The earliest written mention of Somalis dates to the thirteenth century

Evidence

As the Galla withdrew, not without fierce resistance, the Bantu Zanj were in turn driven farther south. At the same time, the Somali were maintaining their pressure and, in the early stages of their expansion, some groups managed to infiltrate through the main mass of the Galla. In this way, by as early as the thirteenth century, some sections of the Hawiye had established themselves close to the Arab settlement of Merca. The occupation of this region by the Hawiye at this time is recorded by the geographer Ibn Sa’id, and this is the earliest known mention of any Somali group. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 95

Categorization

• XREF: Ibn Sa’id’s geographer account ties into the written-costal record established in earlier chapters. — connects to: The name ‘Somali’ is first recorded in songs celebrating Abyssinian victories over Muslims; Proto-Somalis entered the Horn by about 1000 AD from Ethiopian highlands. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 725; Somali migrations disestablished the Oromo from northern Somaliland by the twelfth century — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 92

Related

• The name ‘Somali’ is first recorded in songs celebrating Abyssinian victories over Muslims (similarity 0.92)
• Proto-Somalis occupied the Horn by about 1000 AD, with clan migrations a later phase. (similarity 0.86)
• Proto-Somalis entered the Horn by about 1000 AD from Ethiopian highlands. (similarity 0.85)
• Nine centuries of Somali migration transformed them through absorption of Bantu and Galla influences. (similarity 0.82)
• Somali migrations disestablished the Oromo from northern Somaliland by the twelfth century (similarity 0.80)
• Somali and Oromo share an Ethiopian highland origin from which proto-Somali expanded east (similarity 0.80)
• Northern Somali clans reached their present distribution by 1700. (similarity 0.80)
• Somali history before 1900 hinged on coastal-hinterland interaction, not coast alone (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Proto-Somalis entered the Horn by about 1000 AD from Ethiopian highlands. #expands (0.35) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 725
• Somali migrations disestablished the Oromo from northern Somaliland by the twelfth century #qualifies (0.30) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 92