Qallu
Encyclopedia
Qallu is a name in which the people (person) who are believed to be the descents of Sayyid Abu Bakr
al-Siddiq, the first Caliph
of Islam
, are known in East Eastern Ethiopia
, Somalia
and Djibouti
.
It is said that “Qallu” to mean "people of the religion", and it describes the Qallu’s main occupation in their societies. That means in the past, most of the persons who belong to Qallu clan were dominantly the teachers of Islam in the areas that they reside.
, Somali Region
, and Dire Dawa
as well as the Republics of Somalia
and Djibouti
. The Qallu’s in Ethiopia trace back their genealogy mostly to a man called “Aw Omar Ziyad”, and then to “Aw Qutub”, and Aw Abadir Umar Ar-Rida , a scholar to whom the Harari’s refer as the Patron Saint of Harar
. And all Qallus in Ethiopia claim they have the same blood with Sheekhaash , a clan whom Sir Richard Burton repeatedly mentioned in his book titled First Footsteps in East Africa. . However, in Somalia, there is a little bit unclear tradition of the Qallus. Some people categorize them under the well known Sheekhaal
clan (here not Sheekhaash as they are called in Ethiopia.). Others group them under Fiqi Omar clan. (In Ethiopia
, Sheekhaash and Faqih Omar are the same, the latter is only an implication of their ancestral father)
. . This is an exact description of the highly reverend clan of Qallu. Today, as Burton witnessed 150 years ago, we can find the Qallu from Somlia up to Wello. However, the highly concentrated communities of the Qallu can be found in the following areas.
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
al-Siddiq, the first Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, are known in East Eastern Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
.
Why They are Called Qallu?
Qallu is a common name known in Oromo, Somali, Harari, Afar traditions because there is a clan called “Qallu’’ within each of these ethnic groups. However, it is the Oromos or the Somalis who enthusiastically refer to the name. .It is said that “Qallu” to mean "people of the religion", and it describes the Qallu’s main occupation in their societies. That means in the past, most of the persons who belong to Qallu clan were dominantly the teachers of Islam in the areas that they reside.
Variations in the Descriptions of Qallu
The Qallu inhabit HarargheHararghe
Hararghe was a province in the eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital in Harar. Including Ethiopia's part of the Ogaden, Haraghe was bounded on the south by Sidamo, southwest by Arsi, west by Shewa, northwest by Wollo, northeast by French Somaliland, and on the east by Somalia.Hararghe came...
, Somali Region
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
, and Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia . This chartered city is divided administratively into two woredas, the city proper and the non-urban woreda of Gurgura....
as well as the Republics of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. The Qallu’s in Ethiopia trace back their genealogy mostly to a man called “Aw Omar Ziyad”, and then to “Aw Qutub”, and Aw Abadir Umar Ar-Rida , a scholar to whom the Harari’s refer as the Patron Saint of Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
. And all Qallus in Ethiopia claim they have the same blood with Sheekhaash , a clan whom Sir Richard Burton repeatedly mentioned in his book titled First Footsteps in East Africa. . However, in Somalia, there is a little bit unclear tradition of the Qallus. Some people categorize them under the well known Sheekhaal
Sheekhaal
The Sheikhal or Fiqi Omar is a Somali clan whose members inhabit both Somalia and Ethiopia, with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District in Kenya....
clan (here not Sheekhaash as they are called in Ethiopia.). Others group them under Fiqi Omar clan. (In Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Sheekhaash and Faqih Omar are the same, the latter is only an implication of their ancestral father)
Geographical Dispersions of the Qallu
Richard Burton describes that Qallu (Sheekhaash) is dispersed among its brothers (other clans) and they can be found from Ifat up to OgadenOgaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
. . This is an exact description of the highly reverend clan of Qallu. Today, as Burton witnessed 150 years ago, we can find the Qallu from Somlia up to Wello. However, the highly concentrated communities of the Qallu can be found in the following areas.
- in BabilleBabille, Oromia (woreda)Babille is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after one of the 12 major tribes of the Oromo people, the Babille Oromo. Part of the Misraq Hararghe Zone, Babille is bordered on the south and east by the Somali Region, on the west by Fedis, and on the north by...
, DederDeder (woreda)Deder is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center, Deder. Part of the Misraq Hararghe Zone, Deder is bordered on the south by Malka Balo, on the west by the Mirab Hararghe Zone, on the north by Goro Gutu, on the east by Meta, and on the...
, JarsoJarso (Hararge)Jarso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Hararghe Zone, Jarso is bordered on the south by the Harari Region, on the west by Kombolcha, on the north by the city of Dire Dawa, on the east by the Somali Region, and on the southeast by Gursum...
and GursumGursumGursum is the name of several geographical points in Ethiopia:* Gursum, Oromia , one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia* Gursum, Somali , one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia...
in East HarargheMisraq Hararghe ZoneMisraq Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Misraq Hararge takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Misraq Hararge is bordered on the southwest by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the west by Mirab Hararghe, on the north by Dire Dawa and...
; - in the Walled City of HararHararHarar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
; - in ShinileShinileShinile is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Shinile Zone of the Somali Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1079 meters above sea level...
Zone and in Dire Dawa chartered cityAdministrative divisions of EthiopiaEthiopia has the following administrative divisions:-Regions and chartered cities:The 9 regions or killoch are based on ethnic territoriality:*Afar*Amhara*Benishangul-Gumuz*Gambela*Harari*Oromia*Somali...
; - in JijigaJijigaJijiga is a city in eastern Ethiopia and the capital of the Somali Region of that country. Located in the Jijiga Zone approximately 80 km east of Harar and 60 km west of the border with Somalia, this city has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1,609 meters above sea...
woreda of the Somali RegionSomali RegionSomali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
; - in HabroHabroHabro is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the former awraja of the same name. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, the woreda is bordered on the south by Darolebu, on the west and north by Guba Koricha, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the southeast by Boke...
, Gubba Qoricha, Qunni , ChiroChiroChiro is a Flemish youth organisation, founded on Christian values, now only tenuously held, with 94,311 members . While mainly focusing on having fun, it also aims at developing youngsters' responsibility and skills....
, BokeBokeBoke may refer to:* Boké, a city in Lower Guinea* Boke , a district in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia* Böke, a form of Mongolian wrestling* Boke, the "simple-minded" character in a Manzai team, a form of Owarai kombi...
and MiesoMiesoMieso is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1394 meters above sea level.- Overview :...
woredas of West HarargheMirab Hararghe ZoneMirab Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Mirab Hararghe takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Mirab Harerge is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the southwest by Arsi, on the northwest by the Afar Region, on...
, Zone.
See also
- SheekhaalSheekhaalThe Sheikhal or Fiqi Omar is a Somali clan whose members inhabit both Somalia and Ethiopia, with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District in Kenya....
- Siddiqis in the Horn of AfricaSiddiqis in the Horn of AfricaOne of the geographic areas where Siddiqis are commonly found is Horn of Africa in the Countries of Ethiopia , Somalia and Djibouti. However, In this countries they are not called Siddiqi rather they are known by other local names. Siddiqis in East Ethiopia are usually called Qallu . Some of them...
- Abu BakrAbu BakrAbu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
- Shaikh
- SiddiquiSiddiquiSiddiqui, is a Muslim family name, found in the South Asia and the Middle East. Shaikh is an additional title used occasionally by Siddiqui/Siddique to signify their Arab heritage...
- Shaikh Siddiqui
- Shaikhs in South AsiaShaikhs in South AsiaSheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder." It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar...