Duri-li-Mandhuma and Wajiwaji (MS 397)
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Material Information

Title:
Duri-li-Mandhuma and Wajiwaji (MS 397)
Series Title:
Allen Collection : Religious Poems
Creator:
Sayyid ‘Umar bin Amin bin Nadhir al Ahdal ( Author, Primary )
Sayyid ‘Umar bin Amin bin Nadhir al Ahdal ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : Handwritten copy in black ink.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Islam ( LCSH )
Religious belief
Religious practice
Uislamu
Kiswahili mashairi
Faith ( LCSH )
Imani za kidini
Genre:
Poem
Utenzi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Eastern Africa -- Lamu -- Lamu Island
Coordinates:
-2.269444 x 40.902222

Notes

Abstract:
The first item of this MS is the famous waadhi in the form of a poem entitled ‘Duri-li-Mandhuma’, however in an incomplete version of only 29 verses as the first ones are missing. The poem was composed by Sayyid ‘Umar bin Amin bin Nadhir al Ahdal, that has been extensively described in Mss 210006, 210007, 210008 (all in Arabic script). Thi is followed by another important waadhi entitled ‘Utendi wa Wajiwaji’, in which the author laments of the human tendency to struggle against God and to urge to adhere to the principles of Islam. See notes for further versions. ( 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’. -- Muhammad Kijumwa was born circa 1855 in Lamu. He was a poet, scribe, performer, calligrapher, carpenter, taylor and sculptor who taught his daughter, Helewa, the craft of decorative woodcarving. He assisted many European scholars of Swahili literature, including William Taylor, Alice Werner, Carl Meinhof, H.E. Lambert, William Hichens, Ernst Dammann and John Williamson, and was a well-known member of Lamu society.
General Note:
Date of Composition: 1928 AD1346
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Dialects: Northern
General Note:
Poetic Form: Utenzi
General Note:
Extent: 7 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Andika mwandishi khati utuze,
General Note:
Donated to SOAS in 1982
General Note:
See SOAS University of London manuscripts Mss 210006/7/8 and MS 53400, 53496c (Dura li Mandhuma), and MS 380554b and MS 279888-317b, Vol.8 (Wajiwaji)
General Note:
Other copy: SOAS University of London microfilm: M1008, reel 14
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Lamu -- Lamu Island
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Tanzania -- Manyara Region -- Siu District
General Note:
Publication information: Harries, Lyndon. 1962. Swahili Poetry. Oxford: Clarendon Press; pp. 118-127. (For ‘Duri li Mandhuma’).
General Note:
Publication information: Shariff, Ibrahim Noor. 1988. Tungo Zetu. Trenton, New Jersey: Red Sea Press., pp. 56-57. (For ‘Wajiwaji’)

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.9 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 397 ( SOAS manuscript number )