Guled Haji

Guled was known for his wise speech and proverbs and he gave birth to hundreds of them in the Somali language and some are still used in the present day.[4]

Travelling a long way to get to a well is a worthwhile endeavour regardless of the distance

Here he notes the mortality and fleeting nature of beauty

The Habr Je'lo had asked Guled which subclan from among them was best but he responded with this proverb. Guled was keen to preserve harmony and as a powerful individual he was aware his words carried weight.

Sultan Hersi Aman's increasing grip and autocratic rule over the Habr Yunis had fermented some resentment amongst his direct subclan (Rer Sugule) and some stood to challenge him. Guled had a fallout with Sultan Hersi and his son was killed by one of Hersis' sons in battle. Hersi's son approached his father and implored him to pay the traditional mag compensation to Guled for the loss of his child. Hersi arrogantly rebuffed his son and all out conflict would break out between Ba Awal (Hersi's branch) and Baho Sugule branches of the Rer Sugule.

Fighting would continue and one of the Sultan's skilled men Warsame had slain 3 of the Baho Sugule and captured the young Jama Amume also known as 'Jama the Mute' a grandson of Sultan Deria Sugule who was from a different branch. Upon being spared, during the next clash Jama would mortally wound Warsame and recited this poem victoriously. In it he praises his horse 'Hamar' that performed well that day and speaks about Warsame. These poems were recorded by Luigi Robecchi Bricchetti in his 1885 book.[5]

Col aloosan Xamarow haddii xalay la ugaanshay
Heensaha hadddaan kugu itibay goor aleyl dhexe ah
Indhaalaha haddaan kuu xidh-xidhay suuman la adkeeyay
Isha bari hadii loo kiciyo awrtii reer Sugule
Kuwii lays aqoon jiray haddii lagu ogaan duulay
Abaanduule Guuleed (Guled Haji) hadii ubaxa loo gooyay
Waa boqor agtiisa'e hadday "ililidii" yeedh'dhay
Usha Daba-xidh ooddiyo haddii laysu wada giijay
Eebada haddii laysku riday ilig-jartii hooto
Abdikayba intii hore hadaan dabo adeegaayay
Kolku ina qolyaeedkii sidii aarka nagu qayshay
Anigoo aqoon jirin haddii lay ogeysiiyay
Onkad baxay la moodyow kolkan amarka qaadsiiyay
Doc aroorka uguma tago orodka saydhshaaye
Oogada hadduu igala maray agabarkuu joogo
Anna Awlaxaan siday haddaan oofta midig gooyay
Kol haddaan Warsame aayiroon Baho agoonteeyay
Kol haddaan ugaaskii ka dilay u ololiyeynaayay
Kol hadaan ka oon baxay afku aramigu jiifay
Alxamdu lilaa Eebaw haddaan umalkii qaar reebay

The Sultan Hersi himself would be killed in battle soon after and the sister of Warsame lamented for the loss of Hersi, Warsame and other relatives in this poem[6]

Calow gaydha waxa iigu wacan geeridaan qabo'e
Caawaba gelin dhexaadkaan hadba gogosha taabtaaye
Gamas baa ku dhacay aabahaa goraygii dheeraaye
Gacmo jeedlaow Warsamaey gudurii siiyeene
Gaashaan-cade Muxumed bay giringirsheen meele
Mohammed Golaxley dhigeen geedkii Lebi-Cawle
Xirsigi madaxa ahaa waa gawraceen gacal ha waayaane

One of the sons of the Sultan recited these lines looking to avenge their father

Jidhkii ina Amaan iyo la waa jalanqayaashiiye
Jirid nimaan lahayn baa baqee taydu ii jarane
Hadii nabada jeelkeeda la helo waa anoon jirine
Jillow baan ahay haddi aabahay joogi lagu raadin

Following Hersi's death the Rer Sugule gathered and the issue of compensation for the Sultan's death was a pressing issue. The conflict originally starting because no compensation had been paid to Guled Haji for his son. They decided that none would be paid and they would try to put this conflict to rest.

Maxamed Bulxan's poem touches on the unique nature of the meeting

Despite this 2 year conflict culminating in Hersi's death it would not entirely end. Both Awad Deria and Nur Ahmed Aman were proclaimed Sultan by their respective branches (Baho Sugule) and (Ba Awal) with Sultan Nur eventually triumphing as the uncontested Sultan. Guled was a strong supporter of Sultan Awad and during the period of division, the rival sultans would split Habr Yunis territory in two and the lucrative caravan routes to tax. Sultan Nur held the Jerato pass and Tuuyo plains and his rival Sultan Awad Deria secured Burao as his base until his death, with Sultan Nur ultimately taking it.[8][9]