Reer Faqi Explained

Group:	Reer Faqi
Native Name:	Arabic
Languages:	Af-Ashraf, Benadiri Somali, Somali, Arabic and Chimini
Religions:	Islam
Related Groups:	Shanshiyo, Biido, Asharaf, Bravanese, Tunni and other Benadiri people
Regions:	Benadir and Lower Shabelle

Reer Faqay (Chimini:) is a Somali clan and a Benadiri sub clan. It is primarily found in the southern coastal cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Baraawe and Kismayo.^[1] They established communities in the hinterlands in towns such as Afgooye, Baidoa, Diinsoor and Bardheere.

Etymology

The name Faqi comes from the Arabic fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).

Culture

The Reer Faqi lineage in a Banaadiri context are inheritors of the role of Qadis. In Mogadishu the chief and several cities of actual Somalia Qadi was chosen from this clan. This is not the case in other Benadiri settlements.^{[2] [3]}

Due to their role in Banaadiri society, especially in Mogadishu, Merca, Baraawa, Kisimaayo, Luuq and other cities in Somalia, the Reer Faqis must be seen as impartial. As a result, the Reer Faqi clan are not seen as either Reer Shingani or Reer Hamar Weyne (Mogadishu's oldest settlements) like other Banaadiri Mogadishu clans. They are one of the only groups who can be found in both moieties (this also includes the clan confederacy Reer Maanyo). Reer Faqi are also not part of any Sufi brotherhood and do not take part in Mogadishu's annual Banaadiri festival "shirta".

The Reer Faqi are one of the oldest communities and one of the first who arrived in the territory of East Africa and in the actual territory of Somalia. Their ancestors were from Yemen originally. The longest presence of Arab communities is proved by the Mosque of al Jama'a and the one of Fakhrudin in Mogadiscio, Somalia. The Jama'a Mosque was built in 636 AH (1238CE).

Clan tree

A summarized clan family tree of the major Benadiri subclan of Reer Faqi is presented below:^[4]

• Reer Faqi
  • Musharaf Haaji
    • Abubakar
      • Uthman
        • Muallim Umar
          • Shqaali (Shaykh Ali)
            • Abakar
            • Ahmed
          • Aw Abdalla
          • Muallim Umar
            • Muallim Sadaaq
            • Muallim Mukarram
            • Cabdinuur
              • • Aba Haaji
      • Faqi Abubakar
        • Faqi Ahmed
        • Muallim Usman
  • Faqi Elmi
    • Faqi Asharow Faqi Elmi
      • Al Faqi Jamal
      • Shaykh Wali
    • Abubakar Faqi Elmi
      • Sadik
      • Omar
      • Osman
      • Ali
    • Faqi Ahmed Faqi Elmi
      • Sheikh Mohamed
        • Nur
        • Abdurrahman
        • Ikar
        • Omar
      • Haji Abdinur
        • Abubakar
        • Mayani
        • Aqil
        • Abatey

Some lineages may have been left out.

Notable people

• Aw Faqi Aboor – a religious ancestor of clan Reer Faqi
• Shaykh Muhiyidin Mua'llim Mukaram – a religious ancestor and expert of Islamic Fiqh of clan Reer Faqi
• Yahya Sadiq Omar – a politician and one of the most important of clan Reer Faqi representative in Somalia -
• Sheikh Mohammad Yahya Aladiin Moalim Mukaram
• Haji Ahmed Mao Ahmed "ABAGAASI"- Former Secretary Office of the Somali President the late Mohamed Siad Barre. Somali Diplomat in Paris, France.
• Ikar Amin Ikar - Former Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu, Somali Democratic Republic
• Dr Mohamed Abdulkadir Mohamed - Former Deputy Governor Benadir Region/Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu, Somali Federal Republic. Also Chief of the Reer Faqi Clan
• Mohamed Bin Ali "UUNSANE" - Historian and Former Chief of the Reer Faqi Clan
• Prof Khalid Macow – current representative of the Reer Faqi clan in the lower house of the Somali federal government
• Sharif Mohamed Saydi – former representative of the Reer Faqi clan in the lower house of the Somali federal government
• Dr Ali Mungana Maye, a senior urology surgeon, who was one of the few specialists before the start of civil war.
• Dr Maye Abu Omar, University Professor and international consultant in Health. Former senior civil servant at the Ministry of Health prior to civil war
• Dr Abubakar Mohamed Buho, was specialist of neuro-psychiatry. The only one on Somalia until the beginning of civil war

See also

• Banaadiri people
• Shanshiyo
• Biido
• Haatim
• Asharaf
• 12 Koofi
• Bravenese people

References

• 5- Banaadir, un popolo e un'identità negata a cura di Mohamed Abbas Sufi - edit by Africa e Mediterraneo - Italy
• 6- The renewal of a millenary identity Nuredin Hagi Scikei - edit by Clueb Italy

Notes and References

1. Book: Adam, Anita. Benadiri People of Somalia with Particular Reference to the Reer Hamar of Mogadishu. 107–108.
2. Book: Adam, Anita. Banaadiri People of Somalia with Particular Reference to the Reer Hamar of Mogadishu. 138.
3. Book: Kassim, Mohamed. Northeast African Studies, New Series, Vol. 2, No. 3. 24–25.
4. Book: Adam, Anita. Benadiri People of Somalia with Particular Reference to the Reer Hamar of Mogadishu. 118.