Who were the Harla People and what is their relation to Somalis? Did they contribute to the modern Somali ethnogenesis?

[Emir of Zayla]

"At Badwein, in the centre of that part of the Nogal Valley which is occupied by the Arasama sub-tribe, we discovered extensive ruins of an ancient city, and close by a large tank quarried out of the gypsum rock. The deserted ruins covered an area of about 40,000 square yards, choked up with cactus and aloes, the haunt of leopards and hyasnas. Most of the houses have been reduced to mounds of stone and rubble, covered with straggling mimosa bushes, but here and there the walls of houses were better preserved. We rode into one house, whose walls stood some 10 feet high, and found it divided into many partitions, the building being in the form of a parallelogram, with sides 200 feet long and 100 feet wide. Curious niches hero and there would seem to have been used as fire-places.

The Somalis said this civilised people cultivated all the lands around, and occupied large cities, that they could read and write, and that when their (the Somalis') fathers came to the country, many buildings bore traces of writing which had long since been worn away by the work of time. They called the people " Harli,"

The latter had dug the rocky wells at Kirrid which we saw on first entering the country, and had cut a rude Christian cross in the face of the cave—■ the only ancient sign existing of a rude form of Christianity in the land. We tried to decipher what was said to be writing on the pillar of a doorway ; but it waB impossible to make out any lotters, as the surface of the gypsum stones, of which all the houses were built, had become much decomposed by the action of rain, and looked spongy, like pumice-stone. We rode with our party of Dulbahantas in amongst the ruins, out of one house into another, and, standing on high heaps of debris, let our eyes range over a landscape dotted with crumbling grey walls imbedded in clumps of aloes and cactus. As we picked our way among the fallenblocks, we disturbed a herd of deer feeding inside the remains of an old building, and everywhere guinea-fowl, of the species called vulturine, scuttled out of our path. We wished much to dig amongst the ruins for ancient pottery, etc., but wero prevented from doing so by the suspicion and prejudice of our hosts, who consider any tampering with these places as sacrilegious. There were many old graves, some of which seemed to be built in the form of a cross; they were plastered over with a mortar composed of pounded gypsum and water. The Dulbahantas now make their graves in the same manner, only Moslem in design; always in the vicinity of water, as certain rites, for which water is necessary, have to be carried out. In some cases dead men are carried, strapped on camels, long distances in order to be buried near water.

We much wished to remain some days and explore tbis dead city, but various sub-tribes of Dulbahantas were very uneasy and suspicious of our intentions, so we thought it advisable not to prolong our stay. They could not understand why we roamed about in desolate places instead of accepting the hospitality of their wandering camps, where the whole place was infested with camel-ticks ; and having seen us working the theodolite, they credited us with designs of presently bringing an army to take the country. They dissuaded us as well as they could from proceeding to tho out-of-the-way peaks we had fixed upon as points of observation, and placed many obstacles in the way, assuring us we should be attacked by savage tribes, and that we were going into a country utterly waterless, that our camels would be devoured by lions, etc. Seeing, however, that we went all the same, and discovered water in spite of them, they gave up the attempt, and we were better friends after."

It’s interesting that they found a few Christian crosses though it’s could likely be just a remnant of trade with the Christian Abyssinians. It’s also cool that the ruins of the ancient city were huge, it could be likely that the urbanization of Somalis during that time was quite high and that writing was common amongst them.

 

[Idilinaa]

In the Tarikh Al-Mulikh (Awsa Chronicles) manuscript that details the second half . the groups mentioned to live there were Somali clans who were an obstacle for the installation of the Adal leadership, in their power transplant

In the Awsa chronicles Somali groups are mentioned a bunch of times living in that region. Afars are not mentioned a single time.

From the leadership names in the chronicles ''Isa Harla'' , it could possibly mean that there was a union between Isa Clan and Harla clan. That would make sense.

A seperate chronicle go onto explain it was later replaced by Mudayto Afar who continued the political legacy.

Hopefully they will publish the Awsa chronicles in full translation.

We might learn more.

 

[Step a side]

Like i said there was already Somali clan groups living there before the leadership migrated there . The family of Gasa.

It literally says so in the Awsa Chronicles. It's not oral tradition its documented history

Brother it says Harla communities were in the region centuries before the Harla of Gasa came. Gasa migrated from Bale. Now if Harla means sedentary Somalis then that makes sense with one farming community getting rid of the other. But if we attach a certain clan to Harla then it won’t make sense. Do you get my point now?

Also another extra small piece of information I would like to add is that this document goes on to say that Gasa’s family were in charge up to 1628 when in fact it was up to 1647 with Amiir Ahmed ibn waziir Abraamo being Amiir of Awwsa and Waziir of Harar (as was custom of the imamate) but it’s a minor thing anyways. He would be the last amongst reer Gasa before the Imamate came to an end with Harar emirate and Awssa Sultanate being formed right after its collapse.

 

[Idilinaa]

Brother it says Harla communities were in the region centuries before the Harla of Gasa came. Gasa migrated from Bale. Now if Harla means sedentary Somalis then that makes sense with one farming community getting rid of the other. But if we attach a certain clan to Harla then it won’t make sense. Do you get my point now?


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Also another extra small piece of information I would like to add is that this document goes on to say that Gasa’s family were in charge up to 1628 when in fact it was up to 1647 with Amiir Ahmed ibn waziir Abraamo being Amiir of Awwsa and Waziir of Harar (as was custom of the imamate) but it’s a minor thing anyways. He would be the last amongst reer Gasa before the Imamate came to an end with Harar emirate and Awssa Sultanate being formed right after its collapse.

View attachment 321987

Harla are not the only Somali clan to exist in region. I assume issa and certainly other clans were in that area lived alongside them according to the chronicles who repeatedly mention Somali groups.

The Awsa chronicles deal with the migration of the Gasa Family leadership and their installation in that region that was already inhabited by other groups and they didn't come from Bale but came Harar. Their settlement wasn't against Afar but rather against Somalis tribes.

 

[somali04]

I have met Harla people, and you can find them among the Darod, Afar, and Issa. However, they all classify themselves as Harla Kombe Kabbalah, even those who are assimilated into the Afar community.

 

[sultan.ali177]

There is no evidence of Darood assimilated them. Darood is a big clan with many large sub clans, Harla is just one among them.

The surviving Harla are apart of the Issa clan(Dir) while maintaining that they descend originally from Darood Kombe. Which actually proves they retained their original lineage.

It also proves their Somaliness more cause the context to this means they engaged in the “Shegaad” Somali practice which is where a clan gets weakened and join membership into another clan on a temporary/client basis to increase number or strength

Harla was weakened due to the blow back of Adals collapse ensuing the war, also Oromo/Afar migration and then sought refuge among the Issas their fellow Somali kinsmen.

The Harlah among the Afar in Awsa also retained their original Darood genealogy: See post below:

No this is false Harlas amoung ciises don't claim darood and Futuh clearly describes Harla as a separate tribe from somalis

 

[sultan.ali177]

Like i said there was already Somali clan groups living there before the leadership migrated there . The family of Gasa.

It literally says so in the Awsa Chronicles. It's not oral tradition its documented history

A

The Afar oral story states that Harla farmers lived in the region before another group came with Gurey’s family member Gasa from Bale to start Awssa Imamate. Then you have the Harla contingent led by another relative of the imam who himself was affiliated with the Harla from Zerba.

How would you make sense of this?

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Afar weren't living in Awsa during these times, their ancestor came after the kingdom was already established

 

[sultan.ali177]

I have met Harla people, and you can find them among the Darod, Afar, and Issa. However, they all classify themselves as Harla Kombe Kabbalah, even those who are assimilated into the Afar community.

No and the Harlas in afar were assimilated by darood first that's why they claim that lineage

 

[sultan.ali177]

In the Tarikh Al-Mulikh (Awsa Chronicles) manuscript that details the second half . the groups mentioned to live there were Somali clans who were an obstacle for the installation of the Adal leadership, in their power transplant

In the Awsa chronicles Somali groups are mentioned a bunch of times living in that region. Afars are not mentioned a single time.

From the leadership names in the chronicles ''Isa Harla'' , it could possibly mean that there was a union between Isa Clan and Harla clan. That would make sense.

A seperate chronicle go onto explain it was later replaced by Mudayto Afar who continued the political legacy.

I read Enrico translation of the Awsa Chronicles and the only time the word somali is mentioned are in Saylac. Erics translation never mentioned an alliance with ciises and harlas

 

[sultan.ali177]

Brother it says Harla communities were in the region centuries before the Harla of Gasa came. Gasa migrated from Bale. Now if Harla means sedentary Somalis then that makes sense with one farming community getting rid of the other. But if we attach a certain clan to Harla then it won’t make sense. Do you get my point now?


View attachment 321986

Also another extra small piece of information I would like to add is that this document goes on to say that Gasa’s family were in charge up to 1628 when in fact it was up to 1647 with Amiir Ahmed ibn waziir Abraamo being Amiir of Awwsa and Waziir of Harar (as was custom of the imamate) but it’s a minor thing anyways. He would be the last amongst reer Gasa before the Imamate came to an end with Harar emirate and Awssa Sultanate being formed right after its collapse.

View attachment 321987

Ahmed guray family ruled up to 1600 after that it was a different family

 

[Idilinaa]

No this is false Harlas amoung ciises don't claim darood and Futuh clearly describes Harla as a separate tribe from somalis

The surviving Harla among the Issa clan that remains that Enrico Cerruli and many other 20th century writers have had the privilege of studying claim darood. They don't claim Dir lineage.

The Darod group of tribes are represented by the Giri, Marehan, Herti, Bersuk, Bartire, Yabarre and Harla, who are now a section of the Esa but recognize their Darod affinities.

The Ruined Towns of Somaliland* | Antiquity | Cambridge Core

The Ruined Towns of Somaliland* - Volume 11 Issue 43

www.cambridge.org

And

Harlah. Most of the Harlah now live with the Esa Madoba or Black Esa, while some also live near the Danakil country.

I think there can be little doubt that they were the descendants of Harrlah, brother of Harti and Gherri, and son of Kumbi, who was one of the direct descendants of Darod. This shows that the Harla were of the same stock as the other Darod tribes, and consequently were Somalis and not Gallas. I have seen several of these old remains myself in both Somaliland and in the Galla countries in Abyssinia

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If Harla was assimilated by Darood why are they part of Issa while claiming a separate lineage? and why would the ones in Afar claim the same separate Darod genealogy? Why do they speak their own Somali dialect and not the one spoken by Issa/Darod?

Use your common sense. Futuh groups Sedentary Harla with other Bedouin Somali tribes but also distinguishes them based on lifestyle differences.

I read Erics translation of the Awsa Chronicles and the only time the word somali is mentioned are in Saylac. Erics translation never mentioned an alliance with ciises and harlas

There is Tarikh Al Mulikh and she mentions that there are other short texts on Awsa covering later periods. I am assuming its Tarikh Al-Mulikh that speak on the power installation against Somali groups in that area.

I didn't say it mentions explicitly an alliance between Isa and Harla. That's just my own theory. The name ''Harla Isa'' in the genealogy of the later rulers makes that theory seem like a possibility.

 

[Step a side]

Ahmed guray family ruled up to 1600 after that it was a different family

They ruled up to the end of the Imamate 1647 (rough estimate). 1 Ciise man took over after only for Afar Mudayito to take over and establishe Awssa Sultanate shortly after while in Harar the Dawuud dynasty took over from Gurey’s family starting the Harar emirate. This must have been the doings of the Ottomans to prep new rulers that were more “obedient” than the family of Gurey.

Afar weren't living in Awsa during these times, their ancestor came after the kingdom was already established

Yes I’m aware. My point was, Gurey’s family came with their own Harla separate from the Harla that were already there. This means (according to my understanding) that Harla is an occupation that turned later on into a clan. A bit similar to Tumaal which is an occupation but turned into a clan. Sultan Mohammed for example led the various Harla groups in battle. He is said to be from the Harla of Zerbah. This Sultan Mohamed is relative of Gurey and from the line of Gasa whose descendants established awssa. This is what I tried explaining yesterday.

The Awsa chronicles deal with the migration of the Gasa Family leadership and their installation in that region that was already inhabited by other groups and they didn't come from Bale but came Harar. Their settlement wasn't against Afar but rather against Somalis tribes.

He was from Bale. Bale was a colony/extension of Adal. The family ultimately have their origin go back to Harar (Hobat to be precise). I will try and get the paper inshaAllah. Give me some time.

 

[Idilinaa]

They ruled up to the end of the Imamate 1647 (rough estimate). 1 Ciise man took over after only for Afar Mudayito to take over and establishe Awssa Sultanate shortly after while in Harar the Dawuud dynasty took over from Gurey’s family starting the Harar emirate. This must have been the doings of the Ottomans to prep new rulers that were more “obedient” than the family of Gurey.

Yes I’m aware. My point was, Gurey’s family came with their own Harla separate from the Harla that were already there. This means (according to my understanding) that Harla is an occupation that turned later on into a clan. A bit similar to Tumaal which is an occupation but turned into a clan. Sultan Mohammed for example led the various Harla groups in battle. He is said to be from the Harla of Zerbah. This Sultan Mohamed is relative of Gurey and from the line of Gasa whose descendants established awssa. This is what I tried explaining yesterday.


He was from Bale. Bale was a colony/extension of Adal. The family ultimately have their origin go back to Harar (Hobat to be precise). I will try and get the paper inshaAllah. Give me some time.

Harla was just an ordinary agro-pastoral clan. Same as the ones you saw in the fertile region of Western Galbeed and South-Central Somalia, it's not deeper than that.

Tumaal is not clan at all. Its an umbrella occupational name , they could be from any of the major clans.

 

[Step a side]

Harla was just an ordinary agro-pastoral clan. Same as the ones you saw in the fertile region of Western Galbeed and South-Central Somalia, it's not deeper than that.

Tumaal is not clan at all. It’s an umbrella occupational name , they could be from any of the major clans.

So the Harla can be found in any of the major clans like Dir, Darood, Hawiye etc?

Tumaal/Gabooye stick together despite having different origins as proven by DNA studies. Same thing might have happened to Harla.

 

[Idilinaa]

So the Harla can be found in any of the major clans like Dir, Darood, Hawiye etc?

Tumaal/Gabooye stick together despite having different origins as proven by DNA studies. Same thing might have happened to Harla.

Harla are not referred to as Tumaal. Harla is an agro-pastoral Darood clan that a survived as a Shegad among Isa their neighbor. They lived between Awash river and upper shabelle.

Tumaal and or Gaboye do not stick together, they live scattered across the entire region among different clans and claim different lines of descent some dir, some hawiye, some darood, some raxanweyn etc. There is no different DNA origins.

 

[Daadhi Tarree]

Harla were sedentary Somalis. They were led by Gurey’s cousin Sultan Mohammad who himself was from the Harla (Sedentary Somalis) that lived in Zerbah.

Do you have proof for that?

 

[Daadhi Tarree]

No this is false Harlas amoung ciises don't claim darood and Futuh clearly describes Harla as a separate tribe from somalis

Facts

 

[Khaem]

No this is false Harlas amoung ciises don't claim darood and Futuh clearly describes Harla as a separate tribe from somalis

Facts

Harla are not tied to a specific qabil. As there are also Sub clans of Ciise that were harla

I suggest you read this thread

Futuh al-Habasha: Somalis As Bedouins

Hargeisa is most likely a union of “Harag = sheep skin” and “Geesi / Gesiah = brave”. If the town was established to create a safe corridor to transport and sell sheep skin away from potential ambushes by highwaymen, then it fits nicely. It has nothing to do with delusional Oromos. P. 6 - A...

www.somalispot.com

 

[Step a side]

Harla are not referred to as Tumaal. Harla is an agro-pastoral Darood clan that a survived as a Shegad among Isa their neighbor. They lived between Awash river and upper shabelle.

Tumaal and or Gaboye do not stick together, they live scattered across the entire region among different clans and claim different lines of descent some dir, some hawiye, some darood, some raxanweyn etc. There is no different DNA origins.

I am sorry but Sultan Mohamed that led the Harla contingent was not Darood. He was Karanle part of reer Gasa. The same family that started awsa and brought even more Harla to the region.

Do you have proof for that?

Here is the quote from futuh translated. Zerbah is a location by the way and not a clan

Then the tribe of Zarba came up after them. Their chieftain was the sultan Muhammad, son of the paternal aunt of the imam. With him were one-thousand and-sixty notable infantry, and forty knights. The imam made them welcome and showed them his favour. He [sultan Muhammad] resided at Harar. The imam was exceedingly delighted at this and gave thanks to the Most High God.

 

[Step a side]

Harla are not tied to a specific qabil. As there are also Sub clans of Ciise that were harla

I suggest you read this thread

Futuh al-Habasha: Somalis As Bedouins

Hargeisa is most likely a union of “Harag = sheep skin” and “Geesi / Gesiah = brave”. If the town was established to create a safe corridor to transport and sell sheep skin away from potential ambushes by highwaymen, then it fits nicely. It has nothing to do with delusional Oromos. P. 6 - A...

www.somalispot.com

Thank you for this. I tried explaining that Harla is an occupation. They can’t be tied to a clan because that would make Gurey and his family Harla clan which is not true.