Correspondence with Mbarak Ali Hinawy (MS 253028i)
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Material Information

Title:
Correspondence with Mbarak Ali Hinawy (MS 253028i)
Series Title:
Hichens Collection : Correspondence
Creator:
Mazrui, Al-Amin Bin Ali ( Author, Primary )
Hichens, William, -1944 ( contributor )
Al-Hinawy, Mbarak, Sheikh-Sir, 1896-1959 ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten and typescript manuscript : Bound volume with red and gold cover; typescript and handwritten in black ink on thin paper

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili Literature ( LCSH )
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Africa, East ( LCSH )
East Africa
Africa, East -- History ( LCSH )
East Africa -- History
Kiswahili mashairi
Afrika, Mashariki - Historia
Genre:
Letter
Correspondence ( LCTGM )
Personal correspondence ( LCGFT )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Eastern Africa -- Mombasa
Coordinates:
-4.05466 x 39.66359

Notes

Abstract:
This part of the correspondence file contains 5 typescript letters, of which 2 are correspondence between Hichens and Sheikh Alamin bin Ali, and the rest correspondence with Mbarak Ali Hinawy. The section ends with a handwritten letter by a Mr Howe regarding the publication of Hadithi ya Barasisi, without any reference to the publishing house. The letter by Sheikh Alamin contained here is the transliteration of an original one written in Arabic script and contained in MS 47797 (last letter of the file starting from right side of bound book). The handwritten transliteration has some errors. For instance, in the first line the word ‘sa’idina’ (our Lord) is, according to the original ‘swadiqina’(our friend). Furthermore, in line 4 the expression ‘shauri mema’ should be ‘tuwazima’, meaning ‘we are fine’. Finally, in the last paragraph ‘wa nabiya’ should be ‘wendelee’, and the greetings ending the letter rather than ‘hakusalimu’ should be ‘akusalimu’. In general, there are minor errors of adaptation of Arabic sounds in the transliteration but the correct reading and understanding in these instances is not too difficult. A letter conveys a requet from Sheikh Alamin for books that contain information on the history of Kilwa, the history of the Mazrui, and information about Mbarak bin Rashid. In the reply to this letter, Hichens says that he is in the process of putting together a book on the subjects mentioned by Sheikh Alamin, and that he is now able to send him a list of books where he could find some relevant information. ( en )
General Note:
Biographical information: Sheikh Alamin bin Ali Mazrui was born in Mombasa in A.D 1891 (A.H. 1308) and died in A.D. 1947 (A.H. 1366). He was, and still is, considered one of the greatest scholar of Islamic religious science, in East Africa, and was appointed chief Kadhi (Muslim judge) of Kenya in 1937. During his life he wrote many books about Islam, literature, and the history of the Coast. His most important contribution was to provide Islamic religious books to the people of East Africa, in Swahili. His book ‘The History of the Mazrui Dinasty of Mombasa’ was translated by J.McL Ritchie and published by Oxford University Press in 1995. In 1932 he began the publication of the weekly newspaper in Arabic and Swahili called Al-Iswlah. He also began to translate the Qur’an, of which some parts have been published. He left many unpublished manuscripts, including a very relevant study of Swahili prosody, in which he gave a neat classification of the poetic forms for the study of Swahili poetry. -- Sir Mbarak Ali Hinawy was born in Mombasa c.1896AD (1314AH). He became Liwali of Mombasa and, after the death of Sir Ali b. Salim, Liwali of the Coast. Shaikh Mbarak, as he was also known, was probably the first non-European to collect manuscripts relating to Swahili literature, and his papers were given by his family, after his death in 1959AD (1379AH), to the university of Dar-es-Salaam archives. His publications together with his surviving papers reveal the depth of his scholarship. (Frankl & Omar, 1993)
General Note:
Date of Composition: 1939 AD (1358 A.H.)
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
General Note:
Dialects: KiMvita
General Note:
From the Hichens Papers via Miss M.C. Bryan (gift), 23 February 1970
General Note:
Extent: 16 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Hathirah al-muhtaram sa’idina al-aziz Bwana Hichens.
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Mazrui, Al-Amin Bin Ali : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/39558103
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Hichens, William, -1944 : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/250560982
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Al-Hinawy, Mbarak, Sheikh-Sir, 1896-1959 : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/305366593
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa

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 253028 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 253028i ( SOAS manuscript number )