Ughaz: Authentic Somali term for "Sultan". Used throughout the northern and western Somali territories; particularly in the Somali region of Ethiopia andSomaliland, but also in central Somalia, southern and northeastern Somalia.[1][3] The Gadabursi,Gaalje'el andDeshiishe[4][5] gave their sultan the title of "Ugaas" romanized as "Ughaz".[6][7][8]
Boqor: Literally denotesKing.[9] However, in practice, it is theprimus inter pares or "King of Kings".[10] The title is etymologically derived from one of theAfro-AsiaticSomali language terms for "belt", in recognition of the official's unifying role within society.[1] According to Kobishchanow (1987),Boqor is also related to thestylePaqar, which was employed by rulers in the earlyNile Valley state ofMeroe.[11] Various Somalihonorifics and designations haveBoqor as their root. The latter includeBoqortooyo, signifying "monarchy", "kingdom" or "empire";Boqornimo, meaning "royalty", "nobility" or "dignitaries";[12] andBoqortinnimo, denoting "kingship".[13] Historically, the title was mainly used byrulers in the northeasternPuntland region ofSomalia.[1] The most prominent Boqors in recent times wereOsman Mahamuud, who governed theMajeerteen Sultanate (Majeerteenia) during its 19th-century heyday, as well asOsman Aw Mohamud (Buurmadow) of theHabr Je'lo Isaaqs.[14][15] Also used among theGadabuursi as the law of the King and the 100 men' (heerka boqorka iyo boqolka nin).[16]
Garaad: Often employed interchangeably with "Suldaan" to denote a Sultan. Etymologically signifies "wisdom", "mind" or "understanding". According to Basset (1952), the title corresponds with the honorificAl-Jaraad, which was used during the Middle Ages byMuslim governors in theIslamic parts ofEthiopia.Gerad was historically employed throughoutSomaliland by the Tol Je'lo as well as theHabr Yonis until the clan's leadership adopted aSuldaan in the 20th century. It is still used by theDhulbahante today.[1] Garad also denotes a"chief" inHarari andSilt'e languages respectively.[17]
Emir: Used by leaders in the Adal Sultanate. Also employed by commanders in the Ajuran Sultanate'sarmed forces and navy. Prominent Emirs includeNur ibn Mujahid, the Emir ofHarar who built the great wall (Jugol) around the city.
Wasiir:Minister and/or tax and revenue collector. Title used in the northern Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo, as well as the southern Ajuran Sultanate. Wazirs were also quite common at the royal court of the medieval Sultanate of Mogadishu. When theMoroccan travellerIbn Battuta visitedMogadishu in 1331, he indicated that the city was ruled by a Somali sultan ofBarbara origin, who had a retinue of wazirs, legal experts, commanders, royaleunuchs, and other officials at his service.[21] Other notable wazirs include the maternal grandfather of the Somali GeneralAbdullahi Ahmed Irro, who was part of the Sultanate of Hobyo's aristocratic contingent in the southern town ofKismayo.[22]
Wakiil-Boqor: Alternate court title designating a Viceroy.[23]
Na'ib/Naïb:Deputy or representative of the Sultan. Duties included the administration oftribute, which was collected by court soldiers. Style was used in the Ajuran Sultanate, Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo.[24]
Sheikh Ali Ayanle Samatar, a prominent Islamic leader.
Islamic leaders within Somali society were often drawn from or elevated to the noble ranks. Below is a list of the titles most often used historically by the clergymen (ulama):
Shariif (pl.Ashraaf[31]): Historically used to distinguish descendants of Hassan 'Ali Abuu Taalib (Hasan ibn Ali).[31] Often reserved for early Islamic leaders such as SharifYusuf Barkhadle (popularly known asAw Barkhadle or the "Blessed Father"),[32] a man described as "the most outstandingsaint in northern Somalia".[33]Sharif Aydurus was also a notable Sharif and Somali scholar from Mogadishu.[34]
Xaaji: Honorific reserved for distinguished individuals who have performed thehajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.[27]
Islan: Clan chief.[35] Title evolved after the fragmentation in the 18th century of the greatHarti confederation that dominated the northeasternHorn region since at least the 14th century. A general process of decentralization ensued, with new leaders known asIslaan assuming at the local level some of the power that was previously solely commanded by the Sultan of Majeerteenia, the titular head of the entire confederation. Although they nominally asserted independence from the sultanate, Islaan's mainly wielded religious rather than political authority.[36]
Malak: Signifies "Chief". Historically used mainly by theRahanweyn clan that today forms one of the largest constituencies in southern Somalia, in addition to a few sympatric clans. Usually assigned to the Herabow sub-lineage, from which two male constituents were selected to manage the group's military affairs.[37]
Akil: From the Arabic for "wise man".[1] A common title for male elders, who are the traditional clan chiefs. Used particularly inSomaliland.[38]
Oday (pl.Odayaal): Literally "elder". The most common title foradvisors to the clan head orjudges in xeer hearings. Used throughout the Somali territories.[39][40]
Heer begti orHeer boggeyal:Jurists or legal experts in xeer.[40][41]
Aw:Nobiliary particle meaning "honorable", "venerable", or simply "Sir".[42] Reserved for learned Islamic clerics,[27] and used throughout the Somali territories. During his research in the ancient town ofAmud, the historianG.W.B. Huntingford noticed that whenever an old site had the prefixAw in its name (such as the ruins ofAwbare andAwbube),[43] it denoted the final resting place of a local saint.[44] Similarly, the ancient island ofAw Garweyne on the southeastern Benadir littoral was named for the late Sheikh 'Ismaan, whose tomb is found there.[45] Surveys by A.T. Curle in 1934 on several of these important ruined cities recovered variousartefacts, such aspottery andcoins, which point to a medieval period of activity at the tail end of the Sultanate of Adal's reign.[43] Somaliland and northeastern Somalia in general is home to numerous sucharchaeological sites, with similar edifices found atHaylan,Qa’ableh,Macajilayn,Booco,Qombo'ul,El Ayo,Heis,Botiala,Salweyn,Mudun,Abasa,Maduna,Gelweita andDamo, among other areas.[46]
^Ahmed III, Abdul. "History of Somali Military Personnel". THOAPI.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|url= (help)
^Hashi, Awil Ali (1993).Essential English-Somali Dictionary. Fiqi Press Ltd. p. 442.ISBN0969768508.
^Axmed Faarax Cali, Francesco Antinucci, ed. (1986).Poesia orale somala: storia di una nazione. Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Dipartimento per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, Comitato Tecnico Linguistico per l'Universita Nazionale Somala.
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