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Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people. It is an important social unit and clan membership continues to play an important part in their culture and in the politics of Somalia. The clan is patrilineal, ie traced through the male line. Clans are often divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions.

In traditional Somali society, marriage was often to someone from another clan, ie exogamy, but during the recent conflict in Somalia this seems to have become the exception rather than the rule.

Heirarchy of clans

Certain clans are classed as noble clans, referring to the belief that they share a common Somali ancestry, whereas the minority clans are believed to have mixed parentage. The noble clans are believed to be descended from Samaale (or Samale), and are sometimes referred to collectively by this name. The four noble clans are:

• Darod
• Dir
• Hawiye
• Isaaq

Of these, the Darod, Dir and Hawiye trace their descent from Samaale through Irir Samaale.

Sab is the term used to refer to minority clans.

Some sources state that the Rahanweyn group is made up of the Digil and Mirifle clans, whereas others list the Digil as a separate group from the Rahanweyn. These are an agro-pastoral groups in the area between the Jubba and Shabeelle Rivers. They occupy a kind of second tier in the Somali social system - because they do not follow a nomadic lifestyle, live further south and speak a group of Somali dialects (Maay) which have recently been classified as a separate language, they have to some extent been isolated from the mainstream of Somali society.

A third tier, the occupational clans, have sometimes been considered as outcastes because traditionally they could only marry among themselves and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean. They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and performed specialized occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting. These clans include the Tomal, Midgan, Yibir, Ayle, Jaji and Yahar.

Major Samaale subclans

Some clans are divided into many subclans. The information below comes from Laitin and Samatar and is not exhaustive.

The major branches of the Darod are the Marehan, Awrtable, Leelkase and Kablalah. Subclans of the Marehan are the Reer Diine, Reer Siyaad Huseen, 'Ele, Wagarda' and Talhe. The Koombe are a subclan of the Kablalah with many important subclans.

Major branches of the Koombe branch of the Darod are the Harti, Bartire, Jidwaaq and Ogaden. The Majeerteen, Dhulbahante and Warsangali are Harti subclans. The Majeerteen clan is further subdivided into subclans, including the 'Ali Saleebaan, Mahamuud Saleebaan, 'Umar Mahamuud, Reer Hirsi, Reer Khalaf, Reer Mahad, 'Iise Madamuud and 'Ismaan Mahamuud. Ogaden subclans include the Bah-Gari, Mahamad Subeer, Amaadin and Maalinguur.

Dir subclans include the Gadabuursi and 'Iise.

One major branch of the Hawiye are the Habar Gedir clan. Subclans of this are the Sa'ad, Saleebaan, Saruur and 'Ayr. Another branch of related clans are the Biyamaal, Hawaadle, Abgaal, Murursade and Wa'daan. The Hintere, Dagoodiya and Ajuran are also Hawiye clans. The Gareen are a subclan of the Ajuran.

Major branches of the Isaaq are the Habar Tol Ja'alo, Habar Yoonis, Habar Awal, 'Iidagale and Habar Magadle. The 'Iise Muuse and Sa'ad Muuse are subclans of the Habar Magadle, and the Ahmad Nuuh and Makaahiil are subclans of the Sa'ad Muuse.

See also

• Somali people
• Culture of Somalia
• Clan

References

• Victims and Vulnerable Groups in Southern Somalia
• Laitin, David D. and Samatar, Said S. (1987). Somalia: Nation in Search of a State, Colorado:Westview Press. ISBN 0865315558.

• Somali culture
• Somali society
• Somali clans