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- Permanent Link:
- http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LSMD000203/00001
Material Information
- Title:
- Anthology of Swahili Poets (MS 53490a)
- Series Title:
- Hichens Collection :
- Creator:
- [s.n.]
- Publication Date:
- circa 1937 AD (circa 1356 A.H.)
- Materials:
- Paper ( medium )
- Technique:
- Handwritten and typescript manuscript : Large volume bound in green containing handwritten and typed pages, including some unbound pages; edges of many pages are ragged or torn
Notes
- Abstract:
- This large manuscript volume contains materials related to poets and poetic exchanges, particularly of the 19th century. While a complete understanding of its contents can be obtained only through perusal, the following summary treats the manuscript’s largest and/ or most discrete components and outlines the remaining material. The manuscript includes papers on Ma’alim Sikujua bin Abdallah, including transliterations of the following: poems by Ma’alim Sikujua, Ma’alim Sikujua’s narration of a dream, two letters to William Taylor from Ma’alim Sikujua, a letter from Ahamad bin Muhammad to William Taylor announcing the death of Ma’alim Sikujua, and Ma’alim Sikujua’s employment agreement with William Taylor. The manuscript contains a narrative by Muhammad bin Abu Bakr Kijumwa on his ancestors and pages of questions by which William Hichens intended to elicit this narrative, and to elicit information about a poetic exchange between Sheikh Muhamman bin Abubakar and Ali bin Athman (Ali Koti). It also contains (mainly shorter) poems by Muhammad Kijumwa, including ‘Binti Yusufu,’ which was written in honour of Alice Werner. The manuscript contains an extensive poetic exchange between Ali Koti and Sultan Ahamad, with notes by Muhammad Kijumwa and William Hichens on the background of the exchange. It also contains notes by Sheikh Mbarak Ali Hinawy on the life of Ali Koti and on the exchange with Sultan Ahamad. In addition, the manuscript contains poems by Others, including Muhammad bin Ahamad al Mambassiy, Bwana Malenga Al-Kilifi, Abubakar bin Bwana Mwengo, Sheikh Ali bin Shelikh Abdallah, Khalfan Abdallah bin Rashid al-Mazrui, Sherif Hamed bin Abu Bakari, Muhammad bin Abubakar al-Lamy, Bwana ‘Umar Bukar Masheikh, Su’ud bin Said al-Maamiry, and Athman bin Abdallah ba Shaibu. It also names Famau bin Mbwarahamadi and Mbwaratumu Muungwana. The vast majority of the poems are in the shairi form, and many consist of only one or two stanzas. Poems are often accompanied by a sentence or two providing background; many of these explanations seem to have been transliterated, together with the poem, from an original manuscript. Some poems are individually dated. Citations at the upper left of many pages identify the original manuscripts; but the references are now obscure. ( en )
- General Note:
- Date of Composition is unknown
- General Note:
- Extent: 1 vol.
- General Note:
- Incipit: ‘Songs’ between Abubakar bin Bwana Mwengo and Sheikh Ali bin Sheikh Abdullah; first translit from Scroll MS No. 1
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Lamu -- Lamu Island
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Kilifi County -- Takaungu
- General Note:
- Purchased from Kegan Paul, 6 October 1948
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 53490 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 53490a ( SOAS manuscript number )
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