The Sultanate of the Geledi ( Somali : Saldanadda Geledi , Arabic : سلطنة غلدي ) also known as the Gobroon dynasty , was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the late-17th century to the early 20th century. The Sultanate was governed by the Gobroon dynasty. It was established by the Geledi soldier Ibrahim Adeer , who had defeated various vassals of the Ajuran Sultanate and elevated the Gobroon to wield significant political power. Following Mahamud Ibrahim 's consolidation, the dynasty reached its apex under Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim , who successfully modernized the Geledi economy and eliminated regional threats with the Conquest of Bardera in 1843, and would go on to receive tribute from Said bin Sultan , the ruler of the Omani Empire . Geledi Sultans had strong regional ties and built alliances with the Pate and Witu Sultanates on the Swahili coast. Trade and Geledi power would continue to remain strong until the death of the well known Sultan Ahmed Yusuf in 1878. The sultanate was eventually incorporated into Italian Somaliland in 1911.
87-713: At the end of the 17th century, the Ajuran Sultanate was in its decline and various vassals were breaking free or being absorbed by new Somali powers. One of these powers was the Silcis Sultanate , which began consolidating its rule over the Afgooye region. Ibrahim Adeer led the revolt against the Silcis ruler Umar Abrone and his oppressive daughter, Princess Fay. After his victory over the Silcis, Ibrahim then proclaimed himself Sultan and subsequently founded
174-528: A Malaakh , and the coastal areas and the Indian Ocean trade were protected by a powerful navy . The Geledi society is divided into three segments; nobles, commoners, and slaves (to use terms adopted by Helander) Each of these castes consist of several lineage groups whose federation formed the Geledi state; the lineages are divided between two moieties. Tolweyne and Yebdaale, each living in its section of
261-587: A cunning Somali merchant from Kismayo , Sultan Ahmed intervened and defeated the invading forces and pursued them back to Kismayo, keeping the Banadir coast and Shabelle river free from outside penetration. Sultan Ahmed Yusuf's devolved administration described as such by the British Parliament in 1876. Noted as a powerful ruler of the Rahanweyn , his brother Abobokur Yusuf was the governor of
348-608: A diverse Sultanate, the rulers promoted a policy of indirect and flexible administration. They allowed the tribal chiefs, Imams, Sheikhs (religious figures), and Akhiyaars (notable elders) of the community to play significant roles in the administration of the Sultanate. The Geledi rulers were not only the political head of the Sultanate but also considered religious leaders. Akhiyaars were elders who would reconcile and solve cases such as murders and recite Al-Fatiha after adjudication. Between two different lineages groups if an injustice
435-510: A flourishing trade with foreign nations. The southeastern city-states of Kilwa , Mombasa , Malindi , Pate and Lamu were all systematically sacked and plundered by the Portuguese. Tristão da Cunha then set his eyes on Ajuran territory, where the Battle of Barawa was fought. After a long period of engagement, the Portuguese soldiers burned the city and looted it. Fierce resistance by
522-762: A skillful combination of warfare , trade linkages and alliances . In the fifteenth century, for example, the Ajuran Empire was the only hydraulic empire in Africa at the time. As a water dynasty, the Ajuran state monopolized the water resources of the Shebelle and Jubba rivers . Through hydraulic engineering , it constructed many of the limestone wells and cisterns of the state that remain in use til today. The rulers developed new systems for agriculture and taxation, which continued to be used in parts of
609-550: A variety of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, mangos, sugarcane, cotton, tomatoes, squash and much more. The region is traversed by historic caravan routes. Trade on the rivers themselves connected with the coast to the interior markets. During this period, the Somali agricultural output to Arabian markets was so great that the coast of South Somalia came to be known as the Grain Coast of Yemen and Oman . Afgooye ,
696-612: A vast territory from stretching Mogadishu to the Jubba region. On the Benadir coast the potential power lay in the hands of Ahmed Yusuf, ruler of the Geledi Sultanate, who lived one day's march inland from Mogadishu. Sultan Ahmed exerted influence over the clans that inhabited the interiverine region. The lucrative ivory trade continued to flourish under his reign that ran from Luuq to Mogadishu. He also collected tribute from
783-434: A wealthy lifestyle and became mistresses of the elite or even mothers to rulers. Detailed biographies of the Sultanate's rulers The Sultanate left a rich legacy behind which continues to live on in popular memory and poetry composed about the powerful Sultans and other noble figures during the period. One notable poem was recorded by Virginia Luling in 1989 during her visit to Afgooye. Geledi laashins (poets) sang about
870-464: Is Ahmed Yusuf, who resides at Galhed, one day's march or less from the latter town. Two days further inland is Dafert, a large town governed by Aweka Haji, his brother. These are the principal towns of the Ruhwaina. At four, five, and six hours respectively from Marka lie the towns of Golveen (Golweyn), Bulo Mareerta , and Addormo, governed by Abobokur Yusuf, another brother who though nominally under
957-575: The Arabs and Swahilis under Portuguese rule and sent an envoy to the Turkish corsair Mir Ali Bey for a joint expedition against the Portuguese. He agreed and was joined by a Somali fleet in order to attack the Portuguese colonies in Southeast Africa . The Somali-Ottoman offensive managed to drive out the Portuguese from several important cities such as Pate , Mombasa and Kilwa . However,
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#17327651771521044-562: The Bimal , Ahmed's brother Abobokur Yusuf warned him not to go through with the attack as the Geledi had an influential ally refuse to join the upcoming campaign. Reprimanding his brother, the Sultan said he could watch the women & children then. With Abobokur eventually deciding to accompany Ahmed the Geledi marched out to meet the Bimaal at Cagaaran near Merca . A fierce battle commenced, with
1131-720: The Gobroon dynasty . The Geledi Sultanate was a Rahanweyn Kingdom ruled by the noble Geledi which held sway over the Jubba and Shabelle rivers in the interior and the Benadir coast. The Geledi Sultanate had enough power to force southern Arabians to pay tribute. The nobles within the Geledi claim descent from Abadir Umar ar-Rida . He had three other brothers, Fakhr and with two others of whom their names are given differently as Shams, Umudi, Alahi and Ahmed. Together they were known as Afarta Timid , 'the four who came', indicating their origins from Arabia. Claims of descent from Arabia
1218-491: The Hiraab Imam Mahmood who reigned over Mogadishu. The Shabelle river itself was referred to as the 'Geledi river' by Kirk, perhaps in respect of the sheer volume of produce that the Sultanate output. In Barawa there was little grain instead a large quantity of ivory and skins which had already been loaded onto ships destined for Zanzibar . Following Barawa locals being defeated by an expansionist push by
1305-517: The Horn of Africa as late as the 19th century. The rule of the later Ajuran rulers caused multiple rebellions to break out within the empire, and at the end of the 17th century, Ajuran disintegrated into several successor states, the most notable being the Geledi Sultanate . Ahmed Yusuf Mahamud Ahmed Yusuf Mahamud ( Somali : Axmed Yuusuf Maxamuud , Arabic : أحمد يوسف محمود )
1392-494: The Horn of Africa was among the largest in the region. At the height of its reach, the empire covered most of southern Somalia as well as eastern Ethiopia , with its domain at one point extending from Hafun in the north to Kismayo in the south, and Qelafo in the west. The European Age of Discovery brought Europe's then superpower the Portuguese Empire to the coast of East Africa, which enjoyed
1479-755: The Muzaffar clients in Mogadishu and other coastal cities by the Abgaal imam who then established the Hiraab Imamate taking residence in Mogadishu was a significant setback, and the defeat of the Silis Kingdom by a former Ajuran general in the interior of the state, Ibrahim Adeer , who established the Gobroon dynasty . Taxation and the practice of primae noctis were the main catalysts for
1566-606: The Ottoman Empire , and with the import of firearms through the Muzzaffar port of Mogadishu , the army began acquiring muskets and cannons . The Ottomans would also remain a key ally during the Ajuran-Portuguese wars . Horses used for military purposes were raised in the interior, and numerous stone fortifications were erected to provide shelter for the army in the coastal districts. In each province,
1653-469: The Shabelle river , large homes and stone fortifications along with the creation of large stone wells, many of which were still in use well into the 20th century. Notably, the Ajuran were the first to impose a regular system of tribute on the surrounding population. The empire fielded a powerful army, which may have employed firearms towards the end of its dominant period around 1650. As a 'water dynasty',
1740-472: The Somali calendar . This irrigation system was supported by numerous dikes and dams. To determine the average size of a farm, a land measurement system was also invented with moos , taraab and guldeed being the terms used. The Ajuran State had a standing army with which the governors ruled and protected their subjects. The bulk of the army consisted of recruited soldiers who did not have any loyalties to
1827-521: The 13th century ruled parts of the Somali Region of Ethiopia . With the migration of Somalis from the northern half of the Horn region southwards, new cultural and religious orders were introduced, influencing the administrative structure of the dynasty . A system of governance began to evolve into an Islamic government. Through their genealogical Baraka , which came from the saint Balad (who
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#17327651771521914-511: The 16th and 17th centuries the Ajurans successively defied Portuguese hegemony on the Indian Ocean by employing a new coinage which followed the Ottoman pattern, thus proclaiming an attitude of economic independence in regard to the Portuguese. The late 15th and 17th centuries saw the arrival of Muslim families from Arabia , Persia , India and Spain to the Ajuran realm of territories,
2001-551: The Abiikarow lineage. Clear devolution of power was also present within the politics of the Geledi Sultan delegating certain regions of the sultanate to be managed by close relatives, who wielded significant influence in their own right. Sultan Ahmed Yusuf 's administration was described as such by the British Parliament . The Somali tribe of Ruhwaina . The Chief of this and other tribes behind Brava, Marka and Mogdisho
2088-720: The Ajuran Empire minted its own Ajuran currency . It also utilized the Mogadishan currency originally minted by the Sultanate of Mogadishu , which later became incorporated into the Ajuran Empire. Mogadishan coins have been found as far away as the present-day country of the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East . The urban centers of Merca , Mogadishu , Barawa , and their respective ports became profitable trade outlets for commodities originating from
2175-600: The Ajuran Empire sent ambassadors to China to establish diplomatic ties, creating the first ever recorded African community in China and the most notable Somali ambassador in medieval China was Sa'id of Mogadishu who was the first African man to set foot in China in medieval history. In return, Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), dispatched one of the largest fleets in history to trade with
2262-639: The Ajuran monopolized the Jubba and Shabelle rivers through hydraulic engineering. Historically, the Sultanate of Mogadishu was confined by the Adal Sultanate in the north. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Ajurans routinely aligned themselves politically with the Adalites. Described as one country by Ibn Battuta , a journey to Mogadishu from the town of Zeila took him eight weeks to complete. The Ajuran Empire's sphere of influence in
2349-537: The Bale Sultanate not being directly under Ajuran rule, the two kingdoms were deeply connected and Bale was heavily influenced by Ajuran. His tomb lies in the town of Sheikh Hussein in what is considered the most sacred place in the country for Ethiopian Muslims, in particular those of Oromo ethnic descent. In the mid-17th century, the Oromo people collectively began expanding from their homeland towards
2436-583: The Empire were Mogadishu and Barawa . The state religion was Islam , and thus law was based on Sharia . Through their control of the region's wells, the Garen rulers effectively held a monopoly over their nomadic subjects as they were the only hydraulic empire in Africa during their reign. Large wells made out of limestone were constructed throughout the state, which attracted Somali and Oromo nomads with their livestock. The centralized regulations of
2523-406: The Garen rulers by the coastal sultans of the state. A political device that was implemented by the Garen rulers in their realm was a form of ius primae noctis , which enabled them to create marriages that enforced their hegemonic rule over all the important groups of the empire. The rulers would also claim a large portion of the bride's wealth, which at the time was 100 camels. For trade,
2610-460: The Geledi eventually gaining the upperhand. The Bimals used asraar magic to turn the tide and would rout the Sultan's army killing both Ahmed and Abobokur. Following the battle, their bodies were taken to Merca by the Bimal, where they were then displayed in front of a large crowd as a show of triumph. The Bimal Sultan praised both men as noble and courageous. Upon seeing the bodies of the dead men,
2697-594: The Geledi lineage. The commoners were typical citizens that mainly consist of non-Geledi Somalis and traditionally consist of urban dwellers, farmers, pastoral nomads as well as officials, merchants, engineers, scholars, soldiers, craftsmen, port workers, and other various professions. The commoners were the majority in the kingdom and were treated as equals. The slaves were mostly of Bantu origin and were used for labour. The men would work as agricultural labourers led by their farmer-owners and some would work in construction led by engineers. They would also be employed into
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2784-479: The Horn of Africa during the Middle Ages via control over water. Its rise to prominence began during the 13th and 14th century. By the 15th century, the Ajuran were Africa's only ' Hydraulic empire'. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, the Ajuran Empire successfully resisted Oromo invasions from the west and fought against Portuguese incursions from
2871-499: The Indian Ocean , and commercial enterprise as far as East Asia . The Ajuran Empire also minted its own Ajuran currency . Many medieval bronze coins inscribed with the names of Ajuran Sultans have been found in the coastal Benadir province , in addition to pieces from Muslim rulers of Southern Arabia and Persia . Through the use of commercial vessels, compasses, multiple port cities, light houses and other technology,
2958-512: The Portuguese governor sent envoys to Portuguese India requesting a large Portuguese fleet. This request was answered and it reversed the previous offensive of the Muslims into one of defense. The Portuguese armada managed to re-take most of the lost cities and began punishing their leaders, but they refrained from attacking Mogadishu, securing the city's autonomy in the Indian Ocean. The Ottoman Empire would remain an economic partner. Throughout
3045-441: The Portuguese who sent a punitive expedition under João de Sepúlveda, where he bombarded Mogadishu and captured Turkish vessels, compelling its ruler to sign a peace deal with the Portuguese. Barawa would also sign peace with the Portuguese after being sacked. The Ottoman-Somali cooperation against the Portuguese on the Indian Ocean reached a high point in the 1580s when Ajuran clients of the coastal cities began to cooperate with
3132-506: The Somali coast in exchange for grain and wood. Trading relations were established with Malacca in the 15th century, with cloth, ambergris and porcelain being the main commodities of the trade. In addition, giraffes, zebras and incense were exported to the Ming Empire of China. Hindu merchants from Surat and Southeast African merchants from Pate seeking to bypass both the Portuguese blockade and Omani interference used
3219-545: The Somali nation. The fleet, under the leadership of the famed Hui Muslim Zheng He , arrived at Mogadishu while the city was at its peak in economic and social vibrancy. Along with gold , frankincense and fabrics , Zheng brought back the first ever African wildlife to China, which included hippos , giraffes and gazelles . The Ajurans developed a very rich culture combining various forms of Somali culture with Islamic architecture , astronomy , and art. Society evolved and flourished during this period. The majority of
3306-645: The Somali ruling elite and commoners. The most famous Somali scholar of Islam from the Ajuraan period is Sheikh Hussein , who was born in Merca , one of the power jurisdiction and cultural centers of the Ajuran Empire. He is credited with converting the Sidamo people living in the area of what is now the Bale Province, Ethiopia to Islam . He is also credited with establishing the Sultanate of Bale . Despite
3393-621: The age of seven. His father Yusuf subsequently sent him to Qur'anic schools in Barawa for studies under the tutelage of some of the leading Qadiriyya Sheikhs in Somalia. Barawa had developed into the heart of Islamic learning in southern Somalia and notables from all over would travel to the city to learn from its Sufi masters. Ahmed Yusuf was one of the most powerful rulers in East Africa and had 50,000 troops at his command and controlled
3480-603: The army and were separated from the rest of the Geledi army and were branched as Mamaluks meaning slave soldiers. The women would work as domestic servants and perform a variety of household services for their owners, from providing, cooking, cleaning, and laundry, taking care of children and elderly dependents, and other household errands. They would also be looked down upon for any kind of sexual contact and were deemed as unattractive. The Bantus were not exclusive to slavery. Oromos would sometimes be enslaved following raids and wars. However, there were marked differences in terms of
3567-616: The beginning of the nineteenth century, the Gobroon dynasty had turned their religious prestige into formidable political power and were recognized as the rulers of an increasingly centralized and wealthy state. As already mentioned, much of their wealth was based on control over the fertile riverine lands. Using slave labour obtained through the coastal ports, the Geledi gradually shifted their economic base away from its traditional dependency on pastoralism and subsistence agriculture to one built largely on plantation agriculture and production of cash crops such as grain, cotton, maize, sorghum, and
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3654-417: The case of the Geledi, wealth accrued to the nobles and to the Sultanate, not only from the market cultivation which it had utilized from the Shebelle and Jubba valleys, but also trade from their involvement in the slave trade and other enterprises such as ivory, cotton, iron, gold, and among many other commodities. Generally, they also raised livestock animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens. By
3741-546: The cities and towns were abandoned or destroyed: The Ajuran Empire relied on agriculture and trade for most of its income. Major agricultural towns were located on the Shebelle and Jubba rivers , including Kismayo and Afgooye . Situated at the junction of some of the busiest medieval trade routes, the Ajuran and its clients were active participants in the East African gold trade , the Silk Road commerce , trade in
3828-407: The city. Nevertheless, Tristão opted to storm and attempt to conquer the city, although every officer and soldier in his army opposed this, fearing certain defeat if they were to engage their opponents in battle. Tristão heeded their advice and sailed for Socotra instead. Over the next decades tensions remained high and the increased contact between Somali sailors and Ottoman corsairs worried
3915-435: The city. The nobles, in the old society, were the ruling group but depended on the support of the commoner lineages. The noble section of the society belonged to rulers. However, all members of the Geledi clan were also considered to be of noble stock despite the majority of them not being rulers. Nobility was not only exclusive to the Geledi clan as there were rulers of many districts in the Geledi realm that didn't belong to
4002-551: The coastal markets, which generated enormous wealth for the merchants. Mogadishu, the center of a thriving weaving industry known as toob benadir (specialized for the markets in Egypt and Syria ), together with Merca and Barawa also served as transit stops for Swahili merchants from Mombasa and Malindi and for the gold trade from Kilwa . There were Jewish merchants from the Hormuz who brought their Indian textile and fruits to
4089-463: The coastal regions that controlled the East African arms trade . The best horse breeds were raised in Luuq and later sent to the army after maturity. They would be used mainly for military purposes, and numerous stone fortifications were erected to provide shelter for the army in the interior and coastal districts. In each province, the soldiers were under the supervision of a military commander known as
4176-471: The concentrated agricultural clans along the lower Shabelle valley as far south as Kismayo. Only the powerful Bimaal clan centered in Merca resisted Geledi hegemony. British explorer John Kirk in his 1873 visit to the region noted a variety of things. Roughly 20 large dhows were docked in both Mogadishu and Merka respectively filled with grain produced from the farms of the Geledi in the interior. Kirk met
4263-542: The east by Hobyo Sultanate and Italian leasing of Benadir, and to the south by the British East Africa Protectorate. The Geledi Sultanate maintained a vast trading network, and had trade relations with Arabia , Persia , India , Near East , Europe and the Swahili coast , dominating the East African trade, and minting its own currency, and were recognized as a powerful regional power. In
4350-491: The east. The Ajuran were among the great centres of commerce in the contemporary African world. Trading routes dating from ancient and early medieval periods of Somali maritime enterprise were strengthened and re-established, foreign trade and commerce in the coastal provinces flourished with ships sailing to and from kingdoms and empires in the Near East , East Asia , and the wider world. The Ajuran are believed to be
4437-400: The ever present issue of land theft by the Somali government . Sultan Subuge was asked to help the community and was reminded of his legendary Gobroon forefathers of the centuries prior. The law then was not this law was performed by the leading laashins of Afgooye, Hiraabey, Muuse Cusmaan and Abukar Cali Goitow alongside a few others, addressed to the current leader Sultan Subuge . Here
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#17327651771524524-532: The first Africans to have contact with China . The Ajuran Empire traces its name back to the Arabic word; إيجار (Ījārā), which means to rent or tax. A name well deserved for the exorbitant tributes paid to the Empire. The Ajuran is regarded as a successor to its more influential predecessor, the Adal Sultanate . The precise origins of the Ajuran vary as they are rooted in traditional Somali folklore. It
4611-412: The giver of judgment Ibraahim Cumar Xaaji the pillar of the world was alive and Aw Gaduud Cali Is it not so ? - Aw Gaduud Cali Abukar, and Yusuf Maxamuud the pillar of the world While they were alive the law was not this law When the giver of decisions Aw Cumar Adeerow was in the world the law was not this law Now everyone crowds in, they have taken the cleared farmland, They have taken
4698-682: The headquarters of the Sultanate , was an extremely wealthy and large city. Afgooye had some thriving industries such as weaving , shoemaking , tableware , jewellery , pottery and produced various products. Afgooye was the crossroads of caravans bringing ostrich feathers, leopard skins, and aloe in exchange for foreign fabrics, sugar, dates and firearms. They raised numerous livestock animals for meat, milk and ghee. The farmers of Afgooye produced large quantity of fruits and vegetables. Afgooye merchants would boast of their wealth; one of their wealthiest said Moordiinle iyo mereeyey iyo mooro lidow, maalki jeri keenow kuma moogi malabside . Bring all
4785-466: The infidels Did you not separate from the Geelidle and come to Gooble (Afgooye)? We endured war and the point of the spear For the love of Gooble we left our first home And now everyone crowds in here, they have taken our cleared farmland They have taken the pasture where the herds grazed - where will the people be led ? The Gobroon who first arrived here are not these Gobroon When
4872-414: The inhabitants were ethnic Somali but there were also Yemeni , Persian , and Turkish minorities. The vast majority of the population adhered to Sunni Islam with a Shia minority. The Somali language was the most commonly spoken language while Arabic was prominently used for commercial and religious purposes. The traditional martial art Istunka , also known as Dabshid , was born during
4959-458: The interior of the State. The farming communities of the hinterland brought their products to the coastal cities, where they were sold to local merchants who maintained a lucrative foreign commerce with ships sailing to and coming from Arabia , India , Venice , Persia , Egypt , Portugal , and as far away as China . Vasco da Gama , who passed by Mogadishu in the 15th century noted that it
5046-605: The lands opposite the Banadir ports of Brava & Marka and also received a tribute from Brava . This Abobokur Yusuf was accustomed to send messengers to Brava for tribute, and he drew thence about 2,000 dollars per annum. During the Scramble for Africa period between the 1880s and the first World War, Geledi was bounded to the north by the Huwan Region , the Huwan later forming a semi-independent vassal state of Abyssinia, to
5133-466: The lands opposite the southern Banadir coast. Abobokur collected a 2,000 dollar tax from Barawa annually on behalf of Ahmed and the towns of Golweyn, and Bulo Mareer were exceedingly prosperous. Ahmed himself lived at Afgooye. Other relatives of the Sultan managed the vast territories outside of the immediate interior of the Banadir coast. The Istunka tournament was developed in the Ajuran period , and
5220-521: The landscapes of southern Somalia today are attributed to the Ajuran Empire's engineers, including a number of the pillar tomb fields, necropolises and ruined cities built in that era. During the Ajuran period, many regions and people in the southern part of the Horn of Africa converted to Islam because of the theocratic nature of the government. The royal family , the House of Garen, expanded its territories and established its hegemonic rule through
5307-515: The local populace and soldiers resulted in the failure of the Portuguese to permanently occupy the city, and the inhabitants who had fled to the interior eventually returned and rebuilt the city. After Barawa , Tristão set sail for Mogadishu , the richest city on the East African coast. Word had spread of what had happened in Barawa, and a large troop mobilization took place. Many horsemen, soldiers and battleships in defense positions were guarding
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#17327651771525394-522: The majority of whom settled in the coastal provinces. Some migrated because of the instability in their respective regions, as was the case with the Hadhrami families from Yemen and the Muslims from Spain fleeing the Inquisition . Others came to conduct business or for religious purposes. Due to their strong tradition in religious learning, the new Muslim communities also enjoyed high status among
5481-512: The medieval period. With the centralized supervision of the Ajuran, farms in Afgooye , Kismayo and other areas in the Jubba and Shabelle valleys increased their productivity. A system of irrigation ditches known locally as Kelliyo fed directly from the Shebelle and Jubba rivers into the plantations where sorghum , maize , beans, grain and cotton were grown during the gu ( Spring in Somali) and xagaa ( Summer in Somali) seasons of
5568-584: The merchants of the Ajuran Empire did brisk business with traders from the following states: With their maritime pursuits, the Ajuran Empire established trading and diplomatic ties across the old world, especially in Asia, from being close allies of the grand power of the Ottomans to having cordial ties with the mighty Ming Dynasty , paving the way for merchants from Ajuran to embark on great maritime expeditions, as far away as Java and Vietnam . The ruler of
5655-425: The oldest on the continent, with Masjid Fakhr al-Din being one of the oldest mosques in Africa. Artistic carving was considered the craft of men similar to how the Somali textile industry was mainly a women's business. Amongst the nomads , carving, especially woodwork , was widespread and could be found on the most basic objects such as spoons, combs and bowls, but it also included more complex structures such as
5742-418: The orders of the first-named chief, levies black-mail on his own account, and negotiates with the governors of Marka and Brava direct. He resides with about 2,000 soldiers principally slaves at Bulo Mareta; the towns of Gulveen which he often visits and Addormo being occupied by somalis growing produce, cattle &c. and doing a large trade with Marka. The brother of Sultan Ahmed Yusuf , Abobokur Yusuf managed
5829-478: The pasture of the herds where will we move the herds? You who burnt Ganaane and chased away the infidels Have you reached a decision about the stolen pastures? Ajuran Sultanate The Ajuran Sultanate ( Somali : Saldanadda Ajuuraan , Arabic : سلطنة الأجورانية ), natively referred to as Ajuuraan , and often simply Ajuran , was a medieval Muslim Empire in the Horn of Africa . Founded by Somali Sultans it ruled over large parts of
5916-710: The perception, capture, treatment, and duties of the Oromo versus the Bantu slaves. On an individual basis, Oromo subjects were not viewed as racially inferior by their Somali captors. Despite Oromos taking the same roles as the Bantus, they were not treated the same. The most fortunate of the men worked as the officials or bodyguards of the ruler and emirs, or as business managers for rich merchants. They enjoyed significant personal freedom and occasionally held slaves of their own. Prized for their beauty and viewed as legitimate sexual partners, many Oromo women became either wives or concubines of their Somali owners, while others became domestic servants. The most beautiful ones often enjoyed
6003-402: The portable nomadic tent, the aqal . In the Merca area, various pillar tombs still exist, which local tradition holds were built in the 16th century, when the Ajuran Empire's naa'ibs governed the district. The empire left an extensive architectural legacy , being one of the major medieval Somali powers engaged in castle and fortress building. Many of the ruined fortifications dotting
6090-425: The ports of Merca and Barawa (which were out of the two powers' jurisdiction) to conduct their trade in safety. The Ajuran Empire was an influential Somali kingdom that held sway over several cities and towns in central and southern Somalia during the Middle Ages. With the fall of the Sultanate, a number of these settlements continued to prosper, eventually becoming major cities in present-day Somalia. A few of
6177-409: The reign of Ajuran. An annual tournament is still held every year for it in Afgooye . Carving, known in Somali as Qoris , was practiced in the coastal cities of the state. Many wealthy urbanites in the medieval period regularly employed the finest wood and marble carvers in Somalia to work on their interiors and houses. The carvings on the mihrabs and pillars of ancient Somali mosques are some of
6264-551: The revolts against Ajuran rulers. The loss of port cities and fertile farms meant that much needed sources of revenue were lost to the rebels. Somali maritime enterprise significantly declined after the collapse of the Ajuran Empire. However, other polities such as the Isaaq Sultanate , Geledi Sultanate , Majeerteen Sultanate , Sultanate of Hobyo , and the Dervish state in a way ensured its continuity. By 1700, there
6351-1004: The richest selection of the poem performed by Goitow Ganaane gubow gaala guuriow Gooble maahinoo Geelidle ma goynin Gembi iyo waran guraantiis aa loogu soo gayooday, Gooble Gacalkiisa guri curad aa looga soo guuray Haddana nin walba aa Soo gamgamohaayo, goofka beereed waa la goostay, gelgeshii Gaashada daaqeysana waa la goostay, gunta intee la geyn doonaa? Gobroontii soo gaartay Gobroontaan ma ahayn, gargooye Ibraahim Cumar Xaaji goodaalka adunyada markii joogeen, Awow Gaduud Cali - Mahinoo - Awow Gaduud Cali Abukar, Yusuf Maxamuud iyo goodaalka Addunka markii joogeen, ganuunka ganuunkan ma ahayn, Awow Gudgudoome Cumar Adeerow goodaalka aduunka markii joogeen Ganuunka ganuunkan ma ahayn. Beereed waa la goostay, gelgeshii Gaasha la la goostay, gaasha intee loola guuraa ? Ganaane gubowow, gaala guuriow-aa Gelgeshii la goostay go'aan maad ka gaart-aa (gaartay) ? You who burnt Ganaane and chased away
6438-451: The soldiers were under the supervision of a military commander known as an emir . The coastal areas and the lucrative Indian Ocean trade were protected by a navy . The State collected tribute from the farmers in the form of harvested products like durra , sorghum and bun, and from the nomads, cattle, camels and goats. The collecting of tribute was done by a wazir . Luxury goods imported from foreign lands were also presented as gifts to
6525-572: The southern Somali coast at a time when the Ajurans were at the height of their power. The Garen rulers conducted several military expeditions known as the Gaal Madow Wars on the Oromo invaders, converting those that were captured to Islam . The Ajuran Empire slowly declined in power at the end of the 17th century. In this period the rulers of the empire abandoned Sharia , became oppressive and enacted heavy taxation. The dethronement of
6612-449: The traditional Somali clan system, thereby making them more reliable. The soldiers were recruited from the inter-riverine area; other recruits came from the surrounding nomadic region. Arab , Persian and Turkish mercenaries were at times employed as well. In the early period, the army's weapons consisted of traditional Somali weapons such as swords , daggers , spears , battle axes , and bows . The Empire received assistance from
6699-400: The wealth of Moordiinle, Mereeyey, and the enclosures of lidow, I scarcely notice it. The Geledi army numbered around 20,000 men in times of peace, with a maximum of 50,000 troops in times of war. The supreme commanders of the army were the Sultan and his brother, who in turn had Malaakhs and Garads under them. The military was supplied with rifles and cannons by Somali traders of
6786-409: The wells made it easier for the nomads to settle disputes by taking their queries to government officials who would act as mediators. Long distance caravan trade, a long-time practice in the Horn of Africa, continued unchanged in Ajuran times. Today, numerous ruined and abandoned towns throughout the interior of Somalia and the Horn of Africa are evidence of a once-booming inland trade network dating from
6873-443: Was a Somali Sultan of the Geledi sultanate , reigning from 1848 to 1878 and succeeded his father Yusuf Mahamud after his demise at the battle of Adaddey Suleyman. Ahmed was crowned as the fourth Sultan, and his rule marked a period of great prosperity in the Sultanate. The Sultan is credited as having brought over 20,000 Somali troops to free the slaves of Zanzibar . Ahmed was born in the town of Afgooye , where he stayed until
6960-468: Was a large city with houses of four or five storeys high and big palaces in its centre and many mosques with cylindrical minarets. In the 16th century, Duarte Barbosa noted that many ships from the Kingdom of Cambaya sailed to Mogadishu with cloths and spices for which they in return received gold , wax and ivory . Barbosa also highlighted the abundance of meat, wheat, barley, horses, and fruit on
7047-525: Was at Afgooye where the rulers resided. The kingdom had a number of castles forts with a variety of different architectures in various areas within its realm, including a fortress at Luuq and a citadel at Bardera . At its height, the Sultanate covered all Rahanweyn territories within present-day Somalia. This is what some refer to as the Geledi confederacy. The confederacy was not only confined to Digil and Mirifle but incorporated other Somalis such as Bimaal , Sheekhaal , and Wacdaan . To reign such
7134-426: Was celebrated subsequently each year during the Somali new year alongside other festivals such as Nowruz. It was not until the Geledi sultanate and the reign of Sultan Ahmed Yusuf that the martial art festival became a centralized tournament with separate teams each supported by an assembly of poets, female vocalists and dance groups throughout the duration of the contest. After preparations were made to finally defeat
7221-476: Was committed then a googol meeting was held between the Akhiyaar of both. The Sultan would have a regular guard consisting of armed slaves to protect him from those who wished harm. The Ul Hay would be his intermediaries between the Geledi sub lineages and received his directions and intentions on matters. The symbol of the Sultan's authority was his turban. It would be placed on his head by leading elders of
7308-521: Was effectively no trace of Ajuran polity left in Baanadir . The Ajuran nobility used many of the typical Somali aristocratic and court titles , with the Garen rulers styled Imam . These leaders were the empire's highest authority, and counted multiple Sultans , Emirs , and Kings as clients or vassals . The Garen rulers also had seasonal palaces in Mareeg , Qelafo and Merca , important cities in
7395-474: Was in the 13th century the Ajuran first appeared and began gaining power. For several centuries they exerted strong political influence on the inland pastoralists, while also embracing coastal trade and infrastructure. The sultanate functioned for approximately three centuries. The House of Garen was the ruling hereditary dynasty of the Ajuran Empire. Its origin lies in the Garen Kingdom that during
7482-472: Was known to have come from outside the Kingdom). The Ajuran gradually became a notable and respected empire. Around 1500, they rose to dominance in the interior of Banaadir region, after which they maintained a hegemony for approximately 150 years. The introduction of a great variety of technological innovations to the Somali territories are attributed to the empire, such as systems of dykes and dams on
7569-498: Was mainly for legitimacy reasons. The Sultanate of Geledi exerted a strong centralized authority during its existence and possessed all of the institutions and trappings of an integrated modern state: a functioning bureaucracy, a hereditary nobility, titled aristocrats, a taxing system, conducting foreign policy, a state flag as well as a standing army. The great sultanate also maintained written records of their activities which still exist in museums. The Geledi Sultanate's capital city
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