The Somali people trace their lineage back to Ham, through Mizraim, the son of Baisar.
The ancestors of the Somalis once lived in Egypt, before migrating southward to the Horn of Africa region.
However, the relationship between the ancient Egyptians and their relatives in the land of Punt was never severed. On the contrary, historical accounts indicate extensive trade relations, cultural exchange, and diplomatic missions. Representatives from every tribe of Punt would travel to Egypt to attend the coronation ceremonies of the Pharaohs. These ties were so deep that some Pharaohs were of Puntite origin.
According to the famous account of Herodotus, when the Achaemenid emperor Cambyses II invaded Egypt in 525 BC, he sent envoys bearing luxurious gifts to the king of Macrobia to entice him into submission. However, the Macrobian ruler responded that they should thank the gods that the Macrobians had not yet decided to attack them in revenge for their invasion of Egypt.
Other branches of the descendants of Baisar migrated westward and southward, intermarrying with ethnic groups such as the Amazighs, Beja, Nubians, Abyssinians, etc. Over time, they merged with those groups, mixed, and eventually disappeared. This explains why some of these peoples resemble the Somalis in physical features.
As for those who remained in Egypt, isolated from extensive foreign intermixing — at least before the occupation by the Hyksos, Kushites, and Ptolemies — their interaction with other peoples was very limited. This continued until the Arab conquests, after which the Egyptians embraced Islam, intermarried extensively with the Arabs, and gradually assimilated until they vanished.
Thus, the Somalis remain the main surviving descendants of the lineage of Baisar, largely preserved due to their strict traditions against intermarriage with non-Somalis and their isolated geography — bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Awash and Omo rivers to the west, and the Tana River to the south, acting as natural barriers between the Somalis and other peoples.
The dynamics of these migrations are not entirely clear. However, it is likely that some migrations were forced due to conflicts with neighboring groups, while other migrations may have been driven by pressures such as epidemics. It is also possible that some migrations occurred in periods older than what current historical records suggest.
The Somali coast was known to ancient Egyptian and Greek sailors as the "Land of Punt" — in reference to Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
Later, the Somalis were referred to as the "Berbers" — in reference to Berber, the son of Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
Eventually, they became known as the "Somalis" — in reference to Samale, the son of Hiil, the son of Berber, the son of Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
This hypothesis is also supported by linguistic and genetic evidence: the Somali and Ancient Egyptian languages are very similar.
Genetically, both Somalis and Ancient Egyptians descend from the same paternal genetic group E-V12 — which is the gene of Mizraim.
The gene of Baisar is E-M78.
The Somalis are among the rare peoples of the world who have preserved their genealogies and passed them down through generations, unlike most other peoples. This preservation is rooted in their nomadic heritage, where lineage and tribal affiliation form the cornerstone of social life.
In the nomadic society, individuals live in interconnected tribal units, where genealogy is essential for social identity, protection, and cohesion. Knowing one’s origins is not just a tradition but a fundamental social necessity.
In contrast, urban societies tend to lose these complex genealogical ties over time, as diverse populations blend in cities, and the need for detailed knowledge of one’s origins diminishes.
This strong adherence to lineage and the strict social rules against marrying outside the tribe have played a crucial role in preserving Somali genealogies from extinction or decline.
The ancestors of the Somalis once lived in Egypt, before migrating southward to the Horn of Africa region.
However, the relationship between the ancient Egyptians and their relatives in the land of Punt was never severed. On the contrary, historical accounts indicate extensive trade relations, cultural exchange, and diplomatic missions. Representatives from every tribe of Punt would travel to Egypt to attend the coronation ceremonies of the Pharaohs. These ties were so deep that some Pharaohs were of Puntite origin.
According to the famous account of Herodotus, when the Achaemenid emperor Cambyses II invaded Egypt in 525 BC, he sent envoys bearing luxurious gifts to the king of Macrobia to entice him into submission. However, the Macrobian ruler responded that they should thank the gods that the Macrobians had not yet decided to attack them in revenge for their invasion of Egypt.
Other branches of the descendants of Baisar migrated westward and southward, intermarrying with ethnic groups such as the Amazighs, Beja, Nubians, Abyssinians, etc. Over time, they merged with those groups, mixed, and eventually disappeared. This explains why some of these peoples resemble the Somalis in physical features.
As for those who remained in Egypt, isolated from extensive foreign intermixing — at least before the occupation by the Hyksos, Kushites, and Ptolemies — their interaction with other peoples was very limited. This continued until the Arab conquests, after which the Egyptians embraced Islam, intermarried extensively with the Arabs, and gradually assimilated until they vanished.
Thus, the Somalis remain the main surviving descendants of the lineage of Baisar, largely preserved due to their strict traditions against intermarriage with non-Somalis and their isolated geography — bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Awash and Omo rivers to the west, and the Tana River to the south, acting as natural barriers between the Somalis and other peoples.
The dynamics of these migrations are not entirely clear. However, it is likely that some migrations were forced due to conflicts with neighboring groups, while other migrations may have been driven by pressures such as epidemics. It is also possible that some migrations occurred in periods older than what current historical records suggest.
The Somali coast was known to ancient Egyptian and Greek sailors as the "Land of Punt" — in reference to Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
Later, the Somalis were referred to as the "Berbers" — in reference to Berber, the son of Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
Eventually, they became known as the "Somalis" — in reference to Samale, the son of Hiil, the son of Berber, the son of Punt, the son of Mizraim, the son of Baisar, the son of Ham.
This hypothesis is also supported by linguistic and genetic evidence: the Somali and Ancient Egyptian languages are very similar.
Genetically, both Somalis and Ancient Egyptians descend from the same paternal genetic group E-V12 — which is the gene of Mizraim.
The gene of Baisar is E-M78.
The Somalis are among the rare peoples of the world who have preserved their genealogies and passed them down through generations, unlike most other peoples. This preservation is rooted in their nomadic heritage, where lineage and tribal affiliation form the cornerstone of social life.
In the nomadic society, individuals live in interconnected tribal units, where genealogy is essential for social identity, protection, and cohesion. Knowing one’s origins is not just a tradition but a fundamental social necessity.
In contrast, urban societies tend to lose these complex genealogical ties over time, as diverse populations blend in cities, and the need for detailed knowledge of one’s origins diminishes.
This strong adherence to lineage and the strict social rules against marrying outside the tribe have played a crucial role in preserving Somali genealogies from extinction or decline.
