The Gurgura are a
Somali clan who inhabit the
Sitti Zone,
Dire Dawa,
Harar,
Somaliland and the first clan who founder in dire Dawa. The Gurgura are the eldest Dir and most ancient Somali clan who migrated from
Awdal east into
Sanaag and southwest into
Harar,
Dire Dawa and
Awash Valley as traders that connected the Arabs, Europeans, Indians and Chinese in
Zeila to
Harar. The Gurgura brought dyed garments, salt, sugar etc.. from
Zeila to Harar and went back to Zeila with leather, species, frankincense and livestock. Along the trade routes, the Gurgura established settlements that were thriving communities during the
Sultanate of Ifat and
Adal Sultanate. Examples of these settlements named after Gurgura saints include
Jaldessa,
Abasa, Awdal,
Amud,
Awbare,
Awbube and
Dire Dawa. The name Gurgure in Somali is derived from the old Somali word Gorgortan (meaning to bargain or negotiate as a merchant) according some sources as the Gurgura were known as traders. According other sources the name was derived from Guur guur (meaning to move from one place to another frequently) Guur guur can also mean aqal Somali or Somali huts. Gurgur can also mean to crawl like babies do. It is only more recently in the 19th century that the name Gurgura started being associated with Oromos (that means that act of selling or to sell). Mohamed "Gurgura" Madaxweyne
Dir (clan) is the eldest Dir clan and one of the earliest Somalis if not the earliest in the Horn of Africa. The is evident as there are many other Dir tribes with Bah Gurgura sub tribes such as the
Gadabuursi, Issa and Isaaq. Majority of the
Gadabuursi subclans had Gurgura mothers. The Bah Gurgura and Bah Sanayo subclans of the
Gadabuursi Dir clan are matrinileal descendants of both the celebrated patron saints Awbare and
Awbube. Bah Gurgura Mamasan Eleye
Issa (clan) as well as
Habar Yoonis and
Habr Je'lo. Gurgura predates most of these younger northern Somali clans. The ruined towns excavated on the Ethiopian Somali boarder by A.T. Curle reveal the sophistication of ancient towns associated with Gurgura saints. The
Gadabuursi town of
Awbare is one of the largest and is named after Sheikh Awbare, a famous sheikh of Ifat and Adal Sultanates, who of the Nabioor subclan of the Gurgura. Another Gadabuursi ancient settlement known as
Awbube is also named after a Gurgura saint called Sheikh Awbube who was a famous Ifat era saint also Nabidoor Gurgure. The Gadabuursi subclans of Reer Nuur and Adan Yoonis are collectively known as Bah Gurgura as their ancestor was Halimo Sheikh who was the sister of Bare Sheikh more famously known as Sheikh Awbare, the Saint the ancient town is named after. The
Origin & History of the Somali People by Ibrahim Ali argues the warriors who fought Amda Seyon (1314 - 1344) also included the Gurgura warriors. The description of these warriors tying themselves together and then going into battle is identical to the battle practiced by the Gurgura - "first the [Nabidoor] Gurgura were sent in to battle, and when we draw the first blood, it means we are guaranteed victory." [ Origin & History of Somali People, by I. Ali]. The Gurgura and other Dir tribes like the
Surre Qubeys are known and associated with introducing Islam to the many parts of Somalia and Ethiopia. == History ==