Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 I'm trying to learn more about these ancient insignias that appear as markings on camels to indicate clan/subclan ownership, so please share anything you know or images you come across. I asked my dad about our sumad, apparently it's called muta'andi (meto and, number 101 in Amharic) because it looks like 101 in Arabic - labo daadimood iyo shumi, two vertical lines with a dot in the centre. It will generally be branded on the leg or neck of the camel. Some subclans have circles and semi-circles, lines, dots or even a swoosh (or a combination of these). Sometimes they are referenced in poetry, and my dad gave me an example of one man's gabay where he details a marriage dispute between clans over one woman and tells other men to stay away from her as she (metaphorically) already bears their sumad. I haven't been able to find any information about this in a Somali context, but these old symbols also seem to be present amongst other pastoral, segmentary lineage societies. Here's a Turkana clan's camel (northwestern Kenya): Bedouin camel in Jordan: I've been looking for images of Somali camels with markings, and the best I could find is this photo I took near Berbera, with an R sign: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QansaxMeygaag Posted June 4, 2013 Your clan sumad |.| is very close to my clan sumad; our sumad is |:. Would be interesting to find out if people of the same clan family (HAG, SAHAL, DM etc) have similar pattern sumads or if sumads are more regional e.g. people who settle in the same place regardless of clan family e.g. cow-white and p.u.n.t.i.t.e.s in Mudug or sujuu in NFD who are so mixed you don't know an longfoot from a dagoodi from g*a*r*r*e.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 QansaxMeygaag;958740 wrote: Your clan sumad |.| is very close to my clan sumad; our sumad is |: . Would be interesting to find out if people of the same clan family (HAG, SAHAL, DM etc) have similar pattern sumads or if sumads are more regional e.g. people who settle in the same place regardless of clan family e.g. cow-white and p.u.n.t.i.t.e.s in Mudug or sujuu in NFD who are so mixed you don't know an longfoot from a dagoodi from g*a*r*r*e.... Are we of the same clan? My sumad is for my immediate reer, which is within 7 generations of me. I will have to ask about the others nearby, but from what I understand it's not uncommon to have a general clan sign with more specific additions to indicate sub clan/families. A neighbouring clan has a different sign, which is a cross. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QansaxMeygaag Posted June 4, 2013 Safferz;958804 wrote: Are we of the same clan? My sumad is for my immediate reer, which is within 7 generations of me. I will have to ask about the others nearby, but from what I understand it's not uncommon to have a general clan sign with more specific additions to indicate sub clan/families. A neighbouring clan has a different sign, which is a cross. Kkk. I don't know peoples' clans here except the ones who proudly volunteered! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warsamaale Posted June 4, 2013 the exploitation and commodification of animals by humans must stop :mad:, go vegan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 ^^ veganism is a lifestyle choice made possible by class privilege and location dee, it would be impossible for Somalis to survive without animals. QansaxMeygaag;958808 wrote: Kkk. I don't know peoples' clans here except the ones who proudly volunteered! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warsamaale Posted June 4, 2013 What about you ? surely your privileged and can make the lifestyle change. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 warsamaale;958817 wrote: What about you ? surely your privileged and can make the lifestyle change. Because I have no ethical issues with eating meat. Stay on topic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warsamaale Posted June 4, 2013 so you are cool with animal mistreatment ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 My favourite animal is steak. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haatu Posted June 4, 2013 QansaxMeygaag;958808 wrote: Kkk. I don't know peoples' clans here except the ones who proudly volunteered! QansaxQarasoow, am I included in that group. I hope I gave my ancient name the pride it deserves :D btw, I'm narrowing you down and with the info you volunteered here, I know for a fact you're a sijui but I stuck from there on Safferz, you know I grew up near suuqa xoolaha back home and I go back every now and then when o holiday and spend time in the Wednesday market and I have NEVER noticed these sumads. Inattentive or what, right? lol LD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safferz Posted June 4, 2013 Haatu;958868 wrote: Safferz, you know I grew up near suuqa xoolaha back home and I go back every now and then when o holiday and spend time in the Wednesday market and I have NEVER noticed these sumads. Inattentive or what, right? lol LD It's okay Haatu, I learned about sumad quite recently too I think it's so intricate and fascinating, an ancient sign system. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QansaxMeygaag Posted June 4, 2013 Haatu;958868 wrote: QansaxQarasoow, am I included in that group. I hope I gave my ancient name the pride it deserves :D btw, I'm narrowing you down and with the info you volunteered here, I know for a fact you're a sijui but I stuck from there on Safferz, you know I grew up near suuqa xoolaha back home and I go back every now and then when o holiday and spend time in the Wednesday market and I have NEVER noticed these sumads. Inattentive or what, right? lol LD My Mark-a-Bull abti of the pink nigis fame; now you are calling me Qarasoow kkkk. Still, long may your longfeet live (can't say bad things about me own mum now can I?) I am not sujuu; I am a very widely read and traveled man. I even crammed the liberation poems and songs folks used to sing for NFD from old journal articles and history books. Besides I told you before that my Mark-a-Bull mum is a specialist in early childhood education and she is originally from Wajeer, perhaps that's what's confusing you! Also my sis-in-law is sujuu and loves sawaaxili songs That I read a lot and my mum's a teacher should tell you that I spend 90%of my time reading. Also told you am a trained Botanist,hence my fascination with tree names like Qansax kkk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haatu Posted June 4, 2013 Qansax, good to see you around sxb. You've been MIA for too long. That said, you are an enigma you know. (I'm gonna need those poems and songs from you if you please. And do you work at Kew Gardens? ) PS: How can your sis-in-law be a sijui and your wife not? I didn't know I had a choice as well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QansaxMeygaag Posted June 4, 2013 Haatu;958926 wrote: Qansax, good to see you around sxb. You've been MIA for too long. That said, you are an enigma you know. (I'm gonna need those poems and songs from you if you please. And do you work at Kew Gardens? ) PS: How can your sis-in-law be a sijui and your wife not? I didn't know I had a choice as well KKk. Abti I gave you and Alfie more hints than Imelda Marcos's shoes! Been really drowning in work abti. We are a cosmopolitan family; we marry good, well-mannered/well-bred Somalis regardless of where they come from and clan! Looks like education was not wasted on me mum. Let's educate our women and we will leap-frog 3 generations! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
