Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gafle Somali National Hero of Bimaal Clan who led Bimaal Revolt against the Italian Colonial Rulers 1896 to 1926

Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gafle

Born-1852         'Armadobe, Somalia

Died-1922

Occupation-teacher, preacher, warrior, sheikh and leader

Clan: Bimaal Maxamed Xiniftire

Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gāfle or also more famously known as Gāfle (Somali: Sheekh Cabdi Abiikar "Gaafle"). A famous Bimaal ma’allin (teacher-sheikh) and warrior born in ‘Armadobe village in 1852. He was also a prominent figure in the Bimāl Revolt against the Italians. He met his end in 1922.[1]

Gāfle was a notable Bimal ma’allin. He grew up finishing his Quranic education and studies at home, which afterwards for higher Islamic education he was sent to 'Eel Gaal center close to Merca. He studied the subjects of:

1.Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)

2.Tafseer (Qur'anic translations and interpretations),

3.Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s tradition, Sunnah).[2]

Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gāfle learned from well known sheikhs at that time like Sheikh Usman Sheikh Hassan and Sheikh Muhammad Abdalla, also known as 'Baarmawaaye'. Gaafle continued to become a well-known individual in the Bimal community. In 1888, Gaafle started to travel increasingly all over the Shabelle Valley preaching his ideology, teaching and warning the public and his brethren about the menace that is, the Italian colonizers.[3

The Bimal Revolt

Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gāfle contributed heavily to the Bimal efforts and resistance against the Italians. He took part in the Igalle shir(clan council) in June 1896 and was the one to lead an army against the Italians, of which the famous attack on Igalle in 1905 after it was occupied by the Italians. Gāfle was the pioneer behind the alliance with the Dervishes and their leader Sayid Mohamed although the Dervishes did support Gāfle with firearms they would not fight with Gāfle. Gāfle is said to have continued his resistance til 1908[4][5]

For more about the Bimal resistance or revolt visit the following:

References

^ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780810866041.

2. Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780810866041. "SHEIKH ABDI ABIIKAR “GAAFLE”"

3. Ahmed, Ali Jimale (1995-01-01). The Invention of Somalia. The Red Sea Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780932415998.

4. Kusow, Abdi (2004-01-01). Putting the cart before the horse: contested nationalism and the crisis of the nation-state in Somalia. Red Sea Press. ISBN 9781569022023.

5. Ahmed, Ali Jimale (1995-01-01). The Invention of Somalia. The Red Sea Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780932415998.

Bīmāl Revolt

The Bimal Revolt, Bimal Resistance, Merca Revolt or Banadir Resistance was a guerrilla war against the Italian Somaliland in southern Somalia. It was fought from 1896 to 1926 and largely concentrated in Lower Shebelle, Banadir and Middle Shebelle.

It is compared to the war of the Mad Mullah in northern Somalia.[1][2] Named after the Bimal clan since they were the major element in the resistance.[3]

History

In the 1890's Italy occupied Marka the center of the Bimal culture. This sparked the beginning and outrage among the Bimal clan, many of them joined the Bimal resistance.

An Italian resident of the city was assassinated in 1904 , his name was Giacomo Trevis. In response Italy occupied the port town of Jazira about 30 miles south of Mogadishu[4]

^ Ciisa-Salwe, Cabdisalaam M. (1996-01-01). The collapse of the Somali state: the impact of the colonial legacy. HAAN. p. 19. ISBN 9781874209270.

2. Kusow, Abdi (2004-01-01). Putting the cart before the horse: contested nationalism and the crisis of the nation-state in Somalia. Red Sea Press. p. 82. ISBN 9781569022023.

3. Kusow, Abdi (2004-01-01). Putting the cart before the horse: contested nationalism and the crisis of the nation-state in Somalia. Red Sea Press. p. 86. ISBN 9781569022023. "the Bimal clan was the major element in the resistance. See: Gherardo Pantano, Nel Benadir: La Citta di Merca e la Regione Bimal,"

4. Kusow, Abdi (2004). Putting the cart before the horse: contested nationalism and the crisis of the nation-state in Somalia. Red Sea Press. ISBN 9781569022023.

5. to: a b Hess, Robert L. (1964-01-01). "The 'Mad Mullah' and Northern Somalia". The Journal of African History. 5 (3): 415–433, page 422. JSTOR 179976.

One of the Italian`s greatest fears was the spread of 'Dervishism' ( had come to mean revolt) in the south and the strong Bimaal tribe of Benadir whom already were at war with the Italians, while not following the religious message or adhering to the views of Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, understood greatly his goal and political tactics. The dervishes in this case were engaged in supplying arms to the Bimaal.[5]

The Italians wanted to bring in an end to the Bimaal revolt and at all cost prevent a Bimal-Dervish alliance, which lead them to use the forces of Obbia and the Mijertein as prevention.[5]