Kiokozi cha Banati
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Material Information

Title:
Kiokozi cha Banati
Abbreviated Title:
MS 380749a : Kiokozi cha Banati
Creator:
Jambein Al-Bakry, Mohamed, Sheikh ( Author, Primary )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Physical Description:
15 leaves
Materials:
Paper
Technique:
Typescript
In blue and black type on thin paper

Learning Resource Information

Intended User Roles:
Learner

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Islam
Religious belief
Religious practice
Women's education
Swahili poetry
Elimu ya wanawake
Uislamu
Mazoezi ya kidini
Imani za kidini
Kiswahili mashairi
Genre:
Poetry (Utenzi)
Utenzi (poetic form)
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu -- Lamu
Afrika -- Kenya -- Lamu -- Lamu
Coordinates:
-2.27169 x 40.90201

Notes

Scope and Content:
In this poem the author instructs Muslim women on the doctrine and practice of their religion. The first five stanzas are devoted to thanks and praise. Stanzas six through 14 discuss the importance of being educated in the requirements of Islam. Stanzas 15 through 23, which may remind the reader of portions of the utenzi of Mwana Kupona, discuss the importance of obeying one's husband and of covering oneself in public. The poet then names the five pillars of Islam (stanzas 24-26) and the six pillars of faith (27-29), discussing each of the former (30-36) and then the latter (37-46). After this he discusses the nature of God (47-50); the 25 prophets (51-67); the seven categories of action in Islam (68-75); the wives of the Prophet Mohammed -- although this list is partial (76-89); the children of the Prophet (90-94); cleanliness as required by Islamic law (95-111); ritual purity (112-142); how to pray (143-180); the procedure for burial (181-187); the period during which marriage is forbidden after the death of a husband (188-198); the period during which marriage is forbidden after a divorce (199-208). The poem concludes with a prayer, with the poet identifying himself in the final stanza as a resident of Lamu and a member of the Al-Bakaria family. The manuscript contains a variety of errors. Peculiarities of spelling and word division sometimes make the poet's meaning obscure. Arabic words, for example, are often wrongly divided, so that 'nataka lamu' must be read a 'natakalamu' and 'taka mali' as 'takamali.' 'Ib'adhwi' in stanza 172 should read 'Ab'adhwi.' In stanza 95 the final half-line is missing, while he number 154 is assigned to two successive stanzas. In stanza 110 the poet names Sheikh Al-Amin (bin Ali Al-Mazrui, of Mombasa) as a source of instruction.
General Note:
First lines of manuscript: Bismillahi nakutubu, Wakupa pasi hisabu, Mwema na mwenyi aibu, Kwa jamii ya watu piya
Original Location:
This manuscript was formerly part of MS 380526
Biographical:
Jan Knappert, in an introduction to the 1964 publication of 'Kisa cha Miiraji' (see MS 380747), writes that Mohamed Jambein Al-Bakry lived for some time in Mombasa, 'probably at the beginning' of the 20th century. Mohamed Jambein was also the author of 'Mashairi ya Faraidhwi' (see MS 380748) and the Maulid contained in MS 380759. In the present MS, the poet identifies himself as a resident of Lamu
General Note:
Relevant Dialect: Kiamu
General Note:
Script: Roman script

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
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