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]
