Garre

The Garre are a Somali pastoralist clan that live in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. They are sub clan of Digil clan family of Somalia. Almost all speak the Garre language, though it may be secondary to Maay.

The origins of the Garre are not clear, and there are some conflicting traditions among clan members. One tradition assumes that the Garre are of Samaale origin being descendants of Garedheere Samaale. However, there are other traditions that associate the Garre Tuuf to the Hawiye clan, while the Quranyow Mohamed have traditional links to the Dir subclans of Mohamed Xinfitire. Complicating matters further is the recent Garre association with the Digil subclan of the Rahanweyn, which would make the Garre closely affiliated with the Tunni and Jiido of the lower Jubba valley.

According to the legend, the first Garre ancestor, Aw Mohamed, crossed the Gulf of Aden into present day Somalia in 652AD. He was an Islamic scholar and a preacher. Because he was bearded, the Somalis named him "Garrow" or Gardheer." He married a Hawiye woman who sired two boys and a girl. The first-born was Tuff and Qur'an, the second born and the daughter was named Makka.

The Garre migrated to the Gedo region of Ethiopia where they met the Oromos who were expanding towards the Coast of Kenya in 13th century. They were defeated and subdued by the more populous Oromos. However, during the famous Kedh-gurai, the majority of Garres, under thee leadership of King Bulle Hussein and other members of the council of elders; Aw Anabo Osman, Aw Aloiw Hache, Aw Bakal Bashar and Aw Abbey Umur Mudhow Muss, migrated back to Somalia via Afmadhow and into Luq.

Another group, under Ali Abdi, migrated into Ethiopia and settled in "Did Libaan" or the Libaan's plains. These are the Garre-Libiin or Garre Ali Abdi.

The Garres who migrated to Somalia under the leadership of Aw Bulle Hussein are referred to as Garre Konfur. Many people doubt that the Tuff and Quran are children of the same father. However, this is historical fact. Geneologically, the Tuff Garre and Quranyowa Mohamed are brothers. One using the actual name of his father, while the other uses the nickname of his father

The Garre are divided into Tuff and Quranyowa sub-clans; the Tuffs further into Ali and Adola; the Quranyow into Asare and Furkesha.

External links

* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=gex Ethnologue profile]
* [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/AllDocsByUNID/a04944b64975d95ac12569890047d39b "Ethiopia: Over 150 killed in clashes in southern district" at Reliefweb]
* [http://www.ksafe.com/profiles/p_code3/2482.html Garre profile, with focus on intended Christian evangelism]