Ajuran (clan)

Overview

The Ajuran clan's origins are found in the Ajuran Sultanate, a Somali Muslim sultanate that ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa in the Middle Ages. Today they largely live in the North Eastern Province in Kenya and the Somali region of Ethiopia, but also in Somalia. The Ajuran primarily speak the Somali language.

The Ajuran are said to be part of the Jambelle Hawiye but were displaced from modern Hawiye territories in the late 17th to early 18th centuries due to historical conflicts particularly in South Central Somalia. Though as common as it is to find clan lineages with elaborate stories of founding genealogies via trees and wells for clans and even ethnic groups due to pre-eminence, much like some Isaaq traditions of claiming a maternal affinity with the Dir despite the Dir traditions of Isaaq being a paternal descent, the Ajuran are also said to be Hawiye by paternal descent according to Hawiye traditions as mentioned by Mohamed Ibrahim Liqliiqato and Colonial explorers who visited the Kelafo region such as Luigi Robecci Bricchetti, where the Ajuran had occupied an important central role within the Hawiye in the past and until recently.

Lee Cassanelli in his 1982 book "The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600-1900" often refers to the Ajuran as former leaders of a Hawiye clan dynasty.

History

Antiquity

Many traditions link the Ajuran with a people known to the Somalis as Madanle (Maantiiinle. Madinle, etc.) who were celebrated well-diggers in southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya.

Ajuran Empire

The Ajuran clan established the Garen Dynasty that ruled both Mogadishu Sultanate and Ajuran Sultanate during the Middle Ages.

Early Modern Period

During the early modern period, in the 19th century, under Sultan Olol Dinle, the Ajuran Sultanate was almost revived. He was described as the "Sultan of Sciavelli (Shabelle) and Auia (Hawiye)" in the early 1930s. Not long after would Olol Dinle be accused of conspiring with the Italians against the Ethiopian government. He was assassinated by Haile Salassie in 1960.

Language

The Ajuran in Somalia normally speak standard Somali while those in the riverside communities of Hirshabelle speak Maay Maay. As for the Ajuran in Kenya, the linguistic case is more complex. The Wallemugge section are often bilingual in Somali and Borana. However most sources state that Somali is the dominant language in the North Eastern Province, so bilingual speakers are many among the Ajuran who live in Moyale where the Borana language is prevalent.

Clan Tree

This Clan Tree is based on "The Total Somali Clan Genealogy (second edition)" by Abbink, G.J.

• Hill
  • Samaale
    • Irir
      • Hawiye
        • Jambelle
          • Ajuran
            • Garen
            • Gelberis
            • Yibidalla
            • Gashe
            • Dulhata
            • Waqle
          • Hintere
          • Garure
          • Arure
          • Olagir

Notable people

• Faduma Sarjelle, princess
• Dhaqsoore. House of Gareen member
• Rasul ibn Ali, sultan

References

Sources

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