadishu.

Bida or Bido are a clan confederacy based in Baraawe, South West State of Somalia and make up one of the groups part of the "todobo Tol" also known as Bravanese people. Member clans of this clan umbrella can also be found in other confederacies further up the coast in Marka and Mogadishu.

Haatim are a Somali clan from southern coastal cities of Baraawe, Marka, Kismayo and Mogadishu, they can also be found in the hinterland towns in the inter-riverine are of Somalia and further down the Swahili coast. The Haatim clan are synonymous with the town they first settled in, Baraawe and make up one of the groups part of the "todobo Tol" also known as Bravanese people.

Reer Faqay is a Somali clan and a Benadiri sub clan. It is primarily found in the southern coastal cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Baraawe and Kismayo. They established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Afgooye, Baidoa, Diinsoor and Bardheere.

'Shanshiyo or Shaanshi is a Banaadiri clan, mainly from the southern coastal cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Baraawe and Kismayo which established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Baidoa and Diinsoor due to trading.

The 12 Koofi, more commonly known as Reer Marka, are a Somali confederation of clans inhabiting the city of Merca and other southern coastal towns of Somalia.

The Reer Manyo is a confederacy of clans based on the southern coast of Somalia, primarily in the cities of Mogadishu and Merca and the towns and villages between them.

Duruqbo are a Benadiri/12 Koofi clan mainly from the southern coastal cities of; Marka and Mogadishu and have established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Qoryooley due to trading.

Gaameedle are a Somali clan mainly from the southern coastal cities of; Marka and Mogadishu.

Sheekhaal Gendershe also known as Reer Aw Garweyne are a Benadiri clan, mainly from the southern coastal towns of Gendershe, Marka and Mogadishu. The Gendershe have also established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Afgooye and the villages surrounding it due to trading and farming.

Ba Fadal are a Benadiri clan predominantly based in historic Shingani district of Mogadishu. However, there are established settlements on the road to Merca in the village of 'Number 50'

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Further reading