History
The Walls of Mogadishu
The city states of Mogadishu, Barawa, Marka and Kismayo were at one point all surrounded by walls. This was a systematic approach by the Sultan at that time to separate rural people from the urban dwellers. This was witnessed by…
Sheikh Umar bin Qulatayn bin Mudhir Al Nadiri
Sheikh Umar bin Qulatayn (also spelled as Kulatein, Kulatayn, Qulatein) bin Mudhir was an Islamic scholar following the Sufi Order of Qadariyah. Coming from Barawa, he traces his lineage to Hadramaut in Yemen and belonged to the Nadhiri family. He…
Masjid Awooto Eeday (1223 AH) Mogadishu
Masjid Awooto Eeday is what seems to be a small mosque hidden in the many historical alleyways of Hamarweyne. Overview The mosque is said to have been built with the money of a pious woman who was known as Awooto…
Masjid Jaama’a (636 AH/1238 CE) Mogadishu
The oldest existing Masjid in Somalia is Masjid Jaama’a (also known as Friday Mosque or Masjid Jum’ah) – built in the year 636 AH, it is situated in the heart of Hamarweyne. It is one of the three oldest Mosques…
Barawa and the Comoros
Mwana Fatima Hadji Mbarawa was the grandmother of Mwana Fatima (photo) bint Said Abdallah ibn Said Bakar ibn Mwigni M’kou. The name “Mbarawa” on her surname which was associated with his father Hadji’s first name, seems to refer to the…
Manuscript by Abdulaziz Al-Umawi, Judge of Zanzibar
يحوي مسائل فقهية ولمحات تاريخية –إدريس بن بابه باحامد –هو الشيخ الفقيه عبد العزيز بن عبد الغني الأموي، المعروف بقاضي زنجبار، لم أجد من كتب عنه كثيرا وفصّل في ذكر مآثره وحياته، إلا أنه اشتهر بعلمه وتمكنه في مجال القضاء…
The Palace Museum, Zanzibar
Written by Riadh A. AlBusaidi, April, 2018 After the 1964 Zanzibar revolution, the Sultan’s Palace was turned into a museum. I have read articles and I have seen short ‘documentary’ films talking about the origins of this palace. I would…
Sheekhal Gendershe Clan
Sheekhall Gandershe (Somali: Shiikhaal Gendershe Arabic:شيخال غاندارش) also known as Reer Aw Garweyne are a Benadiri/12 Koofi clan mainly from the southern coastal cities of; Gendershe, Marka and Mogadishu and have established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Afgooye and the villages around it due to trading and…
Trade and Skilled Craftsmanship amongst the Banadiris
For centuries Banadiris were well known for their business acumen and their contribution to the economy, they profited from every sector and contributed to the country up until recent. Despite being a maritime emporium once and a establishing a major…
“The Last Two Jews of Mogadishu” – By Nancy Kobrin
Throughout history, Mogadishu was always this metropolitan and diverse city – being a major port and a city at its economical peak during the 19th century, it paved way for economical migrants to reside in large numbers. People settled in…
Are Hatimis (Barawa Clan) the founders of Mzizima (Modern day Darussalam in Tanzania)?
Below are excerpts taken from various sources and select documents determining the formation of city states and the commonalities it had based on migration, trade and language. In this instance, this article will examine the Hatimi clan and how they…
Sheekhaal Jaziira Clan
Sheekhaal Jaziira (Somali: Sheekhaal Jaziira, Arabic: شيخال جزيرة) also known as Shiikhaal Ba Hassan (Somali: Ba Xassan, Arabic: شيخال آل باحسن) are a Banaadiri[1] clan mainly from the southern coastal cities of; Jaziira, Jilib Marka, Marka[1] and Mogadishu and have established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Afgooye and the…
Gaameedle Clan
Gamedle (Somali: Gaameedle Arabic: جامدل) are a Benadiri/12 Koofi clan mainly from the southern coastal cities of; Marka[1] and Mogadishu.[2] Overview The Gamedle clan are said to be of Hadrami ancestry according to their elders and are said to be Ba Hamdani in origin.[3] Prior to colonisation, the Gameedle…
Fasahaale Clan
Fasahale (Somali: Fasahaale Arabic:فصحالي) more commonly known as Kafaari are a Benadiri/12 Koofi clan mainly from the southern coastal city of Marka.[1] The Kafaari have specialised in the manufacture of iron and have their huts-workshops to the east of the city, near the fish market.…
NASSIB BUUNTO (d. c. 1907)
“ Nasib Bunda, Capo Di Goscia Leader of the Gosha confederation and the hero of antislavery. Though the Arabs addressed him as sultan of the Goshaland, his real name was Makanjira Che Zamani. His birthplace and date of birth are…
Women of the Coast – Celebrating Swahili Women circa 1900-1910
Photos collated by Yassin Juma
Somalia – A Nation of Poets
Poetry is the epitome of the Somali people’s way of life, throughout history, poetry was used from commemorating religious occasions, praising famous people, to indirect scathing attacks on rivaling clans, it is for this reason a large sum of history…
The Somali People
When writing about Banadir history and the contributors to this magnificent civilization, it’s only fair to mention the Somali Cushitic people, their contribution and part to play in East African History. After all, the Banadir region after colonisation is situated…
Queen Djoumbe Fatima [1837-1878] from her arrival in Marseille in July 1868
Djoumbe Fatima was the Queen of Mohéli in Comoros from the age of five until her death. Her reign started after the death of her father, King Ramanateka, also known as Sultan Abderahmane. Djoumbe Fatima, like the majority of people…
