Hiraab Imamate

The Hiraab Imamate (Somali: Saldanadda Hiraab) was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the late-17th century and 19th century until it was incorporated into Italian Somaliland.[1]

Saldanadda Hiraab
1600s–1860s
Common languages	Somali
Government	Monarchy
History
• Established	1600s
• Disestablished	1860s

History

Lee Cassanelli in his book, "The Shaping of Somali society," provides a historical picture of the Hiraab Immate. He writes:

"According to local oral tradition, the Hiraab imamate was a powerful alliance of closely related groups who shared a common lineage under the Gorgaarte clan divisions. It successfully revolted against the Ajuran Sultanate and established an independent rule for at least two centuries from the seventeen hundreds and onwards.[2]

The alliance involved the army leaders and advisors of the Habar Gidir and Duduble, a Fiqhi/Qadi of Sheekhaal , and the Imam was reserved for the Mudulood branch who is believed to have been the first born. Once established, the Imamate ruled the territories from the Shabeelle valley, the Benaadir provinces, the Mareeg areas all the way to the arid lands of Mudug, whilst the ancient port of Hobyo emerged as the commercial capital.[2]

Hobyo served as a prosperous commercial centre for the Imamate. The agricultural centres of Eldher and Harardhere included the production of sorghum and beans, supplementing with herds of camels, cattle, goats and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, whilst the aromatic woods and raisins were the primary exports as rice, other foodstuffs and clothes were imported. Merchants looking for exotic goods came to Hobyo to buy textiles, precious metals and pearls. The commercial goods harvested along the Shabelle river were brought to Hobyo for trade. Also, the increasing importance and rapid settlement of more southernly cities such as Mogadishu further boosted the prosperity of Hobyo, as more and more ships made their way down the Somali coast and stopped in Hobyo to trade and replenish their supplies.[2]

By the late 19th century, the imamate began to decline. Faced with internal problems, the imamate also faced challenges from the imperialist forces as well as the Zanzibari sultan, and even the Portuguese in the earlier years. [2]

Soon afterwards, the entire region was snapped up by the fascists Italians and it led to the birth of a Modern Somalia. However, the Hiraab hereditary leadership has remained intact up to this day and enjoys a dominant influence in national Somali affairs."[2]

Rulers

The first Imaam of Hiraab was Imaam Yacquub Ciqwaaq Maxamed Owbakar Gaabane Maxamed Caroone Muuse Isxaaq Harti Abgaal Cusmaan Darandoole Mudulood Hiraab Madable Abkaal Berdaale Sacmaal Sariire Baraxow Daame Gorgaate Hawiye Irir Samaale. His descendants ruled a small kingdom centered at Golool until the Imaamate rapidly expanded in the 17th century, conquering Mogadishu from the Muzaffar and Ajuuraan, and the important Ajuuraan town of Hobyo, both of which are majority Hiraab today.

	Ruler Name	Reign	Note
1	Imaam Yacquub Ciqwaaq		Founder of the Hiraab Imamate and first Imam, eponymous ancestor of the Yacquubi dynasty
2	Imaam Xasan Imaam Yacquub
3	Imaam Maxamed Imaam Xasan
4	Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Xasan
5	Imaam Diimaale Imaam Xasan
6	Imaam Hilowle Imaam Diimaale
7	Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Hilowle
8	Imaam Cumar Imaam Maxamuud	fl.1620	During his Imaamate, Hiraab conquered Mogadishu and displaced the Muzaffar Dynasty.[3]
9	Imaam Maxamed Imaam Cumar		His descendants would form a cadet Imaamate based in Shingani district of Mogadishu
10	Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Maxamed		Brother of Imaam Maxamed, his descendants continue the main line of the Imaamate
11	Imaam Axmed Imaam Maxamuud
12	Imaam Maxamed Imaam Axmed
13	Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Maxamed
14	Imaam Cabdiraxmaan Imaam Maxamuud
15	Imaam Caamir Imaam Cabdiraxmaan
16	Imaam Cumar Cali Imaam Caamir	19??-1986	Grandson of Imaam Caamir
17	Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Cumar	1986-2011	Son of Imaam Cumar, played a key role in peacemaking efforts between rival Hawiye factions in the Somali civil war.[4]
18	Imaam Maxamed Yuusuf Cali	2011–present	Cousin of Imaam Maxamuud Imaam Cumar and nephew of Imaam Cumar Cali, he is the current Imaam of Mudulood and all Hiraab

See also

• Ajuran Sultanate

References

1. Abdullahi, Abdurahman (2017-09-18). Making Sense of Somali History: Volume 1. ISBN 9781909112797.
2. Lee V. Cassanelli, The shaping of Somali society., Philadelphia, 1982,
3. Enrico, Cerulli, How a Hawiye tribe used to live chapter 4, published in: Somalia, scritti vari editi ed inediti, Vol. 2, edited by Enrico Cerulli, Roma, 1959.
4. The United Nations and Somalia: 1992-1996, United Nations, Department of Public Information, 1996, page 443