Hersi Gurey
Capo Xirsi Guray (1870–1957) better known as Xirsi Gurey was an elder and leader of the Sacad Habar Gidir clan, subclan Reer Hilowle.[1][2]
Life
[edit]As the Colonial War grew, with the breakdown of neutral people and no single successor to Italian and British rule emerging, the term "traditional" or "Capo" came into use in Somalia to describe heads of tribal and clan organizations and a complex web of regional and local domination.[3]
Xirsi is listed as the main elder to receive a silver medal in 1928 on behalf of the slain war hero, the Italian Dubat soldier Botan Warsame, from the Sacad Reer Jalaf clan for his leading contribution to the Italo - Somali War: Campaign of the Sultanates and the capture of Gorrahei from the Ogaden supporters, where both the sultanates and Gorrahei fighters had initially sought assistance from the Ethiopian Monarchy.[4]
Hersi played a prominent role during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in which Italy successfully conquered and colonised Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941 where Hersi sent troops to his ally and kinsman Sultan Olol Dinle.[5]
As a result of the successful conquest of Ethiopia, Capo Hersi alongside Olol Dinle and several chiefs were given an official invitation to meet Hitler and Mussolini in Rome, 1938.[6]
Many of his descendants until today play a prominent role in Somalia.
References
[edit]- ^ Il somalo della Somalia grammatica e testi del benadir, darod e dighil. Martin Mario. 1955. p. 359.
- ^ CON SElL DE TUTELLE (PDF). UN Digital Library. 1952. p. 1.
- ^ COMMUNICATION DE N0TABLES, SANTONS ET ANCIENS DE TRIBU AVERGHEDIR SAAD CONCERNANT IA SOMALIE SOUS ADMINISTATIONE ITALIENNE (PDF). UN Digital Library. 1953. p. 1.
- ^ La storia delle colonie italiane raccontata dai documenti. Alberto Alpozzi. 2020. p. 1.
- ^ Bollettino ufficiale delle nomine, promozioni e destinazioni negli ufficiali e sottufficiali del R. esercito italiano e nel personale dell'amministrazione militare. Ministero della guerra. 1940. p. 2968.
- ^ The International Journal of African Historical Studies. Africana Publishing Company. 1977. p. 227.