Eeylo

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Salaan...

 

First, I hope the Admin. won't mind me using this supposedly tribal name. Apologize in advance for not having to come up another term or name that can be substituted.

 

When a Soomaali hears Eeylo (especially those down at South), what conjures up to mind is this: Dad qalato? Dhiigyo cab? Associate them with dirty dogs? Fear of them to death? There is even a well-known, hate-mongering maah maah, "Sagaaro miirkeed qabto masaajid Eeylo ma gasho!"

_________________

 

Bashiir Maxamed Aadan

Baydhabo.com

 

B eesha Eeylo (Eeyly) waxay ka mid tahay beelaha tirada badan ee ay ka koobantahay qowmiyada (Qabiil's name) & (Qabiil's) gaar ahaan bahda (Qabiil's name). Beeshan oo dadka ku abtirsada ay ku kala firdhisanyihiin degaano badan oo ka mid ah dalka Soomaaliyaa ayaa waxay ka mid tahay beelaha degan gobolada Baay & Bakool. Waa beel dadkeedu qabtaan mihnado iyo xirafado kala duwan.

 

Haddaba mar aan waraysi ugu tagay malaaqa beesha Eeylo Malaaq Mad Sabarow Xuseen ayaa wuxuu iiga warramay arrimo badan oo taabanaya, dhaqanka, dhaqaalaha, qaab nololeedka beeshan iyo weliba cabashooyin la xiriira faquuq ama hayb soocid mudo badan soo jirtey oo beesha (Qabiil's name) ay kula dhaqanto beesha Eeylo.

 

Malaaq Mad Sabarow ayaa hadalkiisu ku furey:

 

"Waxaanu nahay beel fac wayn oo so jirtay intii ay soo jireen beelaha kale ee Qowmiyadaa (Qabiil) & (Qabiil) waxayna beesha Eeylo u kala baxdaa laba jufo oo u sii kal baxa 24 jilib."

 

Malaaqa oo ka warramayay mihnadaha iyo xirfadaha ay qabtaan dadka ka soo jeeda beesha Eeylo ayaa wuxuu yiri:

 

"Maba jiraan wiil iyo gabar Eeylo ah oo aan shaqaynin amaba aan isku tallujinin shaqo ay noloshooda ku badbaadiyaan sababta oo ah waalidiinta ayaa ku ababiya (tarbiyeeya) dhallaanka ama caruuurta. Wiil iyo gabar Eeylo gaban ah oo aan mihnad lahayn lagama helo beesha."

 

Malaaq Mad Sabarow ayaa si gooni ah uga warramay dhinaca wiilasha gabanka ah (yaryar) gaar ahaan qaabka mihnadooda wuxuuna yiri:

 

"Wiilka Eeylada ah waa gabooy (ugaarsade/gabraarte) falaar iyo qaanso ku ugaarsada ama shabaq dabin ah u dhiga duur-jogta sida sagaarada iyo bakaylaha."

 

Waxaa intaas raaca eeyaha oo ay u adeegsadaan ugaarsiga waxayna si ay u haqabtiran baahida qoysaskooda ayna iskugu filnaadaan eeyahooda ayagoo wata ugaarsi tagaan goor gudcur habeen ah, wixii dheeri ah oo ka badan baahidoodana waxay u iib-geeyaan suuqyada magaalooyinka waxayna ku doorsadaan (bedeshtaan) waxyaabo ay ka mid yihiin dharka iyo gaaska la shito.

 

Ugaarsiga iyo gabraarnimada keliya kuma koobna mihnada wiilasha Eeylada ah oo waxay kaloo qabtaan shaqooyin ay ka mid yihiin samaynta kabaha ama waxay u tolaan qofkii ay kabo ka goáan. Sidaa aawadeed tuugadaa iyo qawleeysatada lagama helo beesha.

 

Malaaq Mad Sabarow oo sii wata warbixintiisa ayaa iiga waramay dhinaca mihnadaha iyo shaqooyinka ay qabtaan haweenka beesha Eeylo wuxuuna yiri:

 

Dhab ahaanti haweenkeenu waxaan oran karaa waa ay ka shaqo badanyihiin raggeena sababta oo ah guriga maamulkiisa waxaa u dheer in ay sameeyaan oo ay suuqyada u iib-geeyaan xargo iyo saamo ama maqaarka (gibil) oo loo isticmaalo waxyaabo badan sida samaynta aloolka (sareer ka samaysan geed) ama, tolidda haamaha iyo ashuumaha lagu arooro iyo weliba tolilda heeryada la saaro aqal Soomaaliga ama hoori. Waxay kaloo haeeenka Eeyladu qabtaan shaqooyin ay ka mid yihiin tumida badarka (mesegada), haruurk, gallayda, IWM., ayagoo qabashada hawlaan lacag ku qaata oo uu dakhli ka soo galo.

 

Malaaq Mad Sabarow mar uu ka hadlayey qaabka wada noolansho ee u dhaxeeyaha beelaha Mirifle iyo beesha Eeylo ee deegan wadaaga ah ayaa waxaa uu si cad oo aan gabasho lahayn uu iiga warramay haraadiga dhaqamadi gaboobay ee foosha xun oo ay beelaha Mirirfle la wadaagaan Soomaaalida kale ee ah isir takoorka ama hayb soocida ay kula dhaqmaan beesha Eeylo wuxuuna yiri: "In aan walaalo la nahay (Qabiil) anaga uun baa og oo ayaga ma oga. Ixtiraam iyo aqoonsina ma siiyaan dhaqankeena iyo qaab nololeedkeena.

 

"Ma aha wax la koobi karo quursiga iyo yaska ay noo hayaan belaha (Qabiil) ee aanu walaal ahaan u tirsano.

 

"Hadaan tusaale u soo qaato caayda iyo aflagaadada na loogu yeero waxaa ka mid ah:

 

"Waxay nagu yeeraan 'Eeylo Jafay' oo loola jeedo 'Eeylada duur-joogtada ah' ayagoo markaas nagu tiriya in aan ka tirsanahay ama laa jaad nahay ugaarta ama duurjoogta aan ugaarsano, waxyna caaydan si bareer ah noogu tilmaamaysaa in aanan ka tirsanayn bahda beni- aadamka oo aanu ka tirsanahay bahda duurjoogta waa siday nagu caayaane. Wa heer quursi dhaafay oo la dafiray jiritaankeena beni-aadamnimo.

 

"Waxaa kaloo beelaha (Qabiil) ee aanu wada degno nagu hayb soocaan oo nagu quursadaan mihnado aanu qabano sida ayagoo noogu yeera 'kabo tole, maqaar ure' iyo ereyo kaloo caay ah oo aan la soo koobi karin ayagoo weliba og baahida ay u qabaan mihnadaha aanu qabano.

 

"Midda kale beelaha (Qabiil) waxay nagu takooraan xagga guurka iyo is dhex-galka bulshadeed waxayna noo haystaan dad nasab dhiman ah nagmana guursadaan rag iyo dumarba.

 

"Waxay naga aaminsanyihiin fikrado mala-awaal iyo khiyaali ah waxayna noo haystaan in aanu is cunno oo hilibka dadkeena aanu quudanno ayagoo rumaysan in marka qof Eeylo ah uu dhinto aan la aasin oo aanu cunno waxayna ku ababiyaan caruurtooda fikradaha dhalanteedka ah. Waxaa taas marag u ah in caruurta deegaankan markay dhaayahooda (indhahooda) qabtaan qof Eeylo ah uu anfariir ku dhaco oo durbadiiba cagaha wax ka dayaan oo ka carara.

 

"Waxay kaloo beelaha (Qabiil) nagu sameeyan faquuq iyo iyo tacaddi aan la soo koobi karin. Xitaa waxaa dhacda in hadii qof Eeylo ah uu tago xaruumaha hay'adaha gargaarka ee laga qaato taakulada iyo kaalmooyinka la isku hor gudbo oo uusan soo dhaafi karin xitaa albaabka lagana hor istaago. Xitaa anigoo oday dhaqaameed ah oo ah malaaqi beesha Eeylo ma gudbi karo."

 

Malaaq Mad Sabarow oo intii aan waraysanayay ay wejigiisa ka muuqatay tiiraanyo iyo dhiidhin uu ka dhiidhinayo gunnimada iyo hagardaamada lagu hayo beesha Eeylo ayaa wuxuu kaluu yiri:

 

"Waxaan idin leeyahay sababta uu (Qabiil) & (Qabiil) u harsan waayay oo had iyo jeeraale uu Ilaahay ugu salliday colaad aan dhamaanayn waa nabsiga ay naga galeen. Weliba waxaa jira xadgudubyo badan oo aanan hadda sheegi karin oo aan aduunka u soo bandhigi doona marka aan helo nabad iyo amaan aan ku sheego." Malaaq Mad Sabarow ayaa hadalkiisa ku soo khatimay erayadan:

 

"(Qabiil's name) walaal ma aha waxna nooma ogola, mana oga in aanu ka wada nimi Nabi Aadam iyo Xaawo oo faraceenu isku mid yahay."

____________________

 

Eeylo being the original settlers of what is now known Baay/Gedo/Bakool/Shabeellada have been fighting the misconception Soomaalis have of them for centuries, and particularly those Maay-speaking they live and interact with in the area. They are the only Soomaalis who still hunt to this day, albeit some ignorants having negative views of their chosen profession. I am gonna go far than the Malaaq's last caveat words:

 

Soomaali dhamaantood waligood meel ma gaari doonaan intee dad walaalahooda ah heyb soocaan maalin iyo habeen simply because of their chosen profession or some other ethnic connection.

_________________

 

NB, Eeylo isn't Eelaay tribe, as some might confuse up with the name.

[Baashi]

One of these days, one of these days Malaaq Mado Sabarow. Innalaahi maca saabiriin yaa Malaaq.

 

Eeyle live in Kismayo too. They live the intersection of Farjano and Shaqaalaha outer ring. To be exact, behind the industrial and military areas. They are called Saakuuyey. My older brother befriended one of the Saakuuyey boy. The boy had a dog called Simpa. My ayeeyo used to say war duf ku baxe najaasada (yacni eyga) adaan iska mayrin aqalka ha soo galin.

 

MMA, I'm not sure whether the Saakuuyey is a sub branch of Eeyle. One thing I know is that they were similar to the ones that used to live Xamar behind Isbitaalka Digfeer. I remember, u might too since I know your brother who use to go with us when we do qooleey dawaafiyoo when I used to take my uul (the best in hawlwadaag and hodan from tokyo, suuqa miijiska all the way guryaha ruushka in hodan0, gurri gaal near the wakaalada forestary. Just behind these big houses the Eeyle were evacuated without compensation just because of class and image reasons.

[Coloow]

Baashi,

In the NFD (around Moyale and the border towns) there is a clan called Sakuuye who speak Borana language. They are related, according to the local history in that part of the world to the Burji, Borana and Oromo. The Saakuye are mainly animists and worship Waaq . Together with the Boranas, Burji the Sakuuye (who are also related to the Turkana) and who populate Eastern Kenya Marlal, Marsabit etc voted no to a referendum on the possibilty of the NFD joining somalia.

 

During the shifta wars (freedom wars) of the middle sixties many communities, saakuyes, Boranas and somalis fled to somalia. Many of these refugees settled in Bardheere, Kismayo and the jubbooyinka. I have a friend here in Sweden who is a saakuye and traces his roots to Moyale.

 

Could these sakuuyes in Kismayo be the remnants of those days?

 

My guess is that the Eeyle are not a homogenous group or a clan entity. There are merely a combination of groups of somalis who have a common trait of being marginalised socially, culturally and economicwise.

 

P.s the sakuyes and Boranas , on the one hand and ,somalis on the other hand were bitter enemies in the NFD. The somalis were known asn cattle "thieves" and the Boranas and Sakuuyes were "testicle" hunters. Romour had it that to access the hearts of brides, sakuye/Borana bridegrooms were expected to provide dried testicles to the father in laws! To achieve this, the boranas and sakuuye's conducted expeditions into somali territories!

[Baashi]

Caaqil,

Yes the names are similar! I don't know for a fact if we are referring to the same Somalis. In my limited observation the Saakuuyey in Kismayo are no "Testicle" hunters . For reer Kismayo and Giir giir would have noticed their missing relatives They are not that skilled either (unlike Madhibaan). They are hunter gathers community (if that is the right phrase). They are very independent, peaceful, and irreligious community.

 

I have to agree with you on the point that they (if they are not Eeyle) have something in common with their counterparts in Leego, Lafoole, and Xamar and that is they all make use of dogs to hunt rabbits. Sadly they are marginalized minority.

 

"Could these sakuuyes in Kismayo be the remnants of those days?"

 

Could be.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Salaan...

 

I think the name Eeylo is an overall name given to many hunter-gathers, who for centuries used to dwell what is known Southwest Soomaaliya. They aren't, in my opinion, a homogeneous clan-family. Danta ayaa isku geysay, from discrimination to their associated profession--just like other Soomaalis. They were later incorporated into the D/G clan federation for protection, laakiin maxee kugu taalaa sidii si ka daran ayaa loogula dhaqmaa wali.

 

Sax Baashi, Tarbuunka agtiisa ee daganaan jireen, that wild park Tarbuunka iyo Isbitaal Digfeer u dhaxeeye. Siiba Qabuuraha Qaranka oo C/rashiid iyo odeyaashii kale ku duugnayeen gadaashood.

 

Laakiin waligeeyba meeshaas waa ka cabsan jiray markaan banooniga Tarbuunka u aado agagaarkiisa maqribkii intuu noogu dhicin aa kasoo carari jirnay because of so-called 'dad qalato' ee noogu sheekeyeen Soomaali jacbursan. Goormaa laga saaray meeshaas laakiin? Aniga iyagoo dagan lee igu danbeysay, oo maba la arki jirin, mise kuwii soo dhawaa aa laga saaray oo maadaama guryo cusub 'booli qaran' laga dhisanaaye meeshaas.

[Gabbal]

Thanx for starting this Macruuf.

 

So Eeylo are not the same as Eelai correct?

 

Seeing as the Eeylo are hunter-gatherers isn't it safe to conclude that they might perhaps be the original Cushites that lived in the Somali peninsula prior to the former of the "Somali" ethnicity? And perhaps they might be a branch of the Oromo race, seeing as how Oromo's have a large segment of hunter-gatheres in their race?

 

When I was young and probably did something dumb, I would always here the phrase " war bax, eeylo haa tahay cune!".

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Salaan...

So Eeylo are not the same as Eelai correct?

No, they aren't. Isku taariikh xataa ma'aha.

 

I once saw this cached file based on a survey by Danish governmental organization regarding Eeylo and their then current situation in 2000.

 

A ccording to Mr Fara Oumari Mohamud, a representative of the Eyle (Eile) community in Nairobi, the Eyle centuries ago had their own kingdom, ruled by King Gedi Ababo*, around the hill Bur Eyle close to Bur Hakaba (Bay region). The Eyle were hunters and agro-pastoralists. They believe themselves to be of Falasha (or Jewish) origin before they were Islamised. They were treated by the main Somali clans as religious outcasts. Fara Oumari Mohamud said that before the war there were some one thousand Eyle families living scattered throughout southern Somalia up to and including the Hiran region, but the majority lived in two districts, Bulo Burte in Hiran region, and Bur Hakaba in Bay region. These remain today the principal areas where the Eyle live in Somalia. Presently, there are approximately two to three hundred Eyle families in Somalia. The information provided by Fara Oumari Mohamud can be supplemented from other sources.

 

Lewis (1994a) considers the Eile (Eyle) of Bur Eibe as a Negroid people, living in the area between the two rivers. They cultivate during the rains and hunt in the dry season (with dogs, considered dirty creatures by the 'noble' Somali). Both the (qabiil) and the (qabiil) despise them, and there seems good reason to regard them as a pre-Cushistic aboriginal population. They comprise three primary sections, one of which appears to be related to a dynasty of chiefs that ruled the Bur region at some time. Smaller Eile groups are found at Dafet, on the lower and mid-Shabelle, and among the Shidle. Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi adds that in the 1960s and 1970s the Eyle had some hunting and farming communities in the vicinity of Mount Eyle (Bur Eyle, Bur Eibe), some 60 km south of Baidoa. Their numbers have been constantly in decline since the 1960s due to assimilation with the (qabiil) and Bantu agricultural communities or through migration to large towns such as Mogadishu where they found employment as butchers. In Mogadishu, before the civil war, the Eyle occupied a large squatter camp beside the grounds of the National University, to the consternation of the university officials who demanded their eviction. The civil war has scattered the few communities that the Eyle had. Abdullahi considers the Eyle an endangered community that would have difficulty in reconstituting its former settlements around the plains of Mount Eyle. Fara Oumari Mohamud explained that in 1992, in Mogadishu, he gathered members of eight minority groups to create an NGO, in order to appeal for help to the international community. The NGO implemented a number of projects with donor aid, but in 1998 the members of the executive committee were targeted by Aideed's USC, after which they fled to Kenya.

 

Language

 

Fara Oumari Mohamud stated that the Eyle have the same language as the main Somali clans among whom they live.

 

Fara Oumari Mohamud informed the delegation that the Eyle were treated as slaves by main Somali clans. They had no protection from any clan and their relationships with the clans in their home areas (qabiil, qabiil) were not good. Also for religious reasons, they were treated as outcasts. There are no physical differences between the Eyle and the surrounding Somali clans. There was no intermarriage between the Eyle and the major Somali clans. There were no Eyle in government institutions, and there are no Eyle involved in the Arta peace process at the present time. Eyle could intermarry with some Benadiri and with Tumaal, but not with Yibir.

 

Lewis (1994a) describes the Eyle as clients of the (qabiil) clans, while Abdullahi (1998) mentions the assimilation of Eyle with Bantu and (qabiil) communities.

 

The Bantu elders interviewed by the mission consider the Eyle to be a Bantu lineage group. The UNHCR overview classifies the Eyle as a (qabiil) clan. Perouse de Montclos (1997) considers the Eile (Eyle) of the Bur Eibi Hills to be a Bantu group.

 

Occupations

 

The Eyle are hunters and agro-pastoralists. According to Lewis (1994a) they also make pottery, and their home area is one of the centres of pottery making. Abdullahi mentions that in Mogadishu the Eyle found employment as butchers.

 

Security and human rights

 

During the civil war many Eyle fled Somalia for Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen. Fara Oumari Mohamud knew of no Eyle who had fled to the northern part of Somalia.

 

At the present time there are some two to three hundred Eyle families remaining in Somalia, mainly in the districts of Bulo Burte in Hiran region and Bur Hakaba in Bay region. They are still in a weak position, as they do not bear arms. They cultivate and suffer from the drought that reigns in southern Somalia. Hunting is difficult these days, according to Fara Oumari Mohamud.

 

There are no indications from other sources that the Eyle are at present targeted by the main Somali clans. Insofar as they live in unstable areas, they could become victims of armed conflicts.

 

No Eyle have been included as members of the Transitional National Assembly.

____________________

 

* I believe by Gedi Ababo they meant Geedi Shaamboow, a historical figure.

[Jacpher]

Baashi:

 

Kuwii Ooriyoow la dhihi jiray oo deganaa Kismaayo qurac qalooc agtiisa miyaa Saakuuyey la dhahaa?

 

Are ooriyoow in Kismaayo same as Saakuuyey?

 

The word SAAKUUN means the two days after tomorrow right? Any relation with Saakuuyey group?

[Young Jeezy]

Eeylaha runta ah waxay degaan dhulka u dhaxeeya Baydhabo iyo Afgooye. Leego iyo Daafeed ayaan degnaan jire waagii somaliya nabada aheed and I used to see many of these Eeyle people everywhere with their dogs. Like someone said above, they are very peaceful people but they are irreligious. They used to hunt for ugaar and sell their catches to the Somalida kale. Dad badan maka gadan jirin ugaarta eey soo dabeen since they used their dogs. I have always wondered, since these people are abviously not muslim(the majority of them) and live among muslims, why didn't anyone try to convert them? Also how come not many of them came to the west?

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

I have always wondered, since these people are abviously not muslim(the majority of them)

So it is you to decide and classify who is Muslim or not, miyaa? And for your information, Muslims are allowed to own dogs under certain circumstances, including using them for your profession (in this case, hunting).

[NASSIR]

I know Eeyle people. They are purely Bantu. I.M Lewish, stated clearly the origin , culture of these people, and how they have been mistreated by the rest of Somalis.

 

 

I have heard of other Bantu groups.

 

Ooji

 

Mushunguli.

 

The latter lives under the Ooji clan around Juba and Kismayo. They have had inter-clan conflicts and some family feuds. The Mushunguli have kept their language (Twisted Swahili) and they consider themselves Tanzanians. The Ooji, on the other hand, is a large clan. They populate around Jilib, Jamaame, Kismaayo, Buulo Golweyn and BuulaMareer, Up to Qoryooley.