Family and clan
Gardere, Yakabur and Mayle (the 'pre-Hawiye' group)
Gardere, Yakabur and Mayle are three lines that Abbink groups as 'pre-Hawiye'. They claim descent from a brother of Irir, son of Samaale, so they sit beside the Hawiye, not inside it. Abbink places the Hawaadle and a Garre line under Mayle. Wikipedia says the Italian scholar Colucci coined the term 'pre-Hawiya'.
Name and family tree
Gardere, Yakabur and Mayle are three lines that Abbink lists together under one heading. He calls them a "pre-Hawiya" group with "claimed descent from 'Imr, same level as Samaale" (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009).
Wikipedia says the "pre-Hawiye" trace descent "from an ancestor collateral to Irir", and so are "genealogically anterior to the Hawiya". It says the Italian scholar Colucci "coined the term 'Pre-Hawiya'" (Wikipedia, Garre, backup).
Wikipedia's Garre article also names the group "Gardhere, Saransoor, Yahabur and Mayle" (same source). See Hawiye and the Somali clan tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists these lines (Abbink 2009, Gardere-Yakabur-Mayle chart):
| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Gardere | Gilale, Ormale and Hon |
| Yakabur | Daule and Hober |
| Mayle > Hawadle | 'Abdi Yusuf, Farmagge, 'Abdalle, Allagumar, Walahmooge and Abdirahman |
| Mayle > Gerra | Tuf and Kuranyo |
See Xawaadle (Hawaadle) and Garre.
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, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11).
The lines in this group live far apart today:
| Group | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| Hawaadle | The EUAA places Hawadle in Beledweyne and Jalalaqsi, Hiiraan (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |
| Garre | The EASO places Garre in Ceel Waaq, Gedo, and in Lower Shabelle (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| Hubeer | Wikipedia says the Hubeer descend from Yahabur, and live in Bay, Lower Shabelle, Gedo and Lower Juba (Wikipedia, Hubeer, backup) |
See Hiiraan, Gedo and Lower Shabelle.
History on record
- Before the Hawiye expansion. Wikipedia says their traditions "show them to have preceded the Hawiya" in the move south (Wikipedia, Garre, backup).
- 2009. Abbink set these three lines apart from the Hawiye in his total genealogy (Abbink 2009).
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). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists disputes involving the Hawadle in Hiiraan, such as Abgaal against Hawadle around Jalalaqsi (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). It also lists Garre against Jiido in Qoryooley (same source). See clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Hawiye or apart. Abbink places the Hawadle under Mayle, outside the Hawiye. ACLED and the EUAA code the Hawadle as Hawiye.
- Garre. Abbink lists a Gerra line under Mayle, and a Garre line under the Digil. See Garre.
- Members. Wikipedia adds Saransoor to the group. Abbink does not use that name.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- Wikipedia, Garre, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- Wikipedia, Hubeer, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
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Keep reading
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