Harla
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Harla
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Harari, Somalis, Argobba, Siltʼe and Zay

The Harla, also known as Harala, Haralla[1] are an ethnic group that once inhabited Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia. They spoke the now-extinct Harla language, which belonged to either the Cushitic[2] or Semitic branches of the Afroasiatic family.[3][4][5]

History

Harla people's domain in the middle ages

The Harla are credited by the present-day inhabitants of parts of Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia with having constructed various historical sites.[6] Although now mostly lying in ruins, these structures include stone necropoleis, store pits, mosques and houses. Cave drawings are also attributed to the Harla.[7]

Tradition states one of Harla's main towns was Metehara and the area between Harar and Dire Dawa is still referred to as Harla.[5] The Harla inhabited Chercher and various other areas in the Horn of Africa, where they erected various tumuli.[8] According to historian Richard Wilding, tales indicate Harla lived in the interior of Ogaden and by the seashores prior to Somali and Oromo movements into these regions.[9]

The Harla Kingdom existed as early as the sixth century; it would later be influenced by Islam sometime in the eighth century.[10] In the ninth century, the earliest known Muslim kingdom in the Horn of Africa, the Maḥzūmī dynasty sprang up in Harla country. The Maḥzūmī capital of Walale was in Northern Hararghe.[11][12] Harla state leaders were commonly known as Garad and their religious elite carried the honorific title Kabir.[13][14]

According to folklore, the Harla reportedly had a queen named Arawelo, who ruled much of the eastern parts of the Horn of Africa. In Zeila, a clan called Harla claims to be related to the ancient people. Locals in Zeila also attested that the old town of Amud was built by the Harla.[15]


The influx of Arab immigrants such as Ābadir ʻUmar Āl-Rida into Harla territory would lead to the development of the town of Harar, known then as Gēy.[16] Harar would become the leading center of Islam in the Horn of Africa.[17] Archaeologist Timothy Insoll discovered stoneware in Harla town resembling that found in Harar.[18]

According to the Harari chronicle, Abadir led prayer as Imam and inquired about the states grim condition.[19]

After the prayer nobody stayed in the mosque except for the crowd mentioned (from Mecca). They asked each other: 'What is it about us? We see neither their emir nor their vizir. Rather, they are all of one rank. Then a man of them said: 'I also heard from them (the natives) that 25 years prior, they were a people, the Harla, until death destroyed them and they scattered, fleeing from disease and famine.

— Yahya Nasrallah, Fath Madinat Harar

Conflict and decline

Ruins of a thirteenth century Harla town of Hubat near Dire Dawa

According to thirteenth century Arab geographer Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi, the country of Harla was east of the Ethiopian Empire and north of Zanj. Harla clans descendant from Sa'ad ad-Din II participated in the sixteenth century Ethiopian–Adal War.[20] Ibn Said further states the Harla territory passed the Blue Nile, north east and ended near the shores, the Harla made a living in the gold and silver mines.[21]

According to Ethiopian accounts, in the 14th century, the Harla led by their Imam Salih allied with the Ifat Sultanate[22] and battled the forces of emperor Amda Seyon I in what is now northern Somalia.[23][24] In the 15th century, Emperor Zara Yaqob of Ethiopia sold several Abba Estifanos of Gwendagwende supporters to Harla slave traders of Adal as punishment for joining the Stephanite sect labelled heretic by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[25] A power struggle had developed in the early 16th century between Harla emirs of Harar and Walashma dynasty in which Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi would assume power by executing the Walashma Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad.[26]

In the middle of the 16th century, the Adal Sultanate led by Harla and their Somali allies invaded Abyssinia.[27] Harla were part of Adal's elite military unit called the Malassay.[28] The Ethiopian–Adal War was in response to the death of Harla leader of Adal, Imam Mahfuz, killed in single combat, by the warrior-monk Gebre Andrias in the early reign of Emperor Dawit II.[29][30][31] In the wars against Emperor Sarsa Dengel, the Harla were led by the Sultan Muhammad ibn Nasir.[32][33][34]

The late sixteenth century saw the Oromo people penetrate portions of Ethiopia and Somalia, expansively invading upward from the Lower Jubba eventually incorporating Harla territory.[35] The Harla would move the Adal capital to the oasis of Aussa in 1577, and later establish the Imamate of Aussa before being overthrown by the Afar dynasty of Mudaito in the eighteenth century.[36][37][38] In 1893 British led expeditions, came across an ancient town in Nugaal Valley, Somalia, the local Dhulbahante clan alleged the Harla had lived in the area before the Oromo invasions.[39] In 2017, a Harla town that produced jewelry was discovered by archaeologists. The architecture of a mosque found affirmed Harla had ties with Islamic centers in Tanzania and Somalia.[40] The Harla tribe's disappearance could have been due to the Ethiopian–Adal War in the sixteenth century, destitution, or assimilation.[41]

Strong evidence suggests that during the Oromo migrations, the remaining Harla retreated behind the walls of Harar and were able to survive culturally.[3] Local folklore from the Harla village near Dire Dawa, however, claim the Harla were farmers from the Ogaden and went extinct because of their arrogance, refusing to fast in Ramadan, and attempts to have the Quran written in Harla, hence were cursed by God.[42] According to the Gadabuursi clan, the Harla committed major sins through excessive pride.[43] Enrico Cerulli and others state Harla were a distinct group originating from the Harari region however due to the collapse of Adal, they were assimilated by Somalis as well as Afars.[44][45][46]

Affiliated clans

Many Somali clans mention they are of Harla descent. Most particularly the Issa subclan of the Dir.[47] Within the Issa, the Harla are found within 2 clan divisions. The first being the Horroone clan division, where they are called Harla, and they are also found within the Eeleye clan division as Bah Harla and Harla Muse. The Issa traditions regarding the induction of the Harla groups revolve around saint Aw Barkhadle.[48][49][50] Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin Abd al-Qader's Futūh al-Habaša describes a distinct ethnic origin to the Harla however contemporary traditions connect Harla to Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti and Darod, forefathers of the Ogaden clan.[51] In the modern era, the Harla have been reduced to insignificance under the Somali Darod clan.[52] According to historian Ali Jimale Ahmed, the surviving Harla dwelling in the Harari kingdom were absorbed by Darod Somalis after the sixteenth century.[53] According to Sara Fani, Darod clans in Afar region who claim Harla descent regard themselves as Afar but the majority are descendants of the Facaaye Sade clan, the brotherly tribe of the Marehan who were absorbed en masse afte invasion of the Mudaito.[54] The Darod sub clan Harti and Geri are furthermore according to tradition, the brothers of Harla.[55][56] The Karanle sub clan of Hawiye also claims to have birthed the Harla.[57]

According to some, the Karrayyu and Ittu clans are considered to be Oromos with Harla descent.[58] Ittu had occupied the Chercher region from the Harari people and perhaps also Harla.[59] It is believed the extinct Harla were incorporated into Karrayyu and Ittu.[60]

The Afar also have tribes linked to Harla descent called Kabirtu.[61] In the seventeenth century the Harla of Afar Region were assimilated by Afar people following the collapse of Adal Sultanate.[62] In Afar region, clans named after Harla are still found among farmers in Aussa, and Awash district between Dubti and Afambo. The moniker of clans proposes a fusion between native and immigrating tribes.[63]

Hadiya people are believed to be originally descendants of the Harla people.[64]

The Siltes (East Gurage) are also believed to be the descendants of the Harla people. Harari, Silte and Zay are the only people who speak a language that is related to Harla.

The Harari people are considered to be the closest remaining link to the Harla people, as the Hararis were founded by 7 Harla clans.[3] According to Hararis, the Harari ethnic group consist of seven Harla subclans: Abogn, Adish, Awari, Gidaya, Gaturi, Hargaya, and Wargar.[65] Some sources claim Harla were a less Semitic version of the Harari.[66]

Language

Cave painting attributed to Harla near Harar

Field research by Enrico Cerulli identified a modern group called the "Harla" living amongst the Somali in the region between the cities of Harar and Jijiga. Encyclopaedia Aethiopica suggests that this population "may be a remnant group of the old [Harla], that integrated into the Somali genealogical system, but kept a partially separate identity by developing a language of their own." Cerulli published some data on this Harla community's language, called af Harlaad, which resembled the Somali languages spoken by the Yibir and Madhiban low-caste groups.[67]

According to historian Richard Wilding Harla were ancient Cushitic[2] however ethnologist Ulrich Braukämper suggests a Semitic variation which he labels "Harala-Harari" later developed in the Islamic period. Harala-Harari speakers were evidently disrupted by the Oromo migrations, leading to isolated related Semitic languages of Harari surviving in the walled city of Harar, Zay language on the island of Lake Zway and in parts of eastern Gurage territory such as Siltʼe language.[5]

Nicholas Tait proposes Harla language was indistinguishable with Argobba and Harari linguistic classifications.[68] Ewald Wagner believes Harla were Semitic speakers related to Harari and Silte languages.[69]

Further reading

  • Richard Wilding, The Arla, the Argobba and Links between the Coast and the Highlands. A Preliminary Archeological Survey. Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Arts, 1975

References

  1. ↑ Lafkioui, Mena. African Arabic: Approaches to Dialectology. De Gruyter. p. 193.
  2. 1 2 Wilding, Richard. The shorefolk: aspects of the early development of Swahili communities. Fort Jesus occasional papers.
  3. 1 2 3 Gebissa 2004, p. 36.
  4. ↑ Levtzion, Nehemia; Pouwels, Randall (2000). The History of Islam in Africa. Ohio University Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-8214-4461-0.
  5. 1 2 3 Braukämper 2002, p. 18.
  6. ↑ The Harla: archeology and memory of the giants of Ethiopia. p. 42.
  7. ↑ Birbirso, Dereje Tadesse (2013). Qaallu Institution: A theme in the ancient rock-paintings of Hararqee—implications for social semiosis and history of Ethiopia. Haramaya University. p. 33.
  8. ↑ Joussaume, Roger (1976). "Fouille d'un tumulus à Ganda Hassan Abdi dans les monts du Harar". Annales d'Ethiopie. 10: 25–39. doi:10.3406/ethio.1976.1157. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  9. ↑ Wilding, Richard (1987). The shorefolk: aspects of the early development of Swahili communities. p. 33. ISBN 9789966833129.
  10. ↑ "Early African Muslims had cosmopolitan, halal diet, shows discovery of thousands of ancient animal bones". Phys.org. University of Exeter.
  11. ↑ The Ethno-History of Halaba People (PDF). p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Braukämper 2002, p. 21.
  13. ↑ Levi, Vida. "Le manuscrit Vatican arabe 1792" (PDF). European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. p. 2.
  14. ↑ II. La légende d'Awdaḥis et la dynastie des Aydâḥisso. Corne de l'Afrique contemporaine / Contemporary Horn of Africa. Centre français des études éthiopiennes. 12 January 2018. pp. 11–18. ISBN 9782821872332.
  15. ↑ Rayne, Henry (October 1938). "QUEEN ARAWEILO". Blackwood's Magazine. 238: 568–578. Archived from the original on 27 June 2001. Retrieved 20 June 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ↑ Budge, E. A. Wallis (2014). A History of Ethiopia: Volume I (Routledge Revivals): Nubia and Abyssinia. Routledge. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-317-64915-1.
  17. ↑ Çakmak, Cenap (2017). Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia [4 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-61069-217-5.
  18. ↑ Insoll, Timothy. "First Footsteps in the Archaeology of Harar, Ethiopia". Journal of Islamic Archaeology: 189. Archived from the original on 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  19. ↑ Wagner, Ewald (1978). Legende und Geschichte der Fath madinat Harar. p. 48.
  20. ↑ Chekroun, Amélie. Le" Futuh al-Habasa": écriture de l'histoire, guerre et société dans le Bar Sa'ad ad-din. Université Panthéon-Sorbonn. pp. 197–198.
  21. ↑ Maghribi, Said. Ibn Said. p. 405.
  22. ↑ "Africa italiana". Istituto Italiano d'Arte Gratiche. 2 (3): 264. 1927.
  23. ↑ Royal chronicle of Abyssinia (1965). The Glorious Victories of 'Āmda S̥eyon, King of Ethiopia. Clarendon Press.
  24. ↑ Pankhurst 1997, p. 45.
  25. ↑ GETATCHEW, HAILE (1983). "THE CAUSE OF THE ƎSṬIFANOSITES: A Fundamentalist Sect in the Church of Ethiopia". Paideuma: Mitteilungen zur Kulturkunde. 29: 106. JSTOR 41409892.
  26. ↑ Hassen, Mohammed. "THE OROMO OF ETHIOPIA, 1500-1850: WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE GIBE REGION" (PDF). University of London: 27.
  27. ↑ Gikes, Patrick (2002). "Wars in the Horn of Africa and the dismantling of the Somali State". African Studies. University of Lisbon. 2: 89–102.
  28. ↑ Hassan, Mohammed. Reviewed Work: Ethiopia and the Red Sea: The Rise and Decline of the Solomonic Dynasty and Muslim-European Rivalry in the Region by M. Abir. Michigan State University Press. p. 64. JSTOR 43660165.
  29. ↑ "Adal". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  30. ↑ Gate, Henry (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. p. 482. ISBN 978-0195382075.
  31. ↑ Hassen, Mohammed. "Review work Futuh al habasa". International Journal of Ethiopian Studies: 184. JSTOR 27828848.
  32. ↑ Bruce, James (1813). "The Source of the Nile". Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, & 1773. 3: 238. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  33. ↑ Dombrowski, Franz (1985). Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Brill. p. 23. ISBN 9004076808. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  34. ↑ Pankhurst 1997, p. 375.
  35. ↑ Adam, Hussein Mohamed; Geshekter, Charles Lee (1992). The Proceedings of the First International Congress of Somali Studies. Scholars Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-89130-658-0.
  36. ↑ Fani, Sara (2016). HornAfr 3rd Field Mission Report: Djibouti (PDF). University of Copenhagen.
  37. ↑ Aussa. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  38. ↑ Afar history. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  39. ↑ Murray, J (1893). "Supplementary Papers". Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain). 3: 551. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  40. ↑ "Archaeologists in Ethiopia uncover ancient city in Harlaa". BBC NEWS. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  41. ↑ Braukämper 2002, p. 107.
  42. ↑ Quellec, Jean. "et al". p. 4.
  43. ↑ Morin, Didie (1997). Poésie traditionnelle des Afars. Peeters Publishers. p. 10. ISBN 9789068319897.
  44. ↑ Cerulli, Enrico. Islam yesterday and today. p. 203.
  45. ↑ Rossini, Carlo (1936). "BIBLIOGRAFIA ETIOPICA (1927-giugno 1936)". Aevum. Vita e Pensiero – Pubblicazioni dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. 10 (4): 576. JSTOR 25818977.
  46. ↑ Migrations from the 15th to 19th century. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  47. ↑ Ferry, Robert (1961). "Quelques hypothèses sur les origines des conquêtes musulmanes en Abyssinie au XVIe siècle". Cahiers d'Études africaines. 2 (5): 30. doi:10.3406/cea.1961.2961.
  48. ↑ Issa. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  49. ↑ Yasin, Yasin. Regional Dynamics of Inter-ethnic Conflicts in the Horn of Africa: An Analysis of the Afar-Somali Conflict in Ethiopia and Djibouti. University of Hamburg. p. 60.
  50. ↑ Ali, Ibrahim (1993). The History and Origins of the Somali people. Wales. p. 59. ISBN 0-9518924-5-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  51. ↑ Braukhamper, Ulrich. Islamic History and Culture in Southern Ethiopia Collected Essays. LitVerlag. p. 18.
  52. ↑ Ambroso, Guido. CLANSHIP, CONFLICT AND REFUGEES: AN INTRODUCTION TO SOMALIS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA (PDF). Roma Tre University. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  53. ↑ Ahmed, Ali (1995). The Invention of Somalia. The Red Sea Press. p. 122. ISBN 9780932415998.
  54. ↑ Fani, Sara. HornAfr 6thField Mission Report Awsa (PDF). University of Copenhagen. p. 20.
  55. ↑ Hussein, Jeylan (2015). "Sociocognitive Processes in the Construction of Identity and Conflict between the Jarso and Girhi in Eastern Ethiopia". African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review. Indiana University Press. 5 (2): 94. doi:10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.5.2.89. JSTOR 10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.5.2.89. S2CID 154694376.
  56. ↑ E, Ralph. British Somalia. HURST & BLACKETT. p. 84.
  57. ↑ Bogale, Wagnaw (2019). A History of Derbé Belanbel Historical and Cultural Site (PDF). Bahir Dar University. p. 3.
  58. ↑ Mohammed, Ayantu. Mapping Historical Traces: Methogensis, Identity and the Representation of the Harela: A Historical and Anthropological Inquiry (PDF). Wollo University. p. 111.
  59. ↑ Ittuu. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  60. ↑ Mohammed, Ayantu. Mapping Historical Traces: Methogensis, Identity and the Representation of the Harela: A Historical and Anthropological Inquiry (PDF). Wollo University. p. 111.
  61. ↑ History of Harar and Harari (PDF). Harari tourism bureau. p. 29. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  62. ↑ Bausi, Alessandro. Ethiopia History, Culture and Challenges. Michigan State University Press. p. 83.
  63. ↑ Chekroun, Amelle. The Harla: archeology and memory of the giants of Ethiopia. French center for Ethiopian studies. p. 47.
  64. ↑ Hassen, Mohammed. Oromo of Ethiopia (PDF). University of London. p. 137.
  65. ↑ History of Harar and Harari (PDF). Harari tourism bureau. p. 29. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  66. ↑ Problemi attuali di scienza e di cultura. Accademia nazionale dei Lincei. 1947. p. 623.
  67. ↑ Uhlig 2003, p. 1034.
  68. ↑ Tait, Nicholas (2021). "Local Ceramics from the Islamic Trade Center of Harlaa, Eastern Ethiopia: Markers of Chronology and Contacts". African Archaeological Review. Springer New York. 38 (3): 419–442. doi:10.1007/s10437-021-09435-9. S2CID 236363391.
  69. ↑ Wagner, Ewald (1989). "Die Geschichte Nūr b. Muǧāhids von Harar oder The History of Aẓe Zär⁾a Yaʿqob". Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft. Harrassowitz Verlag. 139 (1): 54. JSTOR 43377945.

Works cited

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