ancient city of Derbe Belanbel

[Cartan Boos]

''he objective of the study is to reconstruct the history of Derbé Belanbel historical and cultural site. Methodologically the researcher mainly used the qualitative method and culled data from secondary literature but the study heavily relies on field observation and information gathered from knowledgeable informants. As far as I have tried to establish, Derbé Belanbel was a medieval center of culture and civilization of the Harla Somalis characterized by stone built houses, steles, and a Mosque that appropriately suggest a religious settlement. The stone built houses are similar with those located in the Harar, Dire Dawa and Zeila areas as well as with those located in the northern parts of proper Somalia''

 

[Cartan Boos]

''There are two similar but different accounts on the etymology of the study site. The two accounts do agree on the meaning of the word Derbé that, in the Somali language, means a wall. However, we have two completely different explanations on the meaning of Belanbel. First, the word represents a kind of plant, which grows in the area abundantly. This, we have also confirmed. Secondly, the word entails to a burning fire along the sides of mountain slopes, which the Sheiks used to burn at night while they had taught the holy Quran to their students. In the Somali language, the word Dhuhun means stone, a name given to a mountain located in the immediate outskirts of the town in its western direction so named because of the enormous quantity of rock found inside the mountain. Therefore, the town gets its name from the mountain that overlooks the flourishing settlement that spread over east of the mountain. It is the eastern most part of a mountain terrain called Qerchiqod (Qarijiqood in the Somali language) that runs from west to east. When seen from the village town of Barmill, located some 25-kilo meters west of Dhuhun, the mountain terrain portrays a majestic look almost uninterrupted. However, the residents of the area told us that the mountain terrain has seven parts. Dhuhun is a somehow projected eastern most part of this mountain terrain before it turns southeast''

 

[Cartan Boos]

source:

https://www.longdom.org/open-access-pdfs/a-history-of-derb-belanbel-historical-and-cultural-site.pdf

 

[Cartan Boos]

 

[Ximan iyo Xadeed]

Harla Koombe city

 

[Riftvalley]

The fact that the informants in the study were adamant:

1.Ruins belong to a settled Somali tribe called Harla;
2. Settlement was established or rose to prominence around 14th century;
3. Was a centre of Islamic Dawah diffusion by Muslim Ulema towards the surrounding areas,

Shouldn’t be taken lightly. That These communities also speak about the Harla with a great deal conviction, is an important refutation of Lewis who claimed Somalis knew little about Harlas, when he only speaking to a few people in Waqooyi.

I think we also have to start re-examining this prevalent idea of Islam being largely spread by Arab “traders”. The Deen was most likely heavily propagated by these Ulema who set up learning centres and then travelled far and wide into the interior. The Somalis probably claim decent from these types of Sheikhs. The Harla informants in the Afar study also mention large groups of sheikhs departing the coastal areas like Zeila and others in the interior to spread Islam to the people.

 

[Midas]

Incredible they found over 21 stone towns between harar and zeila. I can't imagine how diffrent the region must have looked In The past