Hegano (Harari: ሔገኖ) sometimes called HayganorHayjan was an administrative title in the Horn of Africa.[1]
According to historian Abdurahman Garad, Hegano is an extract from the root Harari word Hegan “lieutenant” or Hegana ”proxy”. Its also utilized in a similar manner by the languages of Silt'e and Wolane people.[2]
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.[3] It was also applied by the chiefs of Ganz province in this period.[4]
In the sixteenth century a Malassay soldier of Adal Sultanate who participated in the Ethiopian-Adal war was styled Alus bin al-Haygan.[5] Towards the end of this age the ruler of Aussa a subordinate of Harar based Adal Sultanate was known as Hegano Hashim.[6]