14th century source on the Somali Language

[Idilinaa]

What historians see is the settled Harari Ethio semites and the nomadic somalis around it, I dont know why youre waffling about habesha tents

Also Somalis were largely nomadic stop this agro pastoralist bs, that was when they were sedentary, some nomads in the 19th century settling like at hargeisa to do substistence farming doesnt mean majority were agro pastoralists thats just an outright lie, falsifying history wont take us anywhere

I wasn’t even talking about Hargeisa, which, as you rightly said, began as a farming settlement in the 19th century.

What I’m referring to is the broader Somali presence in areas around Harar, where clans like the Abaskuul, Gerri, Usbayahan, and Bartirre (the so-called Kombe) were settled agro-pastoralists and yes, they also lived inside Harar itself, integrated into its urban social and commercial fabric.

Same applies to Hawiye clans around the Upper Shabelle basin who were engaged in riverine farming alongside pastoralism for centuries. This isn’t revisionism; it’s basic ethno-geographic fact.

My broader point was about political structure: Somali rulers lived in coastal or interior towns, fortified settlements, or stone-built urban villas, while the ruling class of the Habesha often remained semi-nomadic, moving between highland camps. So if we’re talking about statecraft, bureaucracy, and urban continuity, Somali polities had more institutionalized urban nodes.

As for the “nomad” label it’s reductive. Most Somalis historically were mobile pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, operating in a seasonal transhumance pattern. That’s not the same as full nomadism. Labeling them as “nomadic” flattens the complexity of their economy and society, and that oversimplification is what distorts the historical perception.

I explained this more thoroughly elsewhere how the misuse of the “nomadic” label misleads people into thinking Somalis had no political or social infrastructure, when in fact they did just in a different form:

I think the way the term 'nomad' is often used creates misleading distinctions. Some people use it neutrally, but in many cases, it carries connotations that don't accurately reflect how Somali society functioned. You see it in the way certain European scholars like those Spanish archaeologists apply the term dismissively, as if pastoralism was a primitive or disorganized way of life. It’s also used to create artificial divisions between urban, agrarian populations and herding societies, when in reality, the boundaries were always fluid.

What’s frustrating is how this framing ignores the economic complexity and sustainability of livestock herding. Livestock wasn’t just a subsistence activity it was an economic engine, facilitating trade, wealth accumulation, and social organization. But the way some narratives are shaped, pastoralism is treated as inherently inferior to crop farming, when in reality, it was just as if not more strategic in many regions.

Take the Warsangeli, for example. Their principal town was Las Qoray, but they also had a network of smaller coastal settlements like Durduri, Elayo, Geelwayto, Ras Gahm, and Waqdariya. This pattern wasn’t unique, most Somali clans maintained settlements or economic hubs in parallel with their pastoral activities. Some groups focused on trade, others on fishing, and others on small-scale agriculture, while still engaging in livestock herding. It was a diversified system, not a simplistic ‘wandering herder’ existence.

Seasonal movement wasn’t random either it followed defined patterns within organized territorial structures. Clans had agreements over pastures, water sources, and migration routes, just as coastal settlements had trade networks and fortifications.

The idea that Somalis were purely 'nomadic' in the sense of being unstructured or constantly moving without stability is just inaccurate. What we actually had was a highly adaptable, multi-layered economic system that shifted based on season, need, and opportunity

 

[Idilinaa]

"In the full (now removed) version on his old blog, Shidaad went into more depth explaining how many Oromo attributions including the so called ''Harla'' ruins , were applied post-expansion to pre-existing Somali and Islamic historical sites. He showed how these claims often blended with pre-Islamic folklore, like the Taalo Tiryaad traditions, which attributed mysterious ruins to giants."

Send it someone I know has been looking for this for ages

I was actually looking for the blogspot just now that’s why it took me a bit to reply. I’ll see if I maybe saved or sent the link somewhere, if I did, I’ll try to Wayback Machine it tomorrow.

Got a few things to sort out and work in the morning, so I’ll check back in tomorrow evening.

 

[Barkhadle1520]

I wasn’t even talking about Hargeisa, which, as you rightly said, began as a farming settlement in the 19th century.

What I’m referring to is the broader Somali presence in areas around Harar, where clans like the Abaskuul, Gerri, Usbayahan, and Bartirre (the so-called Kombe) were settled agro-pastoralists and yes, they also lived inside Harar itself, integrated into its urban social and commercial fabric.
View attachment 366101
View attachment 366102


Same applies to Hawiye clans around the Upper Shabelle basin who were engaged in riverine farming alongside pastoralism for centuries. This isn’t revisionism; it’s basic ethno-geographic fact.
View attachment 366103

My broader point was about political structure: Somali rulers lived in coastal or interior towns, fortified settlements, or stone-built urban villas, while the ruling class of the Habesha often remained semi-nomadic, moving between highland camps. So if we’re talking about statecraft, bureaucracy, and urban continuity, Somali polities had more institutionalized urban nodes.

As for the “nomad” label it’s reductive. Most Somalis historically were mobile pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, operating in a seasonal transhumance pattern. That’s not the same as full nomadism. Labeling them as “nomadic” flattens the complexity of their economy and society, and that oversimplification is what distorts the historical perception.

I explained this more thoroughly elsewhere how the misuse of the “nomadic” label misleads people into thinking Somalis had no political or social infrastructure, when in fact they did just in a different form:

Most Somalis were not agro pastoralists stop the revisionism. You literally started your message by saying it was only some people around harar, you know there were more oromo farmers around harar than Somali ones right ? And peopel living around shabelle are obviously gonna work the soil, none of this proves your point just give up, we were nomads and theres no escaping it

Somalis had no real political structure after they became nomads, I know you're trying to make us look more civilized but I promise you every source on this period out there contradicts you, if only you knew the stuff they were up to you wouldnt even consider painting them as civilized

 

[Barkhadle1520]

I was actually looking for the blogspot just now that’s why it took me a bit to reply. I’ll see if I maybe saved or sent the link somewhere, if I did, I’ll try to Wayback Machine it tomorrow.

Got a few things to sort out and work in the morning, so I’ll check back in tomorrow evening.

Ok great

 

[Idilinaa]

Most Somalis were not agro pastoralists stop the revisionism. You literally started your message by saying it was only some people around harar, you know there were more oromo farmers around harar than Somali ones right ? And peopel living around shabelle are obviously gonna work the soil, none of this proves your point just give up, we were nomads and theres no escaping i

You're reducing everything to "nomads" as if Somali society was one-dimensional.

What I said is that Somalis were largely mobile pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, especially in fertile zones like around Harar and the Upper Shabelle. That’s not the same as full nomadism. They followed transhumant patterns seasonal movement with stable land-use systems: farming in one season, herding in another. That’s historically accurate, not revisionism.

Yes, Oromo communities farmed too but before major Oromo expansions, Somali clans like Gerri, Bartirre, and others were already settled around Harar, even inside the city. Oromo later entered and shared that same ecological and economic space.

The “we were just nomads” narrative oversimplifies Somali history. It's not about denying pastoralism , it’s about being accurate on how diverse and adaptive the livelihoods were.

Even the mobile pastoralists weren’t static , they settled in towns or villages seasonally, then moved to graze in hills/highlands. It was a fluid, complex system, not the rigid image people project when they say “nomads.”

 

[Barkhadle1520]

You're reducing everything to "nomads" as if Somali society was one-dimensional.

What I said is that Somalis were largely mobile pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, especially in fertile zones like around Harar and the Upper Shabelle. That’s not the same as full nomadism. They followed transhumant patterns seasonal movement with stable land-use systems: farming in one season, herding in another. That’s historically accurate, not revisionism.

Yes, Oromo communities farmed too but before major Oromo expansions, Somali clans like Gerri, Bartirre, and others were already settled around Harar, even inside the city. Oromo later entered and shared that same ecological and economic space.

The “we were just nomads” narrative oversimplifies Somali history. It's not about denying pastoralism , it’s about being accurate on how diverse and adaptive the livelihoods were.

Even the mobile pastoralists weren’t static , they settled in towns or villages seasonally, then moved to graze in hills/highlands. It was a fluid, complex system, not the rigid image people project when they say “nomads.”

We were just nomads indeed

Stop making it seem like most Somali nomads cultivated the soil cause they did not

 

[Idilinaa]

We were just nomads indeed

Stop making it seem like most Somali nomads cultivated the soil cause they did not

That’s just not accurate.

Yes, a large portion of Somalis were pastoralists but many were also agro-pastoralists, especially in riverine areas, fertile highlands, and around towns and trade routes. Farming wasn’t something new or rare it was part of a seasonal, mixed livelihood system. That’s well-documented in both local history and colonial/Islamic records.

No one is saying most Somalis were sedentary farmers but to act like cultivation played no role or that it was somehow un-Somali is just false. Many Somali clans farmed during certain seasons , in certain locations and herded in others. That’s transhumance, and it’s been a part of Somali life for centuries.

It’s not about denying pastoralism it’s about not flattening Somali history into a stereotype. The reality was more complex.

 

[Barkhadle1520]

That’s just not accurate.

Yes, a large portion of Somalis were pastoralists but many were also agro-pastoralists, especially in riverine areas, fertile highlands, and around towns and trade routes. Farming wasn’t something new or rare it was part of a seasonal, mixed livelihood system. That’s well-documented in both local history and colonial/Islamic records.

No one is saying most Somalis were sedentary farmers but to act like cultivation played no role or that it was somehow un-Somali is just false. Many Somali clans farmed during certain seasons , in certain locations and herded in others. That’s transhumance, and it’s been a part of Somali life for centuries.

It’s not about denying pastoralism it’s about not flattening Somali history into a stereotype. The reality was more complex.

Sure, everything is more complex with you anyways

 

[Zak12]

That’s just not accurate.

Yes, a large portion of Somalis were pastoralists but many were also agro-pastoralists, especially in riverine areas, fertile highlands, and around towns and trade routes. Farming wasn’t something new or rare it was part of a seasonal, mixed livelihood system. That’s well-documented in both local history and colonial/Islamic records.

No one is saying most Somalis were sedentary farmers but to act like cultivation played no role or that it was somehow un-Somali is just false. Many Somali clans farmed during certain seasons , in certain locations and herded in others. That’s transhumance, and it’s been a part of Somali life for centuries.

It’s not about denying pastoralism it’s about not flattening Somali history into a stereotype. The reality was more complex.

I don't really get this distain towards nomads/pastoralists anyways. It was an important lifestyle that gave Somalis a steady flow of food and supplies, helped establish trade routes and innovative systems like abaan and helped contribute to the level interconnectedness that Somalis historically have even up to now.

Yeah its true the 17th-18th centuries saw an increase in pastoralism as a result of foreign invasions and trade decline but that is a simple case of adaptation to a system that was already well suited for living in Somalia. And its not like Somalis were neglecting proper towns either seeing how 19th century waqooyi was seeing a major urban boom with people moving into major or newly created settlements.

 

[Riftvalley]

I don't really get this distain towards nomads/pastoralists anyways. It was an important lifestyle that gave Somalis a steady supply of food and supplies, helped establish trade routes and innovative systems like abaan and helped contribute to the level interconnectedness that Somalis historically have even up to now.

Yeah its true the 17th-18th centuries saw an increase in pastoralism as a result of foreign invasions and trade decline but that is a simple case of adaptation to a system that was already well suited for living in Somalia. And it’s not like Somalis were neglecting proper towns either seeing how 19th century waqooyi was seeing a major urban boom with people moving into major or newly created settlements.

There are also military advantages to being mobile over large areas. Somalis abandoned settlements during the wars with Oromos to not become victims of night raids. Similar situation in the south: mobile interior groups like Somalis were often called upon to defend towns like Barawa and the Swahilis use to major alliances with the Somalis in the interior. A large part of avoiding intrusive cultural colonialist policies is due to Somali pastoralist lifestyles.

 

[Idilinaa]

I don't really get this distain towards nomads/pastoralists anyways. It was an important lifestyle that gave Somalis a steady flow of food and supplies, helped establish trade routes and innovative systems like abaan and helped contribute to the level interconnectedness that Somalis historically have even up to now.

Yeah its true the 17th-18th centuries saw an increase in pastoralism as a result of foreign invasions and trade decline but that is a simple case of adaptation to a system that was already well suited for living in Somalia. And its not like Somalis were neglecting proper towns either seeing how 19th century waqooyi was seeing a major urban boom with people moving into major or newly created settlements.

It's perception and bias driven. When i tried to explain to Barkhadle that they were fluid in nature in their mode of activity he didn't get it.

It's sort of like that European observer in 1800s that was confused by the complexity and said :

''We cannot understand what is meant by their 'pastoral habits'', since they are clearly a maritime people, and have been termed Abyssinian mariners.''

They simply cannot understand people can engage in herding and in addition to another mode of activity like seafaring they are not mutually exclusive.

Pastoralists were in reality the economic engine behind the Somali medieval Muslim civilizations.

''He listed the towns along the northern coast of Somalia and Few interior ones. Within that, he noted: " And the Habasha entirely breed the camels for using them as a source of sustenance and means of transportation. For them, the camels are the greatest treasury they have"

Their camels carried goods across long distances and the adoptions of the camel was directly responsible for the long distance internal trade routes that gave life/formation to the town/cities that flourished during the Islamic period.

The Somalis and the Camel: a Historic Economic Development Toward Islamic Period

It is very peculiar and curious how Ethiopianists are quick to claim things that historically and under discussion they associate you with as a reductive mechanism of historical revisionism, in the sense of, seeing how pastoral networks were the fundamental skeletons of the economic flow for the...

www.somalispot.com

They were directly tied to urban industry and growth in agriculture.

Another thing that further complicates it is when they don't realize that pastoralism fueled farming, trade and industries. Livestock provided raw materials that were essential for urban industries and crafts.

Cattle, camels, sheep, and goats) produced high-quality hides used in leatherworking. Somali tanneries processed raw hides into leather for shoes, saddles, bags, shields, and armor. Somali leather was highly valued and was exported.

Wool & Textiles even, Sheep provided wool, which was spun into yarn and woven into blankets, rugs, and clothing. Goat fur was used to for tent-making, carpets, and ropes.

Boiled animal parts were used to produce glue for construction, textiles, and weapon-making.

Pelt & Fur Trade, Animal pelts (especially sheep and goat skins) was used for upholstery, and trading purposes. Fur was a valuable commodity in the markets.

@Shimbiris shared even some time ago how there was a bone crafting industry, animal bones was used for combs, tools, handles, ornaments, and weapons and horns were used to craft drinking vessels, musical instruments, and decorative items.

So pastoralism weren't simply for substistence food produce and that Somalis became very wealthy from it in many different ways which they rendered into finished goods also traded and exported raw materials from it.

It also stimulated trade and growth in agriculture productions since livestock products such as milk, butter, hides, and wool were exchanged for grains, vegetables, and fruits in Somali markets. This symbiotic relationship ensured a steady food supply for both farmers and pastoralists while stimulating commerce. This exchange system created growth and strenghtened markets. Then it also helped with fertilizing farmland and plowing.

The formation of cities, ports and towns and trade is directly tied to all of this among other commodities, with the main driver being agro-pastoralism.

I even forgot to mention. They even used livestock to make paper to write like parchment and leather book covers for example, so pastoralism even fueled the manuscript production industry. This is not to say Somalis didn't craft with other materials, they even made writing paper out of certain trees as someone else shared before but it is to show that it was part and parcel that drove urban industry.

I agree what you are saying. Inshallah that will happen soon.

You can also add to the products harvested, hunted and collected by pastoralists that was also part of the main export/trade items.

 

[Idilinaa]

It's perception and bias driven. When i tried to explain to Barkhadle that they were fluid in nature in their mode of activity he didn't get it.

It's sort of like that European observer in 1800s that was confused by the complexity and said :

''We cannot understand what is meant by their 'pastoral habits'', since they are clearly a maritime people, and have been termed Abyssinian mariners.''
View attachment 366134

They simply cannot understand people can engage in herding and in addition to another mode of activity like seafaring they are not mutually exclusive.

Pastoralists were in reality the economic engine behind the Somali medieval Muslim civilizations.

''He listed the towns along the northern coast of Somalia and Few interior ones. Within that, he noted: " And the Habasha entirely breed the camels for using them as a source of sustenance and means of transportation. For them, the camels are the greatest treasury they have"

View attachment 366128

Their camels carried goods across long distances and the adoptions of the camel was directly responsible for the long distance internal trade routes that gave life/formation to the town/cities that flourished during the Islamic period.

The Somalis and the Camel: a Historic Economic Development Toward Islamic Period

It is very peculiar and curious how Ethiopianists are quick to claim things that historically and under discussion they associate you with as a reductive mechanism of historical revisionism, in the sense of, seeing how pastoral networks were the fundamental skeletons of the economic flow for the...

www.somalispot.com

They were directly tied to urban industry and growth in agriculture.





You can also add to the products harvested, hunted and collected by pastoralists that was also part of the main export/trade items.

Found an old post I made that explains this better:

“Nomad” isn’t really the right word I’d use here. A more accurate framing would be pastoralism, herding, and mobility.

Somali society was never shaped by aimless wandering. It was shaped by trade, by seasonal and strategic movement, and by an interwoven relationship between different livelihoods: herding, farming, fishing, and commerce.

Mobility didn’t mean separation , it meant connection. The same people who herded animals in the interior often engaged in farming or fishing on the coast and lived in or passed through towns, villages, cities and settlements both on the interior and the coast. Some switched livelihoods depending on the season. So the wide dispersal of towns, trade posts, and religious learning centers wasn’t some coincidence , it was a natural outgrowth of a fluid and adaptive economic and social structure.

The economic engine behind this trade and movement was the camel kept by pastoralists and herders which enabled long-distance travel and sustained interior-to-coast commerce.

You can read more about the symbiotic relationship between fishermen and herders on the Majerteen coast:

The symbiotic relationship between the coastal economy and the interior herding economy. Between the herders and fishermen.

Also i explained you in the other thread they also started doing small scale irrigation farming and general agriculture on the Eastern coast and the hills near it.

This is to show you that the logic that Somalis had aversion towards agriculture is also false. They were ready and willing to pick it up where the environmental conditions permitted it and opportunities arised.


Their economic system was very flexible and fluid in nature.

@Zak12

Let me also show how misleading the “nomad” label really is how it hides complexity.

Hornaristocrat mentioned examples of Gadabursi and Ciise owning estates and homes inside Harar.

That’s backed by 19th-century Qadi record books. Each case is documented before the arrival of Burton in the early 1800s.

I added more examples for comparison:

This is kinda similar to the Majerteen coast from what i know from it. Remember how each clan had homes, forts in the coastal towns and villages. For example Disheeshe Ugas, Bah Gareen etc had a fort in Bosaso and the Majeerteen Sultan had seasonal villas, and castles spread across different coastal towns including Bosaso, one in Bareeda, Bargaal, Bandar Maryah and so on. So did every Nai'b or governor have fort or a castle.

They had essentially 19-20 coastal villages and 8/5 port towns (Hafun, Bandar Siyada. Bandar Qasim, Bandar Maryah and Alula etc)

Thats why what Hornaristocrat said made a lot of sense to me. Thats why nomadic doesn't make much sense because this shows how Somalis had organized, seasonal mobility within defined territories and a diverse economic system beyond herding.

Nomad which is a word from the English language carries with it a lot of weird connotations. lack of fixed settlements, random movement, and absence of territorial or economic structure. That doesn't really reflect Somali society.

You can also start to see how similar it is to recent researchers assessments of the Tunni in relation to the town Barawa.

It almost comes as a suprise for them to even aknowledge this or they were forced to aknowledge it after reading the qadi record books of Barawa.

It's also true what @Riftvalley said, pastoralism actually gave Somalis a lot of advantages because of it's economic flexibility and mobility.