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- Permanent Link:
- http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LSMD000051/00001
Notes
- Abstract:
- This section contains first an incomplete song-nyimbo of only two stanzas that uses metaphors (mafumbo); it continues with three pages of incomplete religious Utendi (long poem) where the unknown author ask God for help and support in his life. In Swahili poetry when the author makes plead to God is called “ku-omba Mungu”. The poem begins with the religious opening ‘Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim’. Then, we find an incomplete version of the famous poem ‘Waadhi wa waji waji’ that has been fully described in Mss 380554b(Knappert) and 53496c (Hichens). The poem was written by Sharif Sayyid Umar bin Amin bin al-Ahdal in 1356AH, 1937AD. Afterwards, there is fragment of a religious utendi that lists the 99 names given to God, which is followed by fragments of short poems all entitled ‘Qala Shairi’-The Poet Said. Finally, there is an historical poem in the Utendi form narrating the war between Bwana Mataka, Sultan of Siu, and Sultan Majid of Zanzibar when the latter took control of Siu and imprisoned Bwana Mataka to Fort Jesus, in Mombasa. The narrative ends at the time of the advent of British colonialism. ( en )
- General Note:
- Biographical information: Harries (1962) writes that Sayyid ‘Umar bin Amin bin Nadhir al Ahdal was a sharif from Yemen who migrated to Siu where he became a Kadhi sometimes in 1856 AD (1273 AH). He was a well-known poet who also wrote ‘Wajiwaji’.
- General Note:
- Date of Composition: 1937 AD1356
- General Note:
- Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
- General Note:
- Dialects: KiAmu
- General Note:
- Poetic Form: Utenzi
- General Note:
- Extent: 38 leaves
- General Note:
- Donated to SOAS in 1982
- General Note:
- For complete Utendi wa Waji Waji see SOAS University of London manuscripts MS 380554b (Knappert) and MS 53496c (Hichens)
- General Note:
- Other copy: SOAS University of London microfilm: SOAS University of London microfilm: M1008, reel 11
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Tanzania -- Manyara Region -- Siu District
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar
- General Note:
- Scribe: Ahmed bin Salmin bin Omar Bafaqih
- General Note:
- Publication information: Salim, Ahmed I.1978. People of the Coast: swahili. Evans BrOthers Ltd, Nairobi. ch. 6
- General Note:
- Publication information: Biersteker, A. 1996. Kijibizana. Michigan State University Press. ch. 5
- General Note:
- Publication information: Abdulaziz, M.1979. Muyaka.19th century Swahili popular poetry. Kenya Literature Bureau, Nairobi. part 2
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- SOAS University of London
- Holding Location:
- Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- This item may be in the public domain. Its status has yet to be assessed.
- Resource Identifier:
- MS 279888-Vol.5 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 326b ( SOAS manuscript number )
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