Three Swahili poems (MS 45022)
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Material Information

Title:
Three Swahili poems (MS 45022) Hirqal, Qatirifu and Ndiwa na Kozi
Series Title:
Objects of instruction : treasures of SOAS
Added title page title:
Hiraql : three Swahili poems
Added title page title:
Heraclius : three Swahili poems
Added title page title:
Kyuo kya Hereḳali
Added title page title:
Book of Heraclius
Added title page title:
Utend̠i wa Tambuka
Added title page title:
Utenzi wa Tambuka
Added title page title:
Story of Tambuka
Added title page title:
Story of Heraclius
Added title page title:
Utenzi wa Qatirifu (Wadi Isban) MS 45022b
Creator:
bin Mwengo, Abu bakr ( Author )
Kijuma, Muhammad ( Scribe )
Place of Publication:
Africa
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Physical Description:
16 leaves
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Measurements:
H24.4 x W19 cm in
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript in black and red ink on old thick papers

Notes

Content Advice:
Swahili is an Eastern African Bantu language with many Arabic elements acquired through contact with Arab traders since about 900 CE. The oldest transcriptions of oral Swahili poetry, written in Arabic script, are from the early eighteenth century. Poetry plays an important cultural role, encouraged by religious leaders whose Arabic verses may be paraphrased interlinearly in Swahili. Such poetry protects the individual and embodies patrician Swahili values of purity and piety, expressing pride in their Arab origins. Poems may render events in the life of the Prophet Muhammad or historical happenings in early Islam, as here, where the two longer poems deal with Muhammad’s victories against the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (Hiraql, reigned 610-641 CE) (Text by Tania Tribe, from the exhibition catalogue: Objects of instruction : treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Anna Contadini, Editor. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007.) ( en )
Scope and Content:
The second poem of this MS is the religious poem known as 'Utenzi wa Wadi Isban', rendered here as 'Utenzi wa Qatirifu'. The same poem with transliteration is to be found is MS 47779 and MS 380552 (Hichens collection). This poem was given to Rev. John Williamson by Kijumwa in 1940. The writing of the scribe is difficult to read, and his spelling is erratic. The manuscript exemplifies (see, for example, the first several lines) the manipulation of Arabic words to fit the Swahili rhyme scheme, resulting in phrases that are neither properly Swahili nor correct Arabic. The poem narrates about a battle in a Valley, the Wadi Isban, between the Prophet Mohammed's army and the army of an unbeliever, Katirifu. It is written in northern dialect, with borrowings from Arabic. In brief, the poem narrates of a Jew named Amri, who wants to become a Muslim and he is travelling to Mecca to see Mohammed. On his way, Amri meets a shepherd and inquires about the owner of a beautiful house visible in the distance. The shepherd explains that the palace belongs to a tyrant and his daughter Hasina, both of whom are unbelievers. A man named Katirifu wishes to marry Hasina, but as her bride price the princess has demanded that Katirifu kill Mohammed and Ali, against whom her husband fought in the battle of Badr, in which he died. Hasina and Katirifu made an agreement, and Katirifu went to gather his troops. The poem contains 450 stanzas, of one line in each stanza.
General Note:
First lines of manuscript: Bismillahi andika wahdahuu laa sharika ndiye mwenye mamlaka yake ye pweke amuri
General Note:
Swahili manuscript, written in Arabic script (northern dialect), in leather case with rude ornamental designs
General Note:
This poem is on Muhammad’s victory over the army of qatirifu: ff. 31-48
Donation:
Forms part of the Taylor Papers
Biographical:
Abu Bakr bin Mwengo, who is named by Knappert (1969) as the author of Utenzi wa Isubani, is described in that version of the poem as a natiive of Lamu who lived in Pate
Bibliography:
Knappert, Jan. 1969. The Utenzi wa Katirifu or Ghazwa ya Sesebani. Afrika und Ubersee 52: 81-104 and 264-313. Ibid. 1999. A Survey of Swahili Islamic Epic Sagas. Lewiston, New York; Queenston, Ontario; Lampeter, Wales: Edwin Mellen Press; pp. 76-82 Abou Egl, Mohammad. 1983. The life and works of Muhamadi Kijuma. PhD thesis, SOAS, University of London.

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
All applicable rights reserved by the source institution and holding location.
Resource Identifier:
MS 45022 ( soas manuscript number )
b165534d-6957-4ba0-a562-e81f536b479a ( calm recordid )