Habar Gidir


The Habar Gidir is a subclan of the Hawiye and the even larger Samaale clan. It is one of the major sub-clans of the Hawiye and Somali clans in general. The clan has produced many prominent Somali figures including the first Prime Minister of Somalia Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Somalia's fifth President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan.

Ethmology

The Habar Gidir are a Hiraab sub-clan. The patriarch of the Habar Gidir is Madarkicis Hiraab one of the sons of Hiraab. He had two wives. His relationship with Asha Karshe Mohamed bore him two children named Sacad and Saleeban. With Raaray Gidir Karanle he had three more children named Sifaadle, Ayr and Suruur. When Asha died he pled with Raaray Gidir to raise and care for his children from Asha as if they were her own. She obliged to his wish. Madarkicis Hiraab's gratitude toward her kind act is eternally shown in how his descendants are not named after him but Raaray Gidir. This is the origin story for where the name Habar Gidir stems from.

Overview

The Habar Gidir are part of the Hiraab. Hiraab consists of the Mudulood, Habar Gidir, and Duduble. The Habar Gidir are also a sub-clan of the Hawiye. This gives the Habar Gidir immediate lineal ties with the other Hawiye sub-clans. The Hawiye descend from Irir Samaale who was one of the sons of Samaale. Due to this the Habar Gidir also have kinship with the Dir and the other Samaale sub-clans that are the Hawadle, Ajuran, Degoodi, Masare and Gaalje'el clan groups.

Distribution

The Habar Gidir primarily live in the central regions of Mudug, Galgaduud in Galmudug. The clan also lives in Southern Somalia especially in and sections of. The clan also lives in the Somali region of Ethiopia in particular the areas neighboring Galmudug. In addition to this the Habar Gidir can also be found in the expatriate communities of the Somali diaspora.

Role and Influence in Somalia

The Habar Gidir clan has produced many prominent Somali figures. The first Prime Minister of Somalia Abdullahi Issa Mohamud was from this clan, he was Habargidir, Sa'ad, Reer Nima'ale. Somalia's fifth president Abdiqasim Salad Hassan was also a member and hailed form the Habagidir, Ayr, Absiiye. They have also held many other important and high ranking positions in governance with a large variety that includes Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, head of Somali National Security, chief of staff of the Somali armed forces, and many more.
In addition to this, the Habar Gidir are at the forefront of civics in the central state of Galmudug. The state was conceived and established by them to govern were they traditionally live in central Somalia. Their role in Somali affairs is not limited to only governance. Habar Gidirs also play an important role in business. For instance the head of the Somali airline company Jubba Airways is Habar Gidir. The clan has also produced many influential members of the Somali media. Yusuf Garaad Omar who was the chairman of BBC Somali for over a decade and helped pioneer its rise during his tenure is Habar Gidir. Magool and Hasan Adan Samatar who are among some of the most famous Somali musicians of all time also hail from this clan. Currently the Habar Gidir play a large role primarily in the Somali regions of Galmudug and Banaadir but also Somalia as a whole.

Clan tree

Ali Jimale Ahmed outlines the Hawiye clan genealogical tree in The Invention of Somalia:
Osman Hassan Abdi Somali youth league chairman and one of the founders.

Music