Utenzi wa Hasina (MS 47779g)
Permanent Link:

Material Information

Title:
Utenzi wa Hasina (MS 47779g)
Series Title:
Hichens Collection : Swahili Tracts
Creator:
Said bin Abdallah Masu’ud ( Author, Primary )
Said bin Abdallah Masu’ud ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : In brown (or faded black) ink on pale blue, damaged paper; the handwriting is small, with each stanza comprising a single line of text

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Kiswahili mashairi
Genre:
Poem
Utenzi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Swahili Coast
Coordinates:
-9.633997 x 39.778998

Notes

Abstract:
This utenzi narrates the story of Hasina, a princess who falls in love with a young man named Rashid and is destroyed by her pursuit of him. The narrative may be outlined as follows. Hasina sees Rashid from her father’s palace and falls in love with him on sight. She sends her servant to discover where Rashid lives, and then sends the servant a second time with a feast for Rashid. As she delivers the food, the servant explains to Rashid that Hasina has not slept since she saw him. Rashid says he cannot eat the food sent by the princess. That night, Hasina goes to Rashid herself, accompanied by her servant. When Rashid rejects her advances, Hasina returns home. During a subsequent encounter with Hasina’s servant, Rashid says that his interest lies solely in seeking God’s forgiveness. When Hasina and her servant next come to him, he first refuses to open the door, claiming that he is cold. But the servant insists, and Hasina enters, greeting Rashid as ‘Kadhi’ and telling him that she wants him to marry her. Rashid replies that he is a servant of God, not of the sultan, and embarks upon an extensive discussion of the events that follow death. Hasina threatens to slander Rashid and cause her father to execute him. Rashid, quoting the Qur’an, again insists that he fears God alone. Thus thwarted, Hasina tells her father that she wishes to undergo intensive religious instruction in isolation with a teacher. The king sends for Rashid, who requests to first have some days away. He emasculates himself and, on returning to the palace, gives the evidence of this act to the king, as an ‘amulet’ for safekeeping. When Rashid continues to reject her, Hasina becomes pregnant by another man. She claims that Rashid is the cause of her pregnancy; but examination of the ‘amulet,’ and of Rashid himself, proves her assertions to be false. Hasina then identifies the man responsible for her pregnancy, and the two are punished according to the Qur’an. They die while being beaten. ‘Said Abdallah’ identifies himself as the author, or writer, of the poem (‘mwenye kutunga’); he writes that he has composed many tenzi. See also the note on authorship in the scope and content description for MS 47779h. A note identifies this manuscript as the book of (‘kitabu cha’) Said Ahmed bin Sayyid Mahdaly. ( en )
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Poetic Form: Utenzi
General Note:
Extent: 10 pages
General Note:
Incipit: Awali jina la Rabu, bismillahi kutubu, ar-rahmani iribu, na ar-rahimu ukuwa (?)
General Note:
Donated by Mrs E. Hichens, June 1945
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Swahili Coast
General Note:
Scribe: Said bin Abdallah Masu’ud (?)

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 47779 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 47779g ( SOAS manuscript number )