Aw (father)

Aw (sometimes spelled Au) is an honorific title in the Harari and Somali languages. It is used widely and most commonly in the Somali territories. During his research in the ancient town of Amud, the historian G.W.B. Huntingford noticed that whenever an old site had the prefix Aw in its name (such as the ruins of Awbare and Awbube), it denoted the final resting place of a local saint. It commonly designates a father, respected elder or saint in Harari and Somali languages. Most notably applied to the founder of Harar Aw Abadir. According to Banti Giorgio the term has been adopted by various Somali clans from the Harari language. According to the southern Somali Geledi clan, the appellation Aw was common amongst them and was used “scrupulously” in interactions between the nobles and half casts. Sorcerers among the Arsi Oromo are known as Awan Shan which is derived from the title Aw.

People with the title include:

• Aw Barkhadle, saint
• Aw Barre (Awbare), Adal era saint
• Aw Bube (Awbube), pre Ifat era saint
• Aw Abdal, saint
• Aw Ali Hamdogn, saint and scholar
• Aw Umar Ziad, saint
• Aw Seid, saint
• Aw Sofi Yahya, saint and scholar