Ismail Mire

Last updated
Ismail Mire
Ismail Mire, Shiikhyaale commander poet.jpg
Born1862 (1862)
Laasadaar, Buhodle
Died1950 (aged 8788)
Occupation Commander-in-chief
Era Scramble for Africa
Organization Darwiish
SpouseFadumo Habado

Ismail Mire Elmi (Somali : Ismaaciil Mire Cilmi), was a renowned Somali poet and. [1] [2] Regarding his poetry, one observer said his voice and poetic ability was "so great that he could sing his countrymen into peace or war". [3]

Contents

Military career

Mire was born in 1862 in the vicinity of Buuhoodle to a Dhulbahante Bah Cali Gheri family. His life began in pastoralist and nomadic settings along the Haud plains which is the lifestyle he returned to towards the end of his life. Upon becoming a Darwiish, he began heading the army and military intelligence, he also supervised the maintenance of the numerous forts that were built by the Darwiish. Upon the defeat of the Darwiish, he was captured, and spent a stint in a Berbera prison. [4] Mire is one of the most successful generals in African history, with Mire leading the charges that led to the killing of Richard Corfield and destroyed almost the entirety of his battalion, besides successful raids or annexations of territories ranging from Berbera and Las Khorey in the north, Jigjiga to the west and Beledweyne to the south, thus by 1915 domineering over an area almost the size of Germany. [5] The first decade of offensives cost the British government 29 million pounds sterlings (not adjusted to inflation). [6]

According to Pergamon Press, Ismail Mire was "the most important general of the dervish forces and an accomplished poet and stylist". [7]

Ilig treaty

In 1905, the Ilig treaty was signed between the Darwiish and the Italians who also signed on behalf of the two other colonial powers, the British and the Abyssinians. The treaty stipulated peace between the Darwiish and the three colonial powers and designated the Darwiish as an Italian protectorate. The territory of the Darwiish was also demarcated in this treaty between the Majeerteen Sultanate at Ras Gabbe (Gabbac) and Hobyo Sultanate at Ras Garad (Garacad); further territory was assigned for grazing, namely in Halin, a few miles east of Taleh to the north, Hudin (Xudun) to the northwest, Tifafle (between Ade Adeye and Las Anod) to the west, Danot to the southwest, and Mudug to the south. [6]

Poetry

Some of his notable poems include:

Death of Corfield

Prior to their encounter with Corfield, the Dervishes began a recruitment campaign in various localities in northern Somalia. For instance, in December 1912, A group of 150 Darwiish went to Ainabo wherein they tried to recruit to Dhulbahante there with promises of 100 camels for each rifleman or horseman who joined. [6] In August 1913, upon killing Richard Corfield and his battalion, Ismail Mire composed the "Death of Corfield" poem:

Mindful of our horses we pastured them at night; Gently we hobbled them, and let them eat lush fronds; When the Triplet Stars began to set I stirred and Sang; And when I chanted my poem, the sleeping awoke; Gathering around the place where my voice sounded; And when I said the Dawn prayer, we saddled for the march; By the Ulasameed rivulet I sent out the scouts; We rumbled into battle roaring like thunder; Our camels trampled where he held the Maxim gun; The dead littered the field including the toadying Iidoor; There, Corfield and his interpreters were slain.

Somali proverbs

Ismail Mire is also known for contriving traditional sayings that expressed in a metaphorical sense the truths based on common sense or experience of the Nugaal region: [8]

Ragow, kibirka waa lagu kufaa; kaa ha la ogaado (Oh men, arrogance makes you lose your footing; let that be known)

Legacy

Ismail Mire International Airport in Buuhoodle is named in honour of Mire.

Autobiography book written on Ismaaciil Mire; by Ahmed Farah Ali, 1974

Related Research Articles

The Majeerteen is a sub-clan of the Harti clan, itself a sub-clan of the Darod. It is one of the major Somali groups, with a vast traditional territory spanning 3 major regions of Somalia: Bari, Nugaal and Mudug. From Bosaso down to Garacad, the Majerteen settle in what is literally considered to be the 'Horn of Africa'. They can also be found in Kismayo in southern Somalia. They primarily inhabit the Puntland state of northern Somalia.

The Habar Yoonis alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the sub-clan Garhajis of the wider Isaaq. As descendants of Ismail bin Sheikh Isaaq, its members form a part of the wider Habar Magaadle confederation which constitutes the largest sub-clan of the Isaaq.

The Dhulbahante is a Somali clan family, part of the Harti clan which itself belongs to the largest Somali clan-family — the Darod. They are the traditional inhabitants of the physiographic Nugaal in its topographic sense, and its pre-independence administrative sense, which included Doollo. The clan's progenitor is buried at Badweyn.

The Garhajis historically known as the Habar Gerhajis is a major clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. They are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate and Habr Yunis Sultanate since the 18th century. 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. The Garhajis are divided into two major sub-clans: the Habr Yunis and Eidagale. They are traditionally nomadic pastoralists, merchants and skilled poets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dul Madoba</span> Historic (1913) battle site in Somalia

Battle of Dul Madoba It is the location of a famous battle in which the Dervishes won a victory against the British, during which Ibraahin Xoorane killed Richard Corfield. A native Somali account of the battle is found in the poem Annagoo Taleex naal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Abdullah Hassan</span> Somali religious and patriotic leader (1856–1920)

Sayid Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan was a Somali religious, military and political leader. He headed the Somali Dervish movement whom led a two-decade long struggle against British, Italian, and Ethiopian influence in the region. Sayyid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan is considered the father of the Somali people and the figure of Somali nationalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harti</span> Sub-clan of the Somali Darod clan

Harti, meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is the part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangali, Tinle, Maganlabe, Kaptallah and Dishiishe, while other minor sub-clans consist of Kaskiqabe, Geesaguule and Liibaangashe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taleh</span> Town in Sool, Somalia

Taleh is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somalia. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somalia had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital of the pre-independence Dervish movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buuhoodle</span> City in Togdheer, Somaliland

Buuhoodle, also known as Bohotle, is the second largest city in the Togdheer region and is claimed by both Somalia and Somaliland. It is a prominent border town for movements of goods to and from Somaliland and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The surrounding district is rich in both livestock and fledgeling agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Corfield</span> British-Somali coast commander-in-chief

Richard Conyngham Corfield was a British colonial police officer who saw service in South Africa, Nigeria, India, Kenya and Somalia in the early 20th century. His death at the hands of Darawiish Ibraahin Xoorane and Axmed Aarey was chronicled in the poem Annagoo Taleex naal.

Haroun, also called Fadhiweyn, and natively transliterated as Xarunta in Somali, was a government and headquarters of the Dervishes, headed by Faarax Mahmud Sugulle. According to Claude Edward Marjoribanks Dansey, the political officer in the British Somali Coast Protectorate consisted of 400 individuals. The capture of the haroun was regarded as conceivably resulting in the Sayyid's surrender. In the third expedition, major Paul Kenna was tasked "by every means" to find where the haroun is.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wadamago</span> Town in Sool, Somaliland

Wadamago is a historic town in Aynabo District, in the Sool region of Somaliland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jidali fort</span> Dervish fort in Sanaag, Somaliland

Jidali fort was a cross-shaped fort of the Dervish era located in the town of Jidali in Sanaag, Somaliland and is also the first place in Africa to be bombed via aerial bombardment by a tally of four sorties of De Havilland DH-9's on 21 January 1920. An April 1920 letter between the Sayid and Italian-Somali governor Giacomo De Martino states that the Dervishes built a total of twenty-seven forts which are described as Dhulbahante garesas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annagoo Taleex naal</span>

Annagoo Taleex naal, which in Somali literally means Residing in Taleh, is an August 11, 1913, poem in the Somali language by Ismail Mire which chronicles life at Taleh and the killing of colonial figurehead Richard Corfield. The poem was created two days after the death of Richard Corfield at the hands of Ibraahin Xoorane and Axmed Aarey.

The Sa'ad Musa or Saad Musa is a northern Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Habr Awal clan of the Isaaq clan family. The Sa'ad Musa traditionally consists of nomadic pastoralists, coastal people, merchants and farmers. The clan inhabits Somaliland, including Maroodi Jeex, and Sahil as well as Djibouti, the Somali Region of Ethiopia and Kenya.

The Mohamoud Garad is a Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Dhulbahante, a sub-division of the Harti/Darod clan-family. The clan is divided into three main sub-clans ― namely the Jama Siad, the Ugaadhyahan and Omar Wa’eys.

The Farah Garad or the Garad Farah is a Somali clan which is part of the Dhulbahante clan-family, a sub-division of the larger Harti/Darod clan. The Farah Garad are divided into two sub-clans — Yassin Garad and Abdalla Garad. Abdalla has four clan eponyms, Ahmed Garad, Mohamed Garad Baharsame, Guled Garad Barkad and Ali Garad.They are largely significant in Sool and Togdheer regions of Somaliland.

The Baho Nugaaleed, is a division of Somali clan that is part of the Dhulbahante clan-family. The primary homeland of these clans include the regions of Sool and Togdheer in Somaliland, the Lower Juba region in Somalia and the Dollo Zone in Ethiopia. The Bah Nugaaleed are composed of three major sub-groups in accordance with their locality in the SSCD regions. These groups are Qayaad, the Ugaasyo, the Reer Aymeed and Reer Oodeed.

The Dhulbahante Garadship is presumed to have began in the 16th century with Garad Shishore assuming the royal title in approximately 1530. During the 19th century, the Dhulbahante garadate morphed into a dual monarchy. The current Garad, Garad Jama Garad Ali hails from this long line of succession.

Garad Jama Garad Ismail Duale. Jama is the 2nd Garad of Jama Siad clan of Mohamoud Garad of Dhulbahante.

References

  1. Jama, Mohamed (2004). "The Political Ecology of Colonial Somaliland". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 74 (4): 539. JSTOR   3556841 . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. Nagendra Kr Singh, Abdul Mabud Khan Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities 8187746106 - 2001 "Examples of classical Somali poems are Mohammed Abdulle Hassan's 'Hiin Finiin,' in praise of his favourite horse; Ismail Mire's 'The Rewards of Success,' a philosophical poem; and Abdillahi Muse's 'An Elder's Reproof to his Wife.' "
  3. Dictionary of African Biography - Volumes 1-6 - Page 170, Henry Louis Gates - 2012 -
  4. Literatures in African Languages: Theoretical Issues and Sample Surveys, B. W. Andrzejewski
  5. Soof - Issues 1-14 - Page 45, 1996
  6. 1 2 3 Jardine, Douglas James. The Mad Mullah of Somaliland. London: H. Jenkins, 1923.
  7. Mohamed, Jama. "Epidemics and public health in early colonial Somaliland." Social Science & Medicine 48.4 (1999): 507-521. " Jardine, moreover, argued that during the period of disturbance between 1900 to 1920 about 200,000 people died of various causes, such as hunger, disease, spear and gunshot wounds (Jardine, 1923, p. 135). Other unconventional sources, such as literary sources, indirectly support the argument. Ismail Mire, the most important general of the dervish forces and an accomplished poet and stylist, recorded the tragic events of the period in a poem in which he minimised his role in ..."
  8. "Ismaaciil Mire- Ragow kibirka waa lagu kufaa kaa ha la ogaado |".