Bursuuk
The Bursuuk or also written as Barsuk or Barsuq or Barsuug (Somali: Barsuug) is a clan belonging to Arap sub clan of the Isaaq clan family. They largely live in Ethiopia, in the Somali Region, especially around the ancient city of Harar and between the city and Jigjiga.[1][2]
Bursuuk | |
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Regions with significant populations | |
Ethiopia | |
Languages | |
Somali | |
Religion | |
Islam (Sunni) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Arap, |
History
The Bursuuk are considered one of the native Dir tribes of Harar.[3] During the Egyptian occupation of Harar, the Bursuuk resisted the Egyptian colonizers and fought many battles against them. During the Egyptian retreat from Harar, they burned many Barsuuk villages. In retaliation, the Bursuuk attacked the retreating Egyptian troops, and looted caravans of the Habr Awal clan.[4] Richard Burton described the Bursuuk as one of "the Somalis of the mountains" who derive themselves from the Dir.
During 1854 that they were at war with 3 different clans or tribes: the Girhi, the Berteri and the Gallas (who are known today as Oromos).[5]
References
- Lewis, I. M. (1 January 1998). Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somali, Afar and Saho. Red Sea Press. p. 26. ISBN 9781569021057.
- Division, Great Britain War Office Intelligence (1 January 1941). A Handbook of Ethiopia. publisher not identified. p. 55.
- Bulletin de correspondance africaine : antiquités libyques, puniques, grecques et romaines. Impr. de l'Association ouvrière P. Fontana et compagnie. 1884. p. 288.
- Notes sur le Harar par M. Alfred Bardey. Paris: IMPRIMERIE NATIONALE. 1989. p. 55.
- Burton, Sir Richard Francis; Speke, John Hanning; Barker, William C. (1 January 1856). First Footsteps in East Africa: Or, An Exploration of Harar. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. pp. 279.
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