Arawelo

Arawelo or Arraweelo or Moroombe[1] (Somali: Caraweelo) was a proto-Somali Queen in traditional folklore.[2]

Biography

Caraweelo/Arawelo ruled most of northern an eastern north of modern day Somalia. Her capital was Buraan, Sanaag and she is buried somewhere in the outskirts of the city. Which is inhabited by the Warsangeli clan.

Semi-biographical tales which give many personal details of this queen are given. For instance, Arawelo's mother was said to have been called Haramaanyo; but no mention is made in the tales about who her father was. She was the first born of three daughters and natural heir to the dynasty. Like many female rulers, Arawelo fought for female empowerment; she believed society should be based on a matriarchy. There is no solid evidence of her existence other than testimony. [3]

Location

She was born in and buried in Buraan,Sanaag,Somalia. Her capital at the time.

Defying Gender Roles

She came to power around AD 15.[4] During her reign, Arawelo's husband objected to her self-ascribed role as the breadwinner to all of society, as he thought women should be restrict themselves to merely domestic duties about the house and leave everything else to men. In response, Arawelo demanded that all women across the land abandon their womanly role in society.[5]

Arawelo thought this role reversal was necessary since she saw women as natural peacekeepers. Growing up she believed that women were not treated well and the men were more often instigators, participants and conductors of war and politics. She not only fought for the liberation of women in feudal society but for the dominance of women as she saw them as better and more efficient leaders.[6]

References to Carawelo in Somali culture today include nicknaming a girl/woman who is very assertive and dominant "Caraweelo". She is also, by one source, claimed to have been the Harla queen of the ancient Somali people,[7] but this does not conform with the fact that she is just commonly interpreted as a folkloric figure. Opinions on her legacy vary widely, with critics denouncing her for her androcidal nature and introducing the practise of infibulation, a type of FGM, while supporters eulogize her gynocentric attempts at female empowerment.[8]

Farah M. Mohamed published a book about her in 2014.[9]

Arawelo is featured in Rejected Princesses [10]

See also

References
  1. Mukhtar, Mohamed. Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Maryland: Scarecrow Press. 2003. pp. 161-162.
  2. Hanghe, Folktales of Somalia (Uppsala, Sweden: Somali Academy of Science and Arts 1988)
  3. Mohamed Hassan. Sheekooyinkii Boqoradii Araweelo
  4. Mohamed, Farah. The Somali Queen: Queen Arraweelo.
  5. Shafi Said, The Legendary Cruelty.
    • Affi, Ladan, Arraweelo: A role Model for Somali Women
  7. "Blackwoods Magazine". 238. 1935: 577. Retrieved 27 June 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. Jaldesa, Guyo W., et al. "Female genital cutting among the Somali of Kenya and management of its complications." Population Council/FRONTIERS/USAID (2005).
  9. Mohamed, Farah. The Somali Queen: Queen Arraweelo.
  10. Porath, Jason. Rejected Princesses. New York: HarperCollins. 2016. pp. 327-331.
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