Hersi Aman

Hersi Aman belonged to the Bah Makahil section of the Sugulle dynasty.[1] He succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Deria Sugulleh, and ruled from the mid to late 19th century. Hersi is remembered for his successful conquests and expansion of Garhajis territory in the Haud.[2] His reign was abruptly ended when he was killed in a battle against the kindred Baha Sugulleh.

In the year 1873, Swiss explorer H.G Haggenmacher met Hersi during his travels through Somaliland and describes him as such:

I received a visit from Hersi Aman, the most powerful chieftain of the Habar Yunis... Hersi Aman is a stout man, with piercing eyes, firm language and quick movements. He is a relative of Hersi Sultan and through personal courage has attained his current power[3]

German Map from 1874 showcasing Sultan Hersi Aman's general location

German explorer Felix Rosen who visited British Somaliland and Ethiopian Empire in 1907 met and discussed with northern Somalis and was told about Hersi and other legendary figures who had died in the decades prior. One such story was the battle between Sultan Hersi & the famed warrior Kirh of the Rer Samatar subclan. Sultan Hersi's powerful section of Rer Ammaan had been raided by Kirh and his Rer Samatar. Given the fierce reputation of their target, Kirh's companions were uneasy and fled after the raid, leaving Kirh for dead. His wife began to mourn alongside his kinsmen but to everyone's surprise, Kirh had survived the wilderness and emerged with 100 camels he had captured. This feat impressed Hersi and there was no attempt to recover the lost stock.[4]

Kirh recited a boastful gabay [5]

O yalahe hoi, o yalahe hoi, yalahe

My, our lore of death has spread through all tribes near and far

And we felt so safe that we spurned the camels with the lance to prick our mark of possession

Let the animals move slowly so that the camel fillings do not become tired

At the time when the cowards among our companions took flight and the hiding places

Then the lion's mane grew around our shoulders

My wife! little was our Seriba; I have filled ten Serbs for you

Come, now fill the milk baskets; we have plundered the tribe of Amman

When fighting would eventually resume, Hersi called out inquiring where Kirh was in the heat of battle. In response, a spear flew and grazed the Sultan's head. Hersi grabbed the spear which Kirh had thrown and returned the favour piercing through Kirh's famed horse and embedding deep in Kirh. He would escape the battlefield despite the wound leaving Hersi and the Rer Ammaan victorious having killing one & capturing another man named Hashi.[6]

Hersi now answered the previous gabay and mocked his opponent[7]

How Kirh first bragged so much - now his speeches are silent!

Once the Samatar tribe was large and rich, now it is small and become poor

Now their caravans are afraid, even a day's march from Amud to go so far!

We killed one of their men, we caught one of them, and one we drove the lance through the body

Tell us, according to the truth, O Hashi! About which of the three you mourn the most that we like from your tribe?

Hashi having being challenged by the Sultan spoke[8]

That you killed one of our men was by fate

Predestined that you captured me does no harm

But no mother has ever given birth to a hero like Kirh

Hersi being moved by these words spared Hashi from the usual deadly fate of a captive instead giving him a fine horse and sent medicines & gifts with Hashi to deliver to Kirh. Kirh would return the favour finally reconciling the feud.[9]

Haji Guled in 1906.

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. The wise Guled Haji another prominent member and elder of the Rer Sugule had a fallout with Sultan Hersi and his son was killed by one of Hersis' sons. 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.[10]

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[11]

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

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. 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.[13][14]