Ughaz Nur II
| Ughaz Nur II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of the Gadabuursi's | |||||
| King of the Gadabuursi Sultanate | |||||
| Reign | 1835-1888 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ughaz Roble I | ||||
| Successor | Ughaz Roble II | ||||
| Born | Zeila | ||||
| Died | 1898, Dirri | ||||
| |||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
Ughaz Nur II' or Ugas Nur II' (Somali: Ugaas Nuur Ugaas Rooble , Arabic: سلطان نور سلطان ربلة ) also known as Ughaz Nur Robleh, was a Gadabursi King.
History
The 11th in line of the Gadabursi Sultanate or Ughasis. The term Ughas is an authentic Somali term for Sultan.[1]
He was born in Zayla in the year 1835 and crowned in Bagi in 1848. During his youth he loved riding, hunting and the traditional arts and memorized a great number of proverbs, stories and poems.Eventually Nur II came on to create his own store of sayings, poems and stories that are quoted to this day. He knew by heart the Gadabursi heer(customary law) and amended or added new heer during his reign. He was known for fair dealing to friend and stranger alike. It is said that he was the first Gadabursi Ughaz to introduce guards and askaris armed with arrows and bows.[2]
During the time of Nur II both Egypt and Ethiopia were contending for power and supremacy in the Horn of Africa. To add the European colonial powers were also competing for strategic territories and ports in the Horn of Africa.
In the year 1876 Egypt using Islam as a bargaining chip signed a treaty with Ughaz Nuur and came to occupy the northern Somali coast which included Zayla, the seat of the Gadabuursi sultanate,[3] but also to occupy the town of Harar and the Harar-Zeila-Berbera caravan route.
Ughaz Nuur went to Egypt to meet Ismail Pasha, the khedive, belonging to the Ottoman Empire, who honored the King of the Gadabuursi with medals and expensive gifts. The Ughaz there signed a treaty accepting Egyptian protection of Muslims in Somaliland and Ethiopia.[4]
The Ughaz had established strong relations with the Emir of Harar, Abdallah II ibn Ali . In 1887, when Harar was occupied by Menelik II of Ethiopia, Ughaz Nur sent Gadabursi askaris to support Abdallah II ibn Ali. The emir of Harar was eventually defeated and Ras Makonnen was appointed "Ethiopian governor of Harar". Menelik II continued to turn his attention to the Gadabuursi and offered the King (Ughaz Nur) and his people protection and military support for collaboration, seemingly a trap Ughaz Nur refused and fought until he died in 1998. He was buried in Dirri.[5]
Poems
Poem 1: ''Nin ii daran''.
The following are accounts from the "Gadabuursi Somali Script", by I'm Lewis, 1958[6] Note: Eebbe is an ancient and still-used Somali word for God.
Waha yidi Ugaas Nuur
Eebbow nin ii daran mahaan daarta hore seehshay.
Jiidku nin anu doonayn mahaan hadal u sii daayay.
Ma degdeg ey hajada mahaan rag u dulqaad yeeshay.
Nin ii daaqsanayaa mahaan malab durduursiiyay.
Goortaan dawaarka u rogo een heeladda u daadsho.
Dabin kaan u 'igay kolkuu degelka soo saaro.
Isagaan digniin qabin mahaan kaga dayaan siiyay.
TRANSLATION
As Ugaas Nuur said,
Oh God! How often have I made a man hostile to me sleep in the front part of the house.
How often have I allowed a man against whom my flesh turned to continue speaking. I am not hasty in dispute, how often have I shown forbearance.
How often have I given a second helping of honey to the man who only waited to hurt me.
When I turn the sewing machine and scatter the seeds of treachery (or trickery).
The trap which I have prepared for him (my enemy) when he sets his chest on top of it.
How often have I caught him unawares.
A Gabay by Ugaas Nuur
Although the poem is much bigger according to Somali source.[7]
Allahayow nin ii daran maxaan, daafta hore seexshay
Nin ii daaqsanayaana maxaan, daafidow kariyey
Jidhku nimaanu doonayn maxaan, hadalka deeqsiiyey
Ma degdege xaajada maxaan, ugu dulqaad yeeshay
Weji dabacsan daymaan dareen, galin dubaaqiisa
Debna furan dabuub una ka didin, deexashiyo muuso
Qosol dibadda yaal oon ka iman, dhuunta dacalkeeda
Kanaan degey kanaan doorka biday, kani dan baan moodey
Waxaan dood kaftan ah sheekada, ugu daleeyaaba
Dabinkaan u dhigo maalintuu, degelka soo saaro
Intiiyoon dawaarka u rogoon, xeeladda u daadsho
Isagoon dareen qabin maxaaan, kaga dayaansiiyey
A Gabay by Ugaas Nuur
References
- ↑ Westermann, Diedrich; Smith, Edwin William; Forde, Cyril Daryll (2007-01-01). Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 230.
- ↑ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 247. ISBN 9780810866041.
- ↑ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 248. ISBN 9780810866041.
- ↑ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 248. ISBN 9780810866041.
- ↑ Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 248. ISBN 9780810866041.
- ↑ Lewis, I. M. (1958-01-01). "The Gadabuursi Somali Script". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 21 (1/3): 134–156.
- ↑ http://www.doollo.com/mainpage/boggasuugaanta/ugaadnuurrooble/ugaasnuur.htm Ugaas Nuur poem "Nin ii daran"