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- Permanent Link:
- http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LSMD000238/00001
Material Information
- Title:
- Mashairi na Historia (MS 53507b)
- Series Title:
- Hichens Collection : History of Swahili Literature
- Creator:
- [s.n.]
- Publication Date:
- circa 1930 AD (circa 1349 A.H.)
- Language:
- Swahili
- Materials:
- Paper ( medium )
- Technique:
- Handwritten and typescript manuscript : Typed and handwritten with black and red ink; some pages are cut and the paper for all pages is of old-yellow colour
Notes
- Abstract:
- This section of the MS 53507 contains the intercalation of historical information during the time of the Nabahan Sultans at Pate, c.1200-1500 AD, with poems by Al-Muthaffa (Mudhaffar), a sage and political mediator who lived during the 18th century, by the sharif (descendant of the Prophet) Seyyid Muhammad bin Muhadhar (Muhdhar), and by Muhammad bin Ali Bakari. The poem by Al-Muthaffa (Mudhaffar) presented here is an incomplete waadhi, a religious poem that instructs the Muslim community on how to behave in accordance with their religion and to keep away from sinful activities. The poem by Muhammad bin Muhadhar (Muhdhar) is also incomplete, and it is presented first with red ink notes on the side, and is followed by an updated but even more incomplete version. The language of this poem seems to be an old form of Pate dialect, which makes the reading very difficult. A second poem by Al-Muthaffa (Mudhaffar) is followed by historical information concerning the reign of Sultan Muhammad II (AD 1291-1332). There follows a poem (Qala shairi) described as a ‘historical dialogue’, and more pages of historical information on the Kingdom of Pate. The last poem of the section deals with the reign of Sultan Muhammad II and is entitled ‘Ukuti wa Arafaji’. It is written by Muhammad bin Ali Bakari and it is accompanied by a black and white postcard. The poem is made up of 10 stanzas, and each stanza is handwritten on a page with notes in red ink on the sides as well as notes at the bottom of the page. The poem uses the metaphor of a common flower called ‘mkadi’ although referred as ‘Arafaji’, much liked by women on the coast. The flower is used to refer to people of noble origins, the Waungwana. The main theme of the poem is the difficulty of life and how harm can be caused by actions of even one’s own brOthers, sons, or friends. Followong this poem, there is further historical information concerning the ascension of Sultan Omar I, son of Muhammad II, in AD 1332. The poem found in this section is entitled ‘Shairi la Mdeni na Mwandani’ and it is written in the form of a conversation between a debtor and his friend. The Mdeni (debtor) poses a question, or request for advice, in the first stanza, which is answered by the Mwandani (friend) in the stanza that follows, and finally in the third stanza the advice is implemented. The same structure is replicated in the following stanzas. In the end, however, the advice provided does not work out. The last two pages of this section contains a Table of the Patean Nabahan Sultans, and an old drawing of an early Arab map of the Kenya coast, including the Lamu archipelago. ( en )
- General Note:
- Date of Composition is unknown
- General Note:
- Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
- General Note:
- Dialects: KiPate
- General Note:
- Poetic Form: Shairi
- General Note:
- Purchased from Kegan Paul, 6 October 1948
- General Note:
- Extent: 84 leaves
- General Note:
- Incipit: The episode appears to have been recounted, though obscurely as is not infrequently the manner of such verse,
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Pate -- Pate Island
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 53507 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 53507b ( SOAS manuscript number )
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