Family and clan
Begedi (Bagadi, Digil, Rahanweyn)
The Begedi (Bagadi) are a Somali clan in the Digil branch of the Rahanweyn. The EUAA places them in Lower Shabelle, around Afgoye, as farmers and traders. Somali Wikipedia names Awdheegle district as their main home. Some sources also count them with the Benadiri minority groups.
Name and family tree
The Begedi are a Somali clan, also written Bagadi. Most sources place them in the Digil branch of the Rahanweyn.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| EUAA 2025 | "Begedi and Geledi are part of Rahanweyn/Digil" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.4.3) |
| ACCORD 2009 | "The Bagadi / Iroole are part of Digil / Rahanweyn in Lower Shabelle" (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 20) |
| ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Digil > Bagadi, with older names Begedi and Digil-Bagari (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| World Bank 2005 (CRD chart) | Digil: Geledi, Tunni, Garre, Jiiddo, Begedi and Shanta-Alen (World Bank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, 2005, Appendix 2) |
| Abbink 2009 | Lists Irole under Digil (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 11) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | Descended from Aw Digil (Somali Wikipedia, Begedi, backup) |
ACCORD treats Bagadi and Iroole as one name pair. Abbink lists Irole but not Begedi. See the Rahanweyn and Digil tree.
Main branches
Somali Wikipedia says the Begedi have 12 clans in four lineages (Somali Wikipedia, Begedi, backup). It adds that some Begedi lineages joined the Eelay, Geledi, Garre and Tunni over time (same source).
ACLED codes one Bagadi group without sub-clans (ACLED, September 2025). The EUAA and ACCORD name no Begedi sub-clans.
Where they live
No census counts Somalis by clan. ACCORD notes that Somalis often claim more members than their groups have, "in order to demonstrate strength" (ACCORD 2009, p. 11).
| Place | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| Lower Shabelle, around Afgoye | "Geledi and Begedi typically reside in Lower Shabelle region, especially in and around Afgoye" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3) |
| Lower Shabelle, long-term groups | The EASO lists Bagadi among the long-term indigenous sub-clans of Lower Shabelle, with Tunni, Eelay, Garre, Geledi and Jiddu (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| Awdheegle district | Somali Wikipedia calls it their main home (Somali Wikipedia, backup) |
| Other towns | Somali Wikipedia adds Buurhakaba, Afgooye, Qoryooley, Marka, Baraawe, Sablaale, Kunturwaarey, Janaale, Baardheere, Jowhar, Mogadishu and Baydhabo (same source) |
The EUAA says they "are usually farmers and/or traders" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3). Somali Wikipedia adds herding. See Lower Shabelle.
History on record
- 1991 onward. The EUAA writes about the civil war years. It says "Geledi and Begedi were overrun and exploited especially by Hawiye clan militias who took control of their homeland" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3).
- 2000s. ACCORD writes that the Digil were "suppressed by the Hawiye". It says al-Shabaab moved into Lower Shabelle "on the basis of supporting the Digil and the Biymaal" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20).
- Early 2025. The EUAA says the Rahanweyn "are not considered a minority group anymore". It adds that Begedi and Geledi are still "often considered to be part of the Benadiri minority groups" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3).
Elders and customary law
Senior Somali clan leaders carry titles such as suldaan, ugaas or issim. Their role is "mainly judicial and representative" (UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014). The sources used here name no Begedi titled elder. See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA conflict list for April 2023 to March 2025 does not name the Begedi or Bagadi (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). See clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Majority or minority. The EUAA and ACCORD place the Begedi in the Digil. The EUAA also notes they are often counted with the Benadiri minority groups.
- Name. ACCORD pairs Bagadi with Iroole. Abbink lists Irole under Digil but does not name the Begedi.
- Lineages. Somali Wikipedia gives 12 clans in four lineages. The other sources here name no sub-clans.
Read more
Sources
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.4.3 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 20 · ecoi.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- World Bank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, 2005, Appendix 2 · openknowledge.worldbank.org
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 11 · hdl.handle.net
- Somali Wikipedia, Begedi, backup · so.wikipedia.org
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Begedi (Bagadi, Digil, Rahanweyn)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Baydhabo (Baidoa) and BayBay is a farming region in South West State, with Baidoa (Baydhabo) as its main city and about 1.25 to 1.8 million people.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Somali clan tree: DarodEvery Darod clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: DirEvery Dir clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: every clan, sub-clan and lineageThe full Somali clan tree, family by family down to diya-paying groups, from Abbink 2009, ACLED 2025 and the World Bank, with a download.
- Somali clan tree: groups outside the clan familiesGroups Abbink places outside the Somali clan families, and the Somali Bantu groups in ACLED 2025: part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: HawiyeEvery Hawiye clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: IsaaqEvery Isaaq clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.