Eidagale
The Eidagalle is a major Somali clan of the Isaaq clan family. Members of this clan are concentrated in Somaliland and the Somali region. They are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century. As descendants of Ismail bin Sheikh Isaaq, its members form a part of the Habar Magaadle confederation, and they constitute the largest sub-clan of the Isaaq. They traditionally consist of nomadic pastoralists, merchants and skilled poets.
The Eidagalle, largely clan make up a significant percentage of the population in Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland, as well as the Daroor, Aware and Misraq Gashamo zones in the Somali region of Ethiopia. They also live on the middle and south eastern side of Hargeisa as well as the Salahlay District in eastern Maroodi Jeex region. A subclan of the Eidagale, the Guuyoobe also inhabit the Oodweyne district in Togdheer region. They also have a large settlement in Kenya where they are known as a constituent segment of the Isahakia community.
The Eidagale clan traces its lineage back to Ismail Sheikh Ishaq. Within the Eidagale clan, there are three prominent sons: Mohammed Daoud, Abu Bakr Daoud, and Musa Daoud. The Eidagale are further classified into four sub-tribes: Abu Bakr Musa, Abdelrahman Musa, Abu Bakr Daoud and Mohammed Daoud. Historically, the Eidagale were nomadic pastoralists, merchants, and skilled poets.
Lineage
Sheikh Ishaq was one of the scholars that crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of Africa to spread Islam around 12th to 13th century. Hence, Sheikh Ishaaq married two local women in Somaliland that left him eight sons, one of them being Ismail (Garhajis).
Medieval period
Historically the Eidagalle took part in the conquest of Abyssinia and were part of the Adal Sultanate and are mentioned in the book Futuh al-Habasha (Conquest of Abyssinia) as the Habar Magaadle . The Habar Magaadle are known for producing a historical figure known as Ahmad Gurey bin Husain who was the right-hand man of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi. I. M. Lewis discusses the existence of another leader named Ahmad Gurey, and suggests that the two leaders have been conflated into one historical figure: The text refers to two Ahmad's with the nickname 'Left-handed'. One is regularly presented as 'Ahmad Guray, the Somali' (...) identified as Ahmad Gurey Xuseyn, chief of the Habar Magaadle. Another reference, however, appears to link the Habar Magadle with the Eidagal. The other Ahmad is simply referred to as 'Imam Ahmad' or simply the 'Imam'.This Ahmad is not qualified by the adjective Somali (...) The two Ahmad's have been conflated into one figure, the heroic Ahmed Guray
Isaaq Sultanate
The Eidagalle are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century. The Isaaq Sultanate was established in the mid-18th century by Sultan Guled Abdi Eisa of the Eidagale clan. His coronation took place after the victorious battle of Lafaruug, in which Guled Abdi successfully led the Isaaq and was crowned by the Isaaq clan after defeating the Absame tribes. After witnessing his leadership skills, noble conduct and valiance, the Isaaq chiefs recognized him as their Grand Sultan but Abdi instead put forward his son Guled. Guled's Sultanate predates the Habr Yunis Sultanate, which broke off from Eidagale tutelage several decades after the start of his rule. Sultan Guled ruled the Isaaq from the 1750s up until his death in the early 19th century, where he was succeeded by his eldest son Farah. Sultan Farah further expanded the influence of the Sultanate by establishing ties with various Muslim polities across the Gulf, particularly the Al-Qasimi family whom he corresponded with in regard to military action against the British Navy who blockaded Berbera and temporarily cut off vital trade.
A summarized clan family tree of the Eidagalle is presented below.
