People mentioned in classical somali poetry and their stories.

[X.Playa]

There are hundreds of Somali folks whom were well known and relevant to the poems or its theme during the composition, however after decades most modern Somalis can't tell us who these people were and why they were mentioned in a particular poem.

I was listening to Xasan Tarrabi poem " cududa" recently in Youtube and in one stanza he in a boast in how the Garxajis terrifies the ogaden he says:

Cafi nooma galin reer Zubeer waagi lays cunaye
Colaad yo kolkii Gaydh la dilay ciil la dagi waaye
Cawo dhalad kuwii sheegan jiray cuurka Ban Xawaadle
Caraw goortay maqlaan geela waa la cararaane.

It struck me how many people today know who was Colaad and Gaydh the oogades and what was exactly Xasan Tarrabi was talking about 70 years ago. The few elders that knew these individuals are all dead and few modern folks even the expert of poems can tell who they were.

So I decided to open this thread and try to educate those who are interested in knowing who these people mentioned in poems were. Having been collecting poetry for more then two decades I came to know few of these men and their stories.

His real name was not Colaad , he is called such to maintain the strict alliterative rule in the Somali poetry. His real name was Gaani.

It was during the years of Cuba , the Isaaq and Daarood fought for centuries over water and grazings. Guba (1920-1944) was the only memorable last clash. The distant once were lost to history. Guba was popularized by the Daarood in 1989 to rally the Daarood against the Isaaq by reminding the Daarood of past humiliations.



Sometimes in the late 1920s or early 1930s Gaydh the chief ogaden warrior raided the sacad muuse . the ogaden scored big loot and Gaydh kidnapped a sacad muuse Makaahiil woman during the raid and married her.

One day the H.Y in a dry season passed their part of the Had and were grazing in the vicinity of Gaydh clan. A famous Ogaden feisty woman by the name of Ina Jameeco in an ogaden assembly demanded to water camels to be loaded from the well and said the very camels have to raided from the h.y. Gaani her son and Gaydh and the ogaden welcomed this audacity and raided the h.y. 4 h.y and 2 ogaden were killed in the raid and the h.y rustled back their herd.

The h.y recovering from the sudden raid assembled and calculated the damage by 2 h.y men dead. They sent a party to the ogaden and demanded the pre burial " axan " funeral slaughter and demanded from the ogaden the compensation.

Gaydh in a meeting with h.y envoy declared to the ogaden " waar geel Idoor ka bixin maayee Ogaadeenow kareebkiinu yaanu idinka dibjirin ".

The h.y envoy went home and told the h.y assembled the words of Gaydh. The h.y saddled their horses and said let us catch Gaydh and his ogaden right now while his arrogant statement still afresh. The h.y attacked killing Gaydh in the spot and Gaani and rustled more camels then their two dead men worth.


Salaan Carrabay replying to Cali Dhuux poetic intriguing once said:

Rabbaa wacad gondaha kuugu xidhay, waadna gogataaye
Adunbaa geyiga uunka yaal, gubaya waa noole
Hadba inaad garrida duul ku tumi, galuhu noo keenye
Afkaagaaba Gaydh lagu diliyo, Gaani berigiiye

Of course the Daarood would even spin such well recorded history. The ogaden are now claiming Gaani the son of Ina Jameeco and Gaydh had different story lol.

http://www.doollo.com/mainpage/Maqaalad ... odhuux.htm

Jaamac Xirsi Dubbad 1898-1976 participated in that raid that killed both Gaani and Gaydh and after the raid composed a long poem to Qamaan Bulxan.

In his long poem he concludes:

Waxa Cob ah ninkaan Gaani iyo Gaydhna loo diline.

Three Isaaq poets telling the same story and now the modern Daarood are trying to rewrite history.

So that's the story of Gaani and Gaydh.

[X.Playa]

Aflow one of the greatest composers of Somali poetry in replying to the Ogaden whom he was living among them as newly wed in a long poem reminding the celebrating Ogaden what the Garxajis made them suffer said:

Kolkii Caabud-Waaqiyo xer iyo, Gaadsan la cantuugey
Ee Ina Caruus iyo la diley, Caalinkii dunida
Nin Cibaaralii kama gabyee cidi ma kuu sheegtay.

Ina Caruus was a famous Qaadiriya mullah. He was the mentor of the mad mullah in his youth. His full name is Sheekh Cabdulaahi Caruus he was a Sheekhaal reer Aw Qudub.

In late 1890s. Cabdulaahi Caruus and another Gaadsan mullah by the name of Cali Qablax visited the Ogadens. The Ogaden welcomed Caruus with huge horsemen. Cali Qablax was welcomed only by two mounted ogaden.

During a suufi discourse between the two mullahs things got heated. Cali Qablax made few prophecies, he said to the Ogaden the Garxajis will conquer you and have the upper hand for a decade and this very man Cabdulaahi Caruus whom you welcomed as a learned man will be killed by the same Garxajis.

A year later the Garxajis raided the Ogaden chasing them all over and one named Cawaale Qoobcade a ciidagale warrior killed the celebrated sheekh Cabdulaahi Caruus. All of Sheekh Cali Qablax prophecies came true.

Aflow continues with that particular poem and says:

Caydii Jiciir lagu dhuftiyo, cabashadii gaadhay
Ciyaalkaa ku tuur tuuri jiray, gobabki cawlaaye
kolkaad cimilka wada oodateen, sida midgaan caydha
Eed culuqa soo doonateen cidi ma kuu sheegtay.

Jiciir was a fearless Ogaden warrior in that raid when the Garxajis killed Caruus, Jiciir fled in the intensity of the battle. For years little Ogaden children and women taunted Jiciir for his Abdi Bile marathon.

[Xildiiid]

Is the word 'cantuugay' alliteration or does it have a context describing the fate of the Gaadsan Mullah?

[X.Playa]

Xuseen Xasan Rooble Suldaan Guuleed 1840-1897. Xuseen a 19 century poet/warrior of the house of Suldaan Guuleed had many exploit including killing the man-eater legendary lion Daboola ( tail-less) . in a poetic reply to his reer Guuleed who accused his family of cowardice he composed this poem:


Marti culus caweyskii haddii, caynta lagu sheego
Goortuu bakhayl curufsanyaan, caafimaad ahaye
Culuq iyo Bariis waxan hayiyo, cabudlahaan loogey
Weelkaan caddiinta ugu guro, culimadaan sheegtay

Heensaha casuusta leh haddi, caynab lagu faayo?
Carfigaan lahaan jirey hadduu, caannimo u muuqdo
Ceelkii Jannada Eebbeheen, caasha haw daro'e
Cawad-kii adeerkay ahaa, camalki baan sheegtay

Cawad is Cawad Qamaan a ciidagale reer Gobdoon sage, poet and leader from the 19 century. He crowned young sultan Diiriye of the ciidagale when he was out muscled by his great grand uncle Ducaale Suldaan Guuleed and his real uncle Nuur Suldaan Faarax Suldaan Guuleed aka Nuur Taye. The later even planned his assassination to get the sultanate. Cawad Qamaan rallied behind the teenager Diiriye and crowned him.

Later Cawad Qamaan led his Gabdoon and allied them with Arab when the the reer Guuleed , Nuur Ducaale Sultan Guuleed aka Nuur Dhagacun forcefully robbed a Gobdoon man of his wife Makka a reer Samatar woman. A long civil war ensued. That's Cawad Qamaan, in essence Xuseen the warrior is saying I have all the attributes of the great Cawad Qamaan.

[X.Playa]

Is the word 'cantuugay' alliteration or does it have a context describing the fate of the Gaadsan Mullah?

Cantuug is a when you gobble food without even chewing. In essence he means we ate the ogaden like one eats a piece of meat. The Gaadsan dir are allied with the ogaden and always fought along ogaden against isaaq. Even as recently as the 1980s. So during that battle the ciidagale didn't discriminate between ogaden and the Gaadsan dir. They were chewed.

[Xildiiid]

Thanks for the explanation.

Gaadsan are very strange, unlike the Biimaal sub clans of Somalia who are pro Isaaq, they're pro Cagdheer and Dofaar Ismaciil.

Gaadsan is allegedly a subclan of Biimaal.

[Alphamale1]

Strangely enough I am Gaadsan with Garxajis(HY) mother.

I would never side with the enemies of Isaaq. We share degaan with OG but not allied with them. We have fought bitter battles against them.

That is besides the point though, this thread is an interesting historical one.

[Xildiiid]

Gaadsan should not fall for the trickery of Dofaar Ismaciil.

They're stealing your land in Ethiopia and they have the same goal in the Jubba valley.

[Alphamale1]

Gaadsan should not fall for the trickery of Dofaar Ismaciil.

They're stealing your land in Ethiopia and they have the same goal in the Jubba valley.

Trust me bro we are aware. We do not fall for such tricks. Gaadsan lived in the lands for hundreds of years and will continue to do so.

[X.Playa]

This next poem has long chain, its called the chain poems of Dhurwaale ( feast of the hyena) . Its in the same chain of the poem of Aflow. Qawdhan Ducaale Sultan Guuleed died as recently as 1942 yet Suldaan Guuleed is his grandfather he is the brother of Nuur Dhagacun a brother in-law of sultan Xirsi Amaan. Qawdhan was born in early 1850s by 1879 he was composing. Loosing the famed horse of sultan Xirsi Amaan raiding the Ciise Muuse Qawdhan lamented.




Allahayow BullaySane sideen, ugu basiiroobay
Sideebaan colkii Badhe-Tare, iyo Baahane u eeday
Bullaale iyo hadduu geel ku tago, uma baroorteene
Baraar iyo idaa lagula hadhay badhax la moodkiiye.

BullaySane is the year he lost the horse late 1870s , Badhe Tare is the name if the raid against the Ciise Muuse and Bulaale is an ogaden well close yo Dhagaxbuur and Awaare. He is saying had I lost it raiding the Ogadens I would have not cried but I lost it raiding the ciise muuse and what. I got just few sheep.

There was a division within the ciidagale , the Abdi Ciise alone raided the ogaden. Now the cabdi ciise is a large clan today but in Qawdhan days they were a large extended family, Qawdhan is Qawdhan Ducaale Guuleed Cabdi Ciise that's his genealogy, intitialy they were victorious but they chased the ogaden to far almost in the heart of their land.

The Ogaden stopped and said who is more? Us a clan or a raiding party the battle was fierce 101 cabdi ciise were killed.

It was a disaster for Qawdhan family the rest of the ciidagale refused to take part in the counterattack. So Qawdhan composed a poetic lament for other isaaq in particular h.y and h.j.

Habar Yoonis Dhudaheeda badan waysu dhawnahaye
Nin walaalkii soo dhinac dagoo dhiirran baan ahaye
Isaxaaqna dheeraadku waa xeerki noo dhacaye

Ugaadh Cumar dhawaaqaan u diray dhoobey warankiiye
Muuse Cabadallii dheen fadhiyay waa kan dhiidhiyaye
Dhirta Maydhisaar meesha iyo dhinaca Buhoodle

Dhar casti Laan-Mullaaxiyo raggaan dhawrayaa imane
Kol haddii dhawaaqa iyo dilkiyo dhagartu weynaato
Oo ficilku dhegahooda galo way ka dhXigaalkay'
Ku dhaqaajie reer Muusihii dhirifka waalnaaye

Kama dhawrsadaan abid hadii uu dagaal dhaco'e
Dhiigyacabbadii Habar-Jeclaa dhaanka soo rarane
Dhulbuteeye waan galin hadaan dhiman Xigaalkay'

The war continued till Qawdhan got his revenge. He was in Jigjiga when the news came that the ogaden were routed. He was accompanied by a young nephew Axmed Likke ( his son today is a member of SL parliament Ina Axmed Likke) he composed a celebratory poem using the young Axmed as a medium.

Xarbi Ismaaciil the ogaden poet and his nemesis composed a vulgar poem naming all the dead ciidagale and even cussing sheekh Isxaaq.

Miyaad aragtay aagaaga hore Aw Cabdi iyo Xaashi?
Miyaad aragtay Iido-Cagaweyn oo col u alaabaysa
Dibjir baa ilmaadeeradaa ugu il roonaaye
Miyaad aragtay awrkii Ooho l'aan diidaye.
Idoor waa inanta I doori weeyaane
Arki maysid ninu Isaaq dhalay oo aabo leeyahaye.


Aw Cabdi, Xaashi, Dibjir and the unnamed man who his camel refused to stand without his famous Oohow call are all the ciidagale who died in the battle.

Qawdhan begged his ciidagale to get the honor of reply the ciidagale gave him the permission on the conditions that in similar fashion he should recount all the Ogadens dead. Qawdhan after an introductory isaaq noble lineage reply and Daarood obscure origin he delved into the dead Ogadens. There are many in his long poem I don't know I only quoted the once I recognize.

Waa oohintii Timiro-dheer, awga baxayaaye
Arwaaxuu ahaa Halab Yaraa, loo unuun jaray'e

Timiro Dheer had only one son Halab Yare he joined the raid telling his mother he will get plenty of camels to get married. He never made it he was killed and his mother Timiro went berserk in her wail.

Xirsibay indhaha kala heleen, ulayar Maadhiine
Soofihii aroos maagganaa, aakhiruu tegaye
Axmed dhimey agoontiinaway, alamba'aysaaye

This Soofe was planning to marry a girl called Xaliimo. He was killed also. Xaliimo went crazy and never gained her bearing. In the 1950s she came to hargaysa she lived in Hargaysa all her live as homeless and was always fed by Isaaq.. Xaliimo Waal died in Hargaysa during the faqash years she always cussed Gaani telling him the Isaaq can kill and make you live unlike your midgo.

Ninkii shaalka aanaysan jirey, ubaxa dheeraada
Uunsiga waraabuhu ku cunay, wawga soo uraye
Isagana aboorkaa madhsaday, adarki weeyaane
Ma ogtahay Abiib waxa qabsaday, arayuhuu waayey

Abiib was an Ogaden warrior found of cloth and perfumes. He was killed in the battle his remains were found half eaten by the hyenas. Here Qawdhan makes a classic quip saying I bet the hyena that was eating him smelled his uunsi lol. Classic.

[X.Playa]

Strangely enough I am Gaadsan with Garxajis(HY) mother.

I would never side with the enemies of Isaaq. We share degaan with OG but not allied with them. We have fought bitter battles against them.

That is besides the point though, this thread is an interesting historical one.

When the ciidagale were raiding the ogaden they met a Gaadsan mullah and they took his camels . the Gaadsan Mullah asked for his camels the ciidagale spokesman replied " maxaanu ku celinaa intii danbaan u ku caraabaynaaye "

Then the Gaadsan Mullah said if you ciidagale don't return my camels I will compose a Guhaan poem. ( Guhaan poem is spell or poem or habaar in Somali) .

Rag cukani haday calasta damcaan ways celiyaane
Idinkuna intaad naga cunteen baad nagu caraabteene
Casiisaw Allahyaw adaan ku cawdee ciidagale naafi
Allahayow cag weyntooda geel caal kaga rid.

Some ciidagale chuckled and said anything else. He continued:

Goor iyo ayaan bahal gablani guray dhalaankiina.

Most of the ciidagale raiders died after leaving him. In Somali lore it said " way maraysnaayeen " or something like that meaning they were cursed.

So when he is saying " markii Gaadsan la cantuugey " he means that mullah.

[TheGrumpyGeeljire]

These poems are valueless. You should write them down somewhere and then publish them in a book with commentary. This is a precious part of Somali literature.

[Alphamale1]

Strangely enough I am Gaadsan with Garxajis(HY) mother.

I would never side with the enemies of Isaaq. We share degaan with OG but not allied with them. We have fought bitter battles against them.

That is besides the point though, this thread is an interesting historical one.

When the ciidagale were raiding the ogaden they met a Gaadsan mullah and they took his camels . the Gaadsan Mullah asked for his camels the ciidagale spokesman replied " maxaanu ku celinaa intii danbaan u ku caraabaynaaye "

Then the Gaadsan Mullah said if you ciidagale don't return my camels I will compose a Guhaan poem. ( Guhaan poem is spell or poem or habaar in Somali) .

Rag cukani haday calasta damcaan ways celiyaane
Idinkuna intaad naga cunteen baad nagu caraabteene
Casiisaw Allahyaw adaan ku cawdee ciidagale naafi
Allahayow cag weyntooda geel caal kaga rid.

Some ciidagale chuckled and said anything else. He continued:

Goor iyo ayaan bahal gablani guray dhalaankiina.

Most of the ciidagale raiders died after leaving him. In Somali lore it said " way maraysnaayeen " or something like that meaning they were cursed.

So when he is saying " markii Gaadsan la cantuugey " he means that mullah.

Thanks

We are Awliyo

[LeJusticier]

Weli ma wada akhriyin. Waan usoo jeesan doona

[Alphamale1]

Weli ma wada akhriyin. Waan usoo jeesan doona

It is a refreshing course from the usual