Any good Somali history books written in english?
- Thread starter hornkompf
- Start date
There’s a couple of decent colonial history books on SL. I’m not sure if that’s what you’re looking for though?
hornkompf
mans just here innit
Tbh idm as long as it's any Somali history from the last 200ish years roughly, any books on SL history would be particularly interesting to read though
One book I’ve been planning to read for a while is this one
SL colonial era books are a good read but there’s some blatant lies in there too. Don’t take everything you see as correct. IM Lewis is a well known liar for example
SL colonial era books are a good read but there’s some blatant lies in there too. Don’t take everything you see as correct. IM Lewis is a well known liar for example
hornkompf
mans just here innit
Would you advise against his books entirely? Or would some of his books still be beneficial to learn from?
What has IM Lewis lied about
I haven’t read much, but because of the severe lack of documentation regarding anything Somalia any history is good history.
His stuff on SL was fairly accurate, as he was mainly just extrapolating data and coming to conclusions off of it. Whilst also working with the colonial knowledge he had at the time.
Post colonisation, He then tried to branch out and become this historian for all Somalia/Somalis, and this was where his writings became much worse. This doesn’t work because we all know Somalis had different kingdoms and different histories despite being one people.
Twitter thread showing this: https://x.com/independentmi20/status/1617559210283397123?s=46
This got proven years later, and he doubled down on his koonfuurphobia by suggesting different Somali clans have a completely different “biological basis”.
Well on the point about the somali origins of xamar it’s possibly true that the Hawiye represented the second wave of Somali migration from the north, they would’ve ejected or displaced the previous Samaale groupings in the environs of xamar and all the way up the shabeele, he doesn’t refer to xamar as being arab, but he does make note of the Arab presence there too.
The thing is, I don’t know what somali clan previously held xamar from the 9th century to the 12th. We know the Hawiye established themselves down there by the 12th century, but the previous Somali rulers are simply noted as “barabra or berber”
I just bought that, I have not had a chance to read it.
That one looks interesting. Will definitely check it out.
One should use their discernment when it comes to books written by colonial-era Europeans, as while there is some useful information, there is also no shortage of anti-Somali theories and agendas in them. These were colonial-era Europeans after all.
Some interesting Somali history books below.
Some interesting Somali history books below.
Thegoodshephard recommended some reads here
I would like to add the following books on southern Somalia to the list:
- Somali Sultanate : the Geledi city-state over 150 years.
- Lamu in the Nineteenth Century: Land, Trade, and Politics
The pastoral tribes of Northern Kenya, 1800-1916
The Darod Invasion
There are many valuable sources in mostly Italian, and some in French and German, that have not yet been translated. AI translation is going to give us access to a lot of primary sources in the next decade.
Idilinaa
VIP
There are many books published in Arabic and Somali language discussing Somali history written by Somali authors who particularly share important details , struggles, developments, travels of people in the region and even reference local private sources and diaries and other external arabic sources . Because they published mainly in Arabic and Somali languages their contributions are not widely seen or available as opposed those written in English which is a shame really because they contain a wealth of information
One i am reading right now is.
The History of Somali Scholars by Mohamed Hussein Ma'alim
The earlier Arabic version of it:
In it he refrences two important Arabic works by Somali scholars:
Tarikh al-Sumal fi al-Usur Wusta Wa-al Haditha (The Modern and Medieval History of Somalia) by Aw Jama Umar Issa
And
Kashf al-Sudul An Tarikh al-Sumal Wa-Mamalikihim al-Sab'ah (The History of Somalia and the Seven Muslim Kingdoms) by Shaykh Ahmad Abdallah in reference to the medieval polities in the horn interior.
Among the slew of other sources and refrences by the ulema.
One i am reading right now is.
The History of Somali Scholars by Mohamed Hussein Ma'alim
The earlier Arabic version of it:
In it he refrences two important Arabic works by Somali scholars:
Tarikh al-Sumal fi al-Usur Wusta Wa-al Haditha (The Modern and Medieval History of Somalia) by Aw Jama Umar Issa
And
Kashf al-Sudul An Tarikh al-Sumal Wa-Mamalikihim al-Sab'ah (The History of Somalia and the Seven Muslim Kingdoms) by Shaykh Ahmad Abdallah in reference to the medieval polities in the horn interior.
Among the slew of other sources and refrences by the ulema.
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There are many books published in Arabic and Somali language discussing Somali history written by Somali authors who particularly share important details , struggles, developments, travels of people in the region and even reference local private sources and diaries and other external arabic sources . Because they published mainly in Arabic and Somali languages their contributions are not widely seen or available as opposed those written in English which is a shame really because they contain a wealth of information
One i am reading right now is.
The History of Somali Scholars by Mohamed Hussein Ma'alim
The earlier Arabic version of it:
In it he refrences two important Arabic works by Somali scholars:
Tarikh al-Sumal fi al-Usur Wusta Wa-al Haditha (The Modern and Medieval History of Somalia) by Aw Jama Umar Issa
And
Kashf al-Sudul An Tarikh al-Sumal Wa-Mamalikihim al-Sab'ah (The History of Somalia and the Seven Muslim Kingdoms) by Shaykh Ahmad Abdallah in reference to the medieval polities in the horn interior.
Among the slew of other sources and refrences by the ulema.
Where can you find these books?
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