The Harla, also known as Harala, Haralla^[1] are an ethnic group that once inhabited Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. They spoke the now-extinct Harla language, which belonged to either the Cushitic^[2] or Semitic branches of the Afroasiatic family.^[3][4][5]

The Harla are credited by the present-day inhabitants of parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti with having constructed various historical sites.^[6] Although now mostly lying in ruins, these structures include stone necropoleis, store pits, mosques and houses. Cave drawings are also attributed to the Harla.^[7]

Tradition states one of Harla's main towns was Metehara and the area between Harar and Dire Dawa is still referred to as Harla.^[5] The Harla inhabited Chercher and various other areas in the Horn of Africa, where they erected various tumuli.^[8] According to historian Richard Wilding, tales indicate Harla lived in the interior of Ogaden and by the seashores prior to Somali and Oromo movements into these regions.^[9]

The Harla Kingdom existed as early as the sixth century; it would later be influenced by Islam sometime in the eighth century.^[10] In the ninth century, the earliest known Muslim kingdom in the Horn of Africa, the Maḥzūmī dynasty sprang up in Harla country. The Maḥzūmī capital of Walale was in Northern Hararghe.^[11][12] Harla state leaders were commonly known as Garad and their religious elite carried the honorific title Kabir.^[13][14]

According to folklore, the Harla reportedly had a queen named Arawelo, who ruled much of the eastern parts of the Horn of Africa. In Zeila, a clan called Harla claims to be related to the ancient people. Locals in Zeila also attested that the old town of Amud was built by the Harla.^[15]

The influx of Arab immigrants such as Ābadir ʻUmar Āl-Rida into Harla territory would lead to the development of the town of Harar, known then as Gēy.^[16] Harar would become the leading center of Islam in the Horn of Africa.^[17] Archaeologist Timothy Insoll discovered stoneware in Harla town resembling that found in Harar.^[18]

According to the Harari chronicle, Abadir led prayer as Imam and inquired about the states grim condition.^[19]

After the prayer nobody stayed in the mosque except for the crowd mentioned (from Mecca). They asked each other: 'What is it about us? We see neither their emir nor their vizir. Rather, they are all of one rank. Then a man of them said: 'I also heard from them (the natives) that 25 years prior, they were a people, the Harla, until death destroyed them and they scattered, fleeing from disease and famine.

— Yahya Nasrallah, Fath Madinat Harar

The Harari people are considered to be the closest remaining link to the Harla people, as the Hararis were founded by seven Harla clans.^[3] Harar and its inhabitants are the only remnant of the old Harla civilization. According to Hararis, the Harari ethnic group consist of seven Harla subclans: Abogn, Adish, Awari, Gidaya, Gatur, Hargaya, and Wargar.^[47] Some sources claim Harla were a less Semitic version of the Harari.^[48]

The Siltes (East Gurage) are also believed to be the descendants of the Harla people. Harari, Silte and Zay are the only people who speak a language that is related to Harla.

The Hadiya people, associated with the Hadiya Sultanate, have been connected with the Harla people in some sources, but this remains unsubstantiated.^[49]

Many Somali clans mention they are of Harla descent. Most particularly the Issa subclan of the Dir.^[50] Within the Issa, the Harla are found within 2 clan divisions. The first being the Horroone clan division, where they are called Harla, and they are also found within the Eeleye clan division as Bah Harla and Harla Muse. The Issa traditions regarding the induction of the Harla groups revolve around saint Aw Barkhadle.^[51][52][53] Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin Abd al-Qader's Futūh al-Habaša describes a distinct ethnic origin to the Harla however modern oral traditions connect Harla to Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti and Darod, forefathers of the Ogaden clan. This does not provide enough evidence to suggest that Harla are of Somali descent^[54] In the modern era, the Harla have been reduced to insignificance under the Somali Darod clan.^[55] According to historian Ali Jimale Ahmed, the surviving Harla dwelling in the Harari kingdom were absorbed by Darod Somalis after the sixteenth century.^[56] The Darod sub clan Harti and Geri are furthermore according to tradition, the brothers of Harla.^[57][58] The Karanle sub clan of Hawiye also claims to have birthed the Harla.^[59]

According to some, the Karrayyu and Ittu clans are considered to be Oromos with Harla descent.^[60] Ittu had occupied the Chercher region from the Harari people and perhaps also Harla.^[61] It is believed the extinct Harla were incorporated into Karrayyu and Ittu in eastern Shewa as well as west Hararghe.^[62][63]

The Afar also have tribes linked to Harla descent called Kabirtu.^[64] In the seventeenth century the Harla of Afar Region were assimilated by Afar people following the collapse of Adal Sultanate.^[65] In Afar region, clans named after Harla are still found among farmers in Aussa, and Awash district between Dubti and Afambo. The moniker of clans proposes a fusion between native and immigrating tribes.^[66]

According to historian Richard Wilding Harla were ancient Cushitic^[2] however ethnologist Ulrich Braukämper suggests a Semitic variation which he labels "Harala-Harari" later developed in the Islamic period. Harala-Harari speakers were evidently disrupted by the Oromo migrations, leading to isolated related Semitic languages of Harari surviving in the walled city of Harar, Zay language on the island of Lake Zway and in parts of eastern Gurage territory such as Siltʼe language.^[5]

Nicholas Tait proposes Harla language was indistinguishable with Argobba and Harari linguistic classifications.^[67] Ewald Wagner believes Harla were Semitic speakers related to Harari and Silte languages.^[68]

Field research by Enrico Cerulli identified a modern group called the "Harla" living amongst the Somali in the region between the cities of Harar and Jijiga. Encyclopaedia Aethiopica suggests that this population "may be a remnant group of the old [Harla], that integrated into the Somali genealogical system, but kept a partially separate identity by developing a language of their own." Cerulli published some data on this Harla community's language, called af Harlaad, which resembled the Somali languages spoken by the Yibir and Madhiban low-caste groups.^[69]

• Richard Wilding, The Arla, the Argobba and Links between the Coast and the Highlands. A Preliminary Archeological Survey. Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Arts, 1975