Benadiri people

Benadiri
بناديري
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Somali
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Somalis, Arabians (Yemenis and Omanis in particular), the Bravanese, South Asians, Persians, and the Swahili

The Benadiri people (Somali: Reer Benaadir, Arabic: بناديري‎), also known as Reer Xamar (pronounced "Hamar") or "people of Xamar",[1] are a multiracial confederation of clans. Members largely inhabit the Benadir region in south-central Somalia.

Overview

Former Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu Mohammed Nur Iman Kar, a member of the Benadiri Somali clan.

Although the Benadiri are sometimes described as the founders of Mogadishu (hence, their colloquial name Reer Xamar or "People of Mogadishu",[1] though the city itself is postulated to be a successor of ancient Sarapion[2]), their members actually trace their origins to diverse groups. The latter primarily comprise various other Somali clans, with some additional influences from the ancient Emozeidi Arabs and Persians.[3]

Reer Xamar were instrumental in helping to consolidate the local Muslim community, especially in the coastal Benadir region.[4][5] During the colonial period, they were also among the founding members of the Somali Youth League, Somalia's first political party.[6]

Notable members

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Abbink, p.18.
  2. ↑ Vérin, Pierre (1986). The History of Civilisation in North Madagascar. A.A. Balkema. p. 30.
  3. ↑ Africa, Volumes 8-9. Kraus Reprint. 1975. p. 199. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Cassanelli, Lee V. (1973). "The Benaadir past: essays in southern Somali history". University of Wisconsin: 24.
  5. ↑ Muslims in the Diaspora (1999) Rima Berns-McGown, page 21
  6. ↑ I. M. Lewis, A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa, (LIT Verlag Münster: 1999), p.304.

References

  • Abbink, J. (1999). The total Somali clan genealogy: a preliminary sketch. African Studies Centre.


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