Leaders and statesmen
Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid (Yuusuf Cali Keenadiid)
Yusuf Ali Kenadid (1837–1911) founded the Sultanate of Hobyo (Obbia) on the Mudug coast in 1878. He signed a protection treaty with Italy in 1889 but kept his own rule, and was later exiled by the Italians. His son Osman Yusuf Kenadid invented the Osmanya script.
Sultan Yusuf Ali KenadidYuusuf Cali Keenadiid · Yusuf Ali Kenadiid
- Lived
- 1837 to 1911
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- 1500 to 1884; Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who was he?
Yusuf Ali Kenadid was a Somali sultan who founded the Sultanate of Hobyo, also written Obbia, in 1878 (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Obbia"). Hobyo is a port on the Indian Ocean coast of the Mudug region. See the Majeerteen and Hobyo sultanates.
"Kenadid" was not his family name. It was a title, said to have been given by his rivals, meaning roughly "he who refuses to be haltered" (Wikipedia, Yusuf Ali Kenadid).
From Alula to Hobyo
He was born in 1837 into the Majeerteen (Darood) (Wikipedia). He was not born to the ruling line. He built his own wealth and following (same source).
About 1870 he fell into a dispute with his relative and son-in-law, Boqor Osman Mahamud, sultan of the Majeerteen at Alula. The dispute led to fighting and split the sultanate (Castagno 1975, "Mijerteyn"). Wikipedia records that he spent some years in Yemen. He then came back with a band of Hadhrami fighters and took control of Hobyo (Wikipedia).
Castagno records a story about his arrival. He brought masons with him, and as soon as they landed they began to build a garesa, a stone house that showed his rule over the area (Castagno 1975, "Obbia"). The name Hobyo is said to mean "here is water", a Somali image for good fortune (same source).
The treaty with Italy, 1889
In 1889 both he and Boqor Osman signed treaties of protection with the Italian consul at Zanzibar, Vincenzo Filonardi. Italy paid each sultan a yearly subsidy (Castagno 1975, "Mijerteyn"). The treaties said Italy would not interfere in how the sultanates were run (Wikipedia). Wikipedia notes that he chose Italy as the weaker power, the one least able to interfere (same source).
Exile
His relations with Italy broke down in the early 1900s, during the wars of the Dervish movement. Wikipedia says he refused to let British troops land in his sultanate to fight the Dervishes (Wikipedia). In 1903 he and his son Ali Yusuf were arrested and exiled for a time, accused of working with Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan (Castagno 1975, "Ali Yusuf"). Wikipedia records that he was sent to Aden and then to Eritrea (Wikipedia).
He died in 1911. His son Ali Yusuf ruled Hobyo from 1911 until Italian forces removed him in 1925 (Castagno 1975, "Ali Yusuf").
His family's legacy
His son Osman Yusuf Kenadid invented the Osmanya script for Somali. His grandson Yasin Osman Kenadid helped found the Society for Somali Language and Literature (Wikipedia).
In short
Founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo, which he led for over thirty years.
Sources
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Obbia" · archive.org
- Wikipedia, Yusuf Ali Kenadid · en.wikipedia.org
Sultan Yusuf Ali KenadidYuusuf Cali Keenadiid · Yusuf Ali Kenadiid
- Lived
- 1837 to 1911
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- 1500 to 1884; Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920
- Sources
- 2 sources
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