I came across this interesting darwiish article..it said that the height of the power of the Dhulbahante started in the 1870s After the fall of the Kingdom of the Great Boqor Wiilwaal and sun had set on the Bartire, the Dhulbahante emerged as the most powerful and most feared tribe in Somalia. That reputation was solidified when Dhulbahante defeated the Ogaadeen in one of the most bloody, vicious and brutal battles in Somali history. The battle took place below Kabar Ogaadeen hills(Named after the battle). The Dhulbahante were left as the undisputed masters of Northern Somalia, occupying the land from Jiidali in the north of Sanaag to Ceelcad near the Mudug border in the south. From Kiridh in the west to Xalin in the Nugaal valley where they bordered the Majeerteen.
The dhulos also flexed they muscles on Mj's
It gives us a flavour of the life of the Dhulbahante at the time that Siciid Qamax, the legendary Cali Naaleeye warrior and poet, composed his famous poem when the Dhulbahante reached the Indian ocean at Illig in a bloody march through Majeerteen lands, along the way exacting terrible attack on the Majeerteen Before they reached the ocean they succeeding in sacking the historic capital of the Cismaan Maxamuud at Noobir(between Iskushuban and Beyla).
"They (the Dhulbahante) did not fear guns. The English could not reach them; besides, their fathers had driven Christians from these lands; and if an army was to attack them, they would assemble so many cavalry, and ride in such rapidity around them, that their gunners could not take aim in consequence of the clouds of dust which this feat would occasion!"
This is what the english explores said about dhulbahnate:
highlighting the overwhelming martial nature of the tribe and their superiority as fighting force occassioned by their use of Cavalry charges that gave them great mobility and an irresistible battlefield presence.
Cruttenden wrote:
Dhulbahante are a nation who fight chiefly on horseback their arms being 2 spears and a shield. Their horses are powerful and courageous; the breed descended, according to Somali tradition, from the stud of Suleiman, the son of David, and consequently highly valued. The Dulbahante, as far as I have seen them, are a fine martial race of men, second to none of the branches of Darrood either in conduct or appearance, and they are described as being courteous and hospitable to the stranger who visits them.
The abundance of horses in the Dhulbahante country and the prowess of the Dhulbahante as horsemen is recurring theme. Drake-Brockman, a colonial civil servant during the Darwiish wars remarks on this in his book, British Somaliland:
Previous to the expeditions against the Mullah, the tribes which were, in all probability, the best off in horses were the Dulbahanta, and after them the Ogaden. At all events, most of those in a position to speak are agreed that the Dulbahantas are the best horsemen among the Somalis.
waa markaan inaabtiday la yaabi jiray
waxaa is laayay jilybyo yaryar oo labada reer ka tirsan e dagaal ogaden iyo dhulbahante ah muun ahayn
makahiil iyo wuxuu ahaa reer hagar iyo khaalid
Dhulbahante xaguu ku laayay Ogaadeen, isagaaba Ogaadeen ka tirsanaaye ?Agah
Saahid Qamaan Cali
Ilma Raage liig uma godlaan, sidigtii loolaade
Lurka-kacay Bah Iidoor, sow leexa kama duulin
Cali-Geri ladaadyada hurdada, sow ma ladi waayin
Lug intuu ka jabay Gaaruf, sow low ma kala haadin
Laagaha Reer Jaamac, sow lugi ma naafoobin
Libaaxaan ka dilay Reer Mataan, sow uma laddaadyoonin
Xirsi Cali ma laylsamay hadaan lumiyay reer jaamac - (Jaamac-Siyad)
Halkaa gabayi wuxuu ka midyahay, meelihii badnaa ee lagu edbiyay dhulbahantaha.. Hana iloobiin geelii gafuura-xume ee laga soo dhacay, ee abraahiim ilaa hada danood ku maalo.
ina aadan wrote:waa markaan inaabtiday la yaabi jiray
waxaa is laayay jilybyo yaryar oo labada reer ka tirsan e dagaal ogaden iyo dhulbahante ah muun ahayn
makahiil iyo wuxuu ahaa reer hagar iyo khaalid
i see...we need to give credit where is due the darawiish are documented in somali history as masters of the battle field. They almost defeated the British who were super power during that time.
this is what ina Cabdulle hassan said:
Geesiyadaa Reer-Garaad aan la ilaawi kariin..
