Recognizing the Architects Behind the UNESCO Recognition of Xeer Ciise: Key Figures in Somali Cultural Heritage
The recent UNESCO recognition of Xeer Ciise, the oral customary law of the Issa-Somali communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia, is a monumental achievement for Somali culture. This centuries-old legal system, which unites communities and ensures justice, was officially added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, acknowledging its vital role in preserving Somali cultural practices across the Horn of Africa.
The recognition, granted during the 19th session of UNESCO’s regional committee in Asunción, Paraguay, reflects the global significance of Xeer Ciise in promoting human rights, environmental protection, and conflict resolution.
However, this achievement was not a gift, it resulted from the relentless work of key scholars, elders, and cultural advocates who have safeguarded and elevated this legal tradition to an international stage.
They are Dr. Ali Moussa Iye, Abdalla Osman Haji, Ibrahim Ali Ahmed, and Honorable Ayan Ali Moussa. They have all been pivotal in ensuring the survival and global recognition of Xeer Ciise as a crucial part of Somali cultural heritage. Each of these individuals has played an indispensable role in documenting, preserving, and advocating for the recognition of Xeer Ciise.
Dr. Ali Moussa Iye, a scholar and former UNESCO official
Dr. Ali Moussa Iye, a Djiboutian scholar, author of Le verdict de l’arbre (The Verdict of the Tree), has been with UNESCO since 1996 and leads UNESCO’s history projects. He was the first to conduct extensive academic research on Xeer Ciise, positioning it within the context of African indigenous governance. His doctoral thesis and advocacy were central in securing UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage.
Abdalla Haji, a veteran journalist, author, and former media producer at Radio Television Djibouti, helped bridge the gap between academia and the public by documenting and disseminating Xeer Ciise through media outlets.
His work ensured that Xeer Ciise remained a living tradition within Somali society.
Ibrahim Ali Ahmed, a researcher at the Center for Education and Research in Djibouti (CERD), spent decades researching and documenting the legal and cultural frameworks of the Issa-Somali community, further cementing the significance of Xeer Ciise.
Lastly, Honorable Ayan Ali Moussa, Ethiopia Member of Parliament and founder of the Sitti Heritage Institute, played a crucial role in bringing Xeer Ciise to the global stage through her leadership and advocacy, securing the UNESCO recognition.
Together, these individuals have ensured the survival and celebration of Somali traditions, leaving an indelible legacy in the preservation of Xeer Ciise for future Somali generations and for the world.
By Mohamed Hadi | X: @Gafdiid7
COMMENTS
ciisow waxa idiin hadhay uun inad tidhaahdaan ilaahay waa ciise
Taariikhda Magaalada Saylac: Ciise iyo Samaroon Keeba asal ahaan deegaan u leh?
W/Q: Cali Cabdi Coomay
Magacii hore ee loo yaqaanay magaalada wuxuu ahaa Avalites. Magaaladu waxay soo martay marxalado kala duwan iyo maamullo fara badan. Ha noqdaan qaar shisheeye iyo kuwo soomaaliba leh.
Maamulladii Shisheeyaha.
– Bilowgii 1300-kii waxa magaalada ka samaysmay boqortooyo islaami ah, oo ahayd tii ugu horaysay geeska afrika ka dhalata. Waxaana magaceeda la odhan jiray Shawa. Waxa aasaasay koox carab ahaa, oo reer Baniimakhsuum ahayd. Waxay ka yimaadeen dhankaa iyo jasiirada carabta. Nimankan reer Baniimakhsuum waxay ka dhiseen magaalada maamul ay gacanta ku hayaan, oo muddo badan ka talinayey magaalada. Lama hayo wax tafiir ah oo ka hadhay nimankaa. Waxase la sheegay dad tiro yar oo la yidhaa Orgobaha.
– Sannadihii 1312-kii iyo 1342-kii waxa soo weeraray magaalada boqor itoobiyaan ahaa, islamarkaana qabsaday guud ahaan magaalada
– Sannadihii 1330-kii ilaa 1331 waxa soo booqday magaalada qoraagii caanka ahaa ee la odhan jiray Ibnu Battuutaha. Wuxuu ku sheegay magaalada saylac waa magaallo camiran oo ganacsi xoogani ka socdo, dadka magaalada deganaa waxay ahaayeen qaar midabkoodu madow yahay, oo Ber-Ber ahaa. Waxa magaalada lagu cuni jiray kalluunka iyo hilibka geela. Waxa jiray Bakhaaro lagu keydiyo kalluunka, kuwaasi waxay magaalada ku keeneen ur qadhmuun. Wadooyinka magaalada gudaheeda waxa lagu qali jiray geela.
– Horaantii sannadkii 1416-kii waxa burburtay dawladii IFAT oo uu hogaamiye u ahaa suldaan Maxamed Sacadadiin, oo carab ahaa. Waxaana isugu tegay boqor itoobiya xukumayey wakhtigaasi oo la odhan jiray Negus Yeshay iyo ciidamo boortuqiis ahaa. Waxay qabsadeen saylac oo xarun u ahayd dawladii IFAT, waxay burburiyeen magaaladii saylac, waxaana lagu diley dagaalkaasi suldaan Maxamed Sacaadadiin, waxaana lagu aasasay jasiirada sacaadadiin oo ilaa maanta magaciisa xamaarsan, oo loogu magac daray.
– Dabayaaqadii sannadkii 1420-kii waxa samaysantay dawlad islaami ah oo la odhan jiray ADAL. Waxay ka dambaysay dawladii IFAT ee dagaalka lagu jabiyey. Mar kale ayey saylac xarun u noqotay dawladan ADAL. Adal waxa maamulayey hogaamiyeyaal carbeed. Waxay u badnaayeen reer yeman, balse ciidamada ayaa soomaali u badnaa.
Ganacsiga saylac waxa haystay Carab, Beershiyaan iyo Hindi. Waxa kale oo jiray soomaali la carabeeyey, oo ku dhexmilmay carabta.
– Horaantii sannadkii 1507-dii ayuu hogaankii dawladii ADAL la wareegay Ahmed Ibraahin AL-Gazi (Ahmed-Guray) oo dhisay maamul xoogan, oo markii hore xarun ka dhigtay magaalada saylac. Halkaasina in muddo ah degnaa. Magaalada oo uu dabsudhay bootuqiisku ayuu Ahmed-Guray dhisay. Markii dambe wuxuu u guuray magaalada Harar. Ahmed Ibraahin Al-gazi waa carab, balse aan la hayn ciduu ka ahaa. Dadka qaarkii ayaa ku sheega soomaali, laakiin arrintaasi wax daliil ah uma hayaan.
– Sannadkii 1543-kii ayaa Ahmed-guray lagu diley dagaal ay soo qaadeen ciidamo boortuqiis ahaa, oo taageerayey boqor itoobiyaan ahaa.
– Sannadkii 1630-kii waxa maamulkii magaalada saylac la wareegay xukunkii MOKHA, oo reer yeman ahaa. Waxay dadka ka qaadi jireen cashuur. Reer MOKHA waxay dhiseen deked macmal ah, oo laga dhoofin jiray xawayaanka, hargaha, shimbiraha iyo dad adoon ahaan loo soo qabto. Taasina waxay keentay inay magaaladu camirtanto, oo ganacsi xoogani ka socdo. Waxaanu xukunka reer MOKHA soo taxnaa ilaa laga soo gaadho sannadkii 1780-kii.
– Sannadkii 1821-kii waxa dalka yeman qabsaday dawlada Masar oo bortooyadii Cusmaaniyiinta ka wakiil ka ahayd. Waxa kale oo Masar qabsaday saylac ilaa xeebaha jabuuti.
– Sannadkii 1841-kii waxa xukunkii saylac qabsaday Xaaji Cali Sharmarki oo soomaali ahaa, kana ahaa isaaq/Habaryoonis. Waana ninkii ugu horeeyey ee soomaali ahaa oo maamula saylac. Wuxuu wakiil u noqday boqortooyadii Cusmaaniyiinta. Markii in muddo ah maamulayey, waxa xukunkii kala wareegay nin u dhashay beesha Canfarta oo la odhan jiray Abu-Bakar Pasha.
– Sannadkii 1842-kii waxa magaalada saylac soo booqday nin la odhan jiray
JOHNSTON. Wuxuu sheegay inay magaalada ku xeersan yahay dayr weyn oo difaac u ahaa. Taaso muujinaysa inay magaaladu ku jirtay colaad joogto ah.
– Sannadkii 1854-kii waxa sidoo kale soo booqday qoraagii caanka ahaa ee Richard F. Burton wuxuu sheegay in magaalada ciidan hubaysani ilaaliyo, islamarkaana dadka laga dhoofiyo.
– Sannadihii 1874 ilaa 1877-kii waxa marba marka ka dambaysa hoos u sii dhacayey xukunkii Masar ee yeman iyo saylac ka talinayey. Taaso aakhrikiina keentay inay ciidamadii Masar ee Cusmaaniyiinta ka wakiilka ahaa ka baxeen yeman, saylac iyo xeebaha jabuuti. Waana sannadkii 1884-kii.
– Sannadkii 1885-kii waxay saylac gashay tartan ay ku tartamayeen Faransiiska oo qabsaday xeebta Tajore ee dhulka canfarta iyo ingiriiska oo degay xeebaha somaliland iyo yeman. Waxay ku sigteen inay ku dagaalamaan magaalada saylac.
Balse markii dambe waxay isla garteen in lagu heshiiyo, oo Ingiriiska loo daayo. Dadkii degnaa magaalada saylac waxa la odhan jiray SAYLICIYIIN iyo AWDALIYIIN. Dabayaaqadii 1885-kii waxa saylac lagu saxeexay heshiiskii ingiriiska iyo 11 oday oo beesha ciise ah.Heshiiskaa wixii ka dambeeyey waxay magaalada gacanta ugu jirtay maaamulkii ingiriiska ee ( British Somaliland protectorate) ilaa laga soo gaadhayo markii ay xornimada qaadeen gobolladii waqooyi ee British Somaliland sannadkii 26/6/1960-kii.
Balse maamulka hoose ee magaalada waxa xukumayey beesha Ciise.
Xornimadii ka dib Markii xornimada la qaatay waxa duq ka noqday magaalada beesha ciise ilaa laga soo gaadho burburkii kacaankii maxamed siyaad barre. Waxay kala ahaayeen:
Cilmi Nuur Faarax……………1960……1969
Khaalid Cabdi Diiriye………..1969……1984
Daahir Xirse Cali……………..1984………1989.
Beeshii Asal Ahaan Degi Jirtay
Marka taariikhda la eego waxa magaalada saylac degi jiray beesha Ciise oo bilowgii hore asal ahaan degi jirtay. Waxa aad loogu xusaa taariikhda ugaasyada beesha Ciise oo muddooyin badan lagu caleemo-saarayey, ilaa maanta lagu caleemo-saaro. Waxa ku jira xeerka beesha ciise in ugaaskeedu ka minyaraysto magaalada Saylac, taasoo muddo qarniyaal ah soo taxnayd. Hasayeeshee Ciise badankiisii wuxuu u guuray Jabuuti, taasi ayaa fursad siisay inay beesha Samaroon saameyn ku yeelato. Taariikhda laguma hayo suldaan ama Ugaas Samaroon oo lagu caleemo-saaray.
Tixraacyo:
– Kitaab Al-Buldaan………AL- Yaquubi
– Taariikhda xeebaha Soomaalida……Prof. Yuusuf Baane ( 1990)
– Qoraal, The Arab and Somalis…..Xuseen A. Khayre
– Periplus of the Erythraean sea…..Qoraaga lama yaqaan.
-Ibnu-Battuutah 1330-1331.
– Yeman and Zeila Past History………Abu- Said