Issa (clan)

The Issa (also spelled Eesah, Esa, or Aysa) (Ciise, Reer Sheikh Ciise, Osmanya: 𐒋𐒕𐒜𐒈, عيسى) are a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family. As a Dir sub-clan, the Issa have immediate lineal ties with the Akisho, Gadabuursi, the Surre (Abdalle and Qubeys), the Biimaal (who the Gaadsen also belong to), the Bajimal, the Bursuk, the Madigan Dir, the Gurgura, the Garre (the Quranyow sub-clan to be precise as they claim descent from Dir), Gurre, Gariire, other Dir sub-clans and they have lineal ties with the Hawiye (Irir), Hawadle, Ajuran, Degoodi, Gaalje'el clan groups, who share the same ancestor Samaale. The Issa clan has produced numerous noble Somali men and women over the centuries, consisted of a King (Ugaas) and including many Sultans. Throughout their known history the Issa where known for their military strength and viciousness, the British and many old worlds empires who came across them viewed the Issa's as the strongest most warlike tribe of north east Africa. The British also tried to invade Zeila home of the White Issa (Aysa) which the natives reigned victorious, with that there was never any attempt made to occupy the interior of the Issa country, which was mostly inhabited by the Black Issa ; and not withstanding the cruel nature of the tribe, whose only aspirations in life could very accurately be summed up in the two words "Murder and Loot". With the typically villainous expression on their tribe members' faces as the British administration described. Tribal traditions with those of the Black Issa was that a young blood was not allowed to marry until he had slain a man in battle; as it was not essential to kill the man in a fair combat, this usually led to a cold-blooded killing and constant battles with neighboring tribes and ethnic groups, among the other Somali tribes such customs were unheard of , this was all in effort to keep themselves a militarized tribe.