Awrtable

The Awrtable (Somali: Awrtable, Arabic: أورتبلي; also spelled Ortable, Aurtable or Owrtable) is a Somali sub-clan from the Darod clan. The Awrtable have a vast traditional territory covering Mudug, Nugaal, and some areas of Bari. They primarily inhabit the Puntland state of Somalia also be found in the Somali Region and the Jubaland state. They live in or have significant population centers in almost every Somali state or gobol. The Awrtable are situated mainly around the cities of Burtinle, Galkacyo, Gacmofale, Garowe, Meeraysane, Balibusle, Eyl, Godobjiraan, Godod, Rabaable, Bacadweyne, Jamaame, Afdheer, Bosaaso (Bender Qaasim) and Shilaabo. The largest Sub-clan of the Awrtable are the Musa Ibrahim. In the pre-Kacaan era, Awrtable made up a majority of Darod residents in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu. The name Awrtable is an example of a portmanteau, coming from the root word Awr meaning "a large male packing camel" and the world Table meaning "he who ties a knot". The name comes from the origin story of the Darood clan; Abdirahman bin Isma'il Al-Jabarti, the patrilineal father of all Darood families, was given Dir's daughter girl by the name of Donbiro/Dombira. The dowry price given was that one of the sons from that union would be given to the Dir and be raised as one of them. The dowry was delayed until the fifth and youngest son, Yusuf, was born. He was raised amongst his mother's side of the family. One day, he overheard his uncles planning to murder his father and his brothers. He then decided to tie the camels of his mother's people, then receiving the name Awrtable—or he who slyly tied the camels. For that reason, his father Abdirahman made a supplication and what can be seen as a prediction that the descendants of Yusuf would be small in number but excel in learning and rank. The clan tree is based on Généalogie du peuple Somali and a study by the African Studies Centre. The clan tree is shown below.