Gibilcad are said to be culimmo; that is to say all the males are classified as men of religion by right of decent, irrespective of whether as individuals they are particularly pious or learned. In fact, however, they do cultivate religious learning more than others. Like all groups who are classified as culimmo, they are not simply honored for their learning but credited with special religious powers, notable the ability to divine the future by reading in the Koran. Many people also suspect them of practicing magical arts of ta less reputable kind, and there is a feeling that they have something uncanny about them. 

The Odoweyne are the main Gibilcad lineage group in Geledi. They trace their origin from Iraq, where they say their tribe were the Bawazire (the ministerial tribe), responsible for religious affairs. Beyond this, their genealogy goes back to the Prohpeht’s grandfather, ‘Abd al-Muttalib. Their ancestor Khader supposedly emigrated from Iraq during the Abbasid period. His son, Cali Khader, joined the Geledi when they were living in Gedo, and migrated with them. According to their own account, it was actually he who discovered the site where Baalgure now stands and who first started to cut down the trees there, (hence his nanays (surname) Aw Geedo-Guuris, Sir Tree-Cutter) before he was joined by the Handab. Others say he simply helped draw out the lines of habitation. A tradition claims that a cognate lineage, descended from a brother of Cali Khader, are sheikhs among the Ogaadeen.

The Odoweyne are dived into five sub lineages, three of which, Nuur, Shariif and Macallin, still live in Baalgure, and two, Mexaad and Xuseen, in Ceelqode. The legend says they descend from the five sons of Cali Khader. By two wives; one a Handab, who bore the first three , and the other an Abiikarow, by whom he had the other two. The two roups of Odoweyn- those of Tolweyne villages and those of Ballgure and the Yabdhaale villages-act as separate units; they do not pay blood wealth together, for instance, and at time of the Stick Fight they take opposite sides. 

When I was twelve years old, my father asked me about my forefathers. I didn’t know who they were but I was quiet interested, because my father knew. He melodically said their names; up to forty. He taught me nine and to be honest, that’s how far I can only go. 

I didn’t understand why it was important, but he came forward to tell me, everyone takes the time to know their families. I don’t know if felt insulted then but I went on to memorize a few. The forefathers that lead me to myself.