Qandala
Encyclopedia
Qandala is an ancient Port city in the Puntland
region of Somalia
, 75 kilometres (47 mi) east of Bosaso City, 549 kilometres (341 mi) south of Aden
, and 475 kilometres (295 mi) west of Socotra
.
ports on the Gulf of Aden
and the Indian Ocean
, may have been frequented by Phoenicia
ns, Egypt
ians, Persians, Yemen
is, Greeks
and Roman
sailors. A diary dated to 50 CE contains a map of all the ports and their importance. It indicates that Qandala was a trade centre for cinnamon
and spice
s.
This trade seems to be evidence that the people were seafarers who travelled to the Far East, as far as present-day India and China. It is not known why the first inhabitants settled at Qandala's shores but the likely explanation is trade. Apart from gums, ivory, animal skins and incense, the rise of the coastal trading post was due to the commercial opportunities the port generated.
Ancient migration routes joined Gulf countries to Qandala. Archaeological evidence suggests that Qandala may have been an important trading centre in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, participating in East Africa's trade with the Middle East
and Asia
.
Qandala City's early name was "Gacanka Hodonka", which means Gulf Of Prosperity referring to the Qandala community and to the successful traders of East Africa
.
, Oman
, Saudi Arabia
, India
, Spain
, and Australia
. One kilogram of gum sells for about $5, providing a significant income for the Qandala community.
Oral tradition
s mention that Qandala was the departure port of hundreds of pilgrims
for Mecca
to perform their Islamic duties and worship (Hajj
).
Residents grew gum trees and raised camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, aromatic woods and raisins were exported, while rice, other foodstuff and clothes were imported. Luxury goods consisted predominantly of textiles, precious metals and pearls.
Since the fall of the Somali government of Siad Barre
in 1991, the town has lost its historical role, and has begun a gradual decline. The Italians and the Somali governments marginalized the town after independence and forgot its ancient history. Caught in a declining and sinking town, the people were forced to emigrate to Bossaso and Mogadishu
in search of livelihoods. The centralised administration and the concentration of wealth and opportunities in the capital caused a rapid exodus.
It has an estimated population of 40,000 although estimates have ranged as high as 70,000 to 80,000.
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
region 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...
, 75 kilometres (47 mi) east of Bosaso City, 549 kilometres (341 mi) south of Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
, and 475 kilometres (295 mi) west of Socotra
Socotra
Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
.
History
Qandala, like many other SomaliSomalia
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...
ports on the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
and the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, may have been frequented by Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ians, Persians, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
is, Greeks
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
sailors. A diary dated to 50 CE contains a map of all the ports and their importance. It indicates that Qandala was a trade centre for cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
and spice
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
s.
This trade seems to be evidence that the people were seafarers who travelled to the Far East, as far as present-day India and China. It is not known why the first inhabitants settled at Qandala's shores but the likely explanation is trade. Apart from gums, ivory, animal skins and incense, the rise of the coastal trading post was due to the commercial opportunities the port generated.
Ancient migration routes joined Gulf countries to Qandala. Archaeological evidence suggests that Qandala may have been an important trading centre in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, participating in East Africa's trade with the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Qandala City's early name was "Gacanka Hodonka", which means Gulf Of Prosperity referring to the Qandala community and to the successful traders of East Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Economy
One of the largest products of Qandala is a traditional gum, which is exported to several countries including YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. One kilogram of gum sells for about $5, providing a significant income for the Qandala community.
Oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
s mention that Qandala was the departure port of hundreds of pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
for Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
to perform their Islamic duties and worship (Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
).
Residents grew gum trees and raised camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, aromatic woods and raisins were exported, while rice, other foodstuff and clothes were imported. Luxury goods consisted predominantly of textiles, precious metals and pearls.
Since the fall of the Somali government of Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
in 1991, the town has lost its historical role, and has begun a gradual decline. The Italians and the Somali governments marginalized the town after independence and forgot its ancient history. Caught in a declining and sinking town, the people were forced to emigrate to Bossaso and Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
in search of livelihoods. The centralised administration and the concentration of wealth and opportunities in the capital caused a rapid exodus.
It has an estimated population of 40,000 although estimates have ranged as high as 70,000 to 80,000.