Hegano
Administrator or chief
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hegano (Harari: ሔገኖ) sometimes called Haygan or Hayjan was an administrative title in the Horn of Africa.[1]
Etymology
According to historian Abdurahman Garad, Hegano is an extract from the root Harari word Hegan “lieutenant” or Hegana ”to proxy”. Its also utilized in a similar manner by the languages of Silt'e and Wolane people.[2][3]
History
Hegano first appears in the fifteenth century emperor Zara Yaqob chronicles which states the rulers of the Abyssinian provinces of Gabar-ge and Wej were designated by this term.[4] It was also applied by the chiefs of Ganz province and linked to rulers of Bale.[5]
According to sixteenth century Adal writer Arab Faqīh, a Malassay soldier of Adal Sultanate who participated in the Ethiopian-Adal war was styled Alus bin al-Haygan.[6] During the Adalite occupation of Abyssinia the administrators of Ifat also held the title Hegano based on the Emirate of Harar chronicles.[7] Towards the end of the sixteenth century the ruler of Aussa a subordinate of Harar based Adal Sultanate was known as Hegano Hashim.[8]