Country Horn of Africa Founder Sheik Yarrow Maaytey | Titles Sultan
Imam
Shaykh | |
The House of Galluweger or Gaalaware was a Somali royal house, based in present-day southern Somalia. It established the city-state of Afgooye and the Geledi Sultanate after defeating the Ajuran Empire. The house was founded by a religious and military leader Sheik Yarrow Maaytey, who came to the area to spread the teachings of Islam the Qadiriya Sufi doctrine and an effort to free the people from the Silcis Kingdom. Though there are insufficient writings available on Sheik Yarrow Maaytey, according to oral tradition he was the son of the Sultan of Jilible clan in Bakool region of Somalia.
Contents
History
Sometime between the 14th century to 17th century, Ajuran Dynasty ruled over much of the Horn of Africa including Somalia. The Ajuran Sultanate started to decline in power sometime at the 17th century. Sheik Yarrow Maaytey was sent by his father the Sultan of Jilibly in an effort to strategically attack in the interior of the Ajuran Sultanate. At the end of the 17th century, Sheik Yarrow Maaytey faced in a battle with an Ajuran general named Ibrahim Adeer. It was during a cease fire meeting when both leaders agreed that since various vassals were now breaking free or being absorbed by new Somali powers, they would revolt against the Ajuran Dynasty. The rebellion was led by the Silcis ruler Umar Abroone, with the city-state of Afgooye and the Geledi Sultanate subsequently formed. After the defeating of the Ajuran, the Galluweger Dynasty rule a land between the North East of Afgooye (the sultanate of Geledi )where up to now reminiscences of Galluweger tribe live, and the Southwestern regions of Bay, Bakool and Gedo.
An insight into their culture and perception can be obtained by studying the (Diwaan) writings of their recent famous poets.
Origins
The Galluweger people trace their origin back to one historical ancestor. The ancestor of Galluweger is Omardin who was one of six brothers Abdalla the great Abdalla The small Umarsiyaad, sadik and Ahmed., Omardin is the grand son of Fiqi Cumar (Sheekhaal). Omardin traveled from Harar to Gedo and Ganaane area on the upper Juba. He met there the Sultan of Digil Aleemo who had a sick daughter named Ashaa. Omardin was able to help the Sultan’s daughter Ashaa and heal her. It is said that Ashaa chose to marry him with the Sultan’s blessings. The Omardin’s lineages are traditionally considered as the chiefs of Digil and Rahanweyn. The Galluweger alone with the Gobroon (section of the Geledi tribe) were once dominant among the Digil and Rahanweyn, their influence extending to the coastal towns. They are still the most important sub-clans of the Rahanweyn Sagaal.
Fiqi omar the ancestor of Galluweger is said to have lived in Harar (Addar). He was from Beni Amer tribe, which is well known in some parts of the Horn of Africa.
Clan tree
Historian Christian Bader lists the principal subclans of Digil and Rahanweyn as follows: