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Yafi' (, [يافع]) is the name of a tribe in the south of Yemen. It is one of the biggest tribes that descended from the ancient Himyarite tribe. According to the famous Arab genealogist Al Hamadani (893-945 A.D), the genealogy of Yafi' is as follows: "Yafi' bin Qawel bin Zaid bin Naaitah bin Sharhabel bin Al Harth bin Yareem thu Raain bin Zaid bin Sahal bin Amer bin Qais bin Muawiyah bin Joshom bin Abd Shams bin Wael bin Al Ghawth bin Al Humaysaa bin Himyar" (Al Hamadani, v.2, pp. 306). يافع بن قاول بن زيد بن ناعتة بن شرحبيل بن الحارث بن يريم ذو رعين بن زيد بن سهل بن عمرو بن قيس بن معاوية بن جشم بن عبدشمس بن وائل بن الغوث بن الهميسع بن حمير)د
Yafi has gone through a complex structure of different tribal forms through the centuries. Currently, it is now divided into two major tribes; Yafi' bani Qasid and Yafi' bani Malik. Each tribe includes five big tribes.
Yafi' bani Qasid consists of: Kaladi (كلدي) , Saadi (سعدي), Yazeedi (يزيدي), and Nakhibi (ناخبي).
Yafi' bani Malik consists of: Moflahi (مفلحي), Mositi (موسطي), Dhabbi (ظبي), Boisi (بعسي) and Hadharami (حضرمي).
Yafi' is also the common name of the areas where the tribes of Yafi' bani Qasid and Yafi' bani Malik live. The area is situated northeast of the city of Aden, it is composed of Upper Yafa and Lower Yafa.
The name Yafa denotes both the geographical area as well a tribe or tribes inhabiting it. In ancient times, it was also referred to as Dosom or Saro Himyar.