Yibir

The Yibir (also spelled Yibbir), also known as the Yahhar, are a small clan of Somalia, subsisting as itinerant soothsayers and magicians. They are said to predate the coming of Islam to the area and to be descendants of Mohammad Hanif of Hargeysa, who had a reputation as a pagan magician.

The Yibir continue to be a small minority clan, greatly dependent on the host community, and have a language (a dialect of Somali) they keep secret from the ruling Somali clans.

Social status

The Yibir belong to the category of the sab, a group of minority Somali clans which also includes the Madhiban and the Tumaal. The sab live in subservience to the ruling Somali clans. They traditionally perform menial work and lack the same level of status as other Somalis. Like other Somalis they are nomadic and later performed menial or sometimes specialized work, often for low wages. In addition, they sell amulets for births and marriages and produce prayer mats.

The non-food producing Yibir traditionally were itinerant peddlers and magicians. Some Yibir believe that they are descendants of Hebrews who arrived in the area long before the arrival of Somali nomads, and that the word "Yibir" means "Hebrew".