Ismail Mire Elmi (), was a renowned Somalis poet and.[Nagendra Kr Singh, Abdul Mabud Khan Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities 8187746106 - 2001 "Examples of classical Somali poems are Mohammed Abdulle Hassan's 'Hiin Finiin,' in praise of his favourite horse; Ismail Mire's 'The Rewards of Success,' a philosophical poem; and Abdillahi Muse's 'An Elder's Reproof to his Wife.' "] Regarding his poetry, one observer said his voice and poetic ability was "so great that he could sing his countrymen into peace or war".[Dictionary of African Biography - Volumes 1-6 - Page 170, Henry Louis Gates - 2012 -]
Military career
Mire was born in 1862 in the vicinity of
Buuhoodle to a
Dhulbahante Bah Cali Gheri family. His life began in pastoralist and nomadic settings along the
Haud plains which is the lifestyle he returned to towards the end of his life. Upon becoming a Darwiish, he began heading the army and military intelligence, he also supervised the maintenance of the numerous forts that were built by the Darwiish. Upon the defeat of the Darwiish, he was captured, and spent a stint in a Berbera prison.
[Literatures in African Languages: Theoretical Issues and Sample Surveys, B. W. Andrzejewski] Mire is one of the most successful generals in African history, with Mire leading the charges that led to the killing of
Richard Corfield and destroyed almost the entirety of his battalion, besides successful raids or annexations of territories ranging from Berbera and Las Khorey in the north,
Jigjiga to the west and
Beledweyne to the south, thus by 1915 domineering over an area almost the size of Germany.
[Soof - Issues 1-14 - Page 45, 1996] The first decade of offensives cost the British government 29 million pounds sterlings (not adjusted to inflation).
According to Pergamon Press, Ismail Mire was "the most important general of the dervish forces and an accomplished poet and stylist".[Mohamed, Jama. " Epidemics and public health in early colonial Somaliland." Social Science & Medicine 48.4 (1999): 507-521. " Jardine, moreover, argued that during the period of disturbance between 1900 to 1920 about 200,000 people died of various causes, such as hunger, disease, spear and gunshot wounds (Jardine, 1923, p. 135). Other unconventional sources, such as literary sources, indirectly support the argument. Ismail Mire, the most important general of the dervish forces and an accomplished poet and stylist, recorded the tragic events of the period in a poem in which he minimised his role in ..."]
Ilig treaty
In 1905, the Ilig treaty was signed between the Darwiish and the Italians who also signed on behalf of the two other colonial powers, the British and the Abyssinians. The treaty stipulated peace between the Darwiish and the three colonial powers and designated the Darwiish as an Italian protectorate. The territory of the Darwiish was also demarcated in this treaty between the Majeerteen Sultanate at Ras Gabbe (Gabbac) and Hobyo Sultanate at Ras Garad (
Garacad); further territory was assigned for grazing, namely in Halin, a few miles east of Taleh to the north, Hudin (
Xudun District) to the northwest, Tifafle (between
Ade Adeye and
Las Anod) to the west, Danot to the southwest, and Mudug to the south.
[Jardine, Douglas James. The Mad Mullah of Somaliland. London: H. Jenkins, 1923.]
Poetry
Some of his notable poems include:
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Maxaa Xiga
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Guuguulayhow
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Iibsi Lacageed
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Xoogsi
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Hashii Markab
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Isma Oga
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Annagoo Taleex Naal
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Gelin Dhexe
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Ragow kibirka waa lagu kufaa
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Galow-Kiciye
Death of Corfield
Prior to their encounter with Corfield, the Dervishes began a recruitment campaign in various localities in northern
Somalia. For instance, in December 1912, A group of 150 Darwiish went to Ainabo wherein they tried to recruit to Dhulbahante there with promises of 100 camels for each rifleman or horseman who joined.
In August 1913, upon killing Richard Corfield and his battalion, Ismail Mire composed the "Death of Corfield" poem:
Somali proverbs
Ismail Mire is also known for contriving traditional sayings that expressed in a metaphorical sense the truths based on common sense or experience of the Nugaal region:
Legacy
Ismail Mire International Airport in
Buuhoodle is named in honour of Mire.
Autobiography book written on Ismaaciil Mire; by Ahmed Farah Ali, 1974
