Modern Mashairi from Tanganyika (MS 53508g)
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Material Information

Title:
Modern Mashairi from Tanganyika (MS 53508g)
Series Title:
Hichens Collection : Swahili Poetry
Creator:
K. Rajabu Sudi ( Author, Primary )
Hamisi, Edi ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten and typescript manuscript in black ink on long folded paper

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Modern Swahili poetry
Traditional poetry
Songs ( LCSH )
Oral literature
Oral tradition in literature ( LCSH )
Folk poetry ( LCSH )
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Genre:
Poem
Shairi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Shayari
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Tanganyika -- Eastern Africa
Coordinates:
-6.2555679 x 29.5107708

Notes

Abstract:
This section contains a small collection of modern poems from Tanganyika, written in the southern Swahili dialects, during 1920s-1930s. The authors are named at the end of most poems, and they include K Rajabu Sudi from the Usambara mountains area, Edi Hamisi, John Ahmad, M.A. Kaffidiya, as well as the famous Shabban Robert. No further biographical information is provided. Most poems were published in the newspaper ‘Mambo Leo’ as it is noted in Stanzas 3 and 4 of the first poem entitled ‘Shairi la kuwaombea dua Baba na Mama wazazi’. The author of this poem calls the audience to pray and pay respect to father and mOther. It is a religious poem as stated in Stanza 1. Later poems concern social issues and social behaviour. After the section of relatively long modern poems, we find a small collection of old short songs, as in previous items in this MS, all entitled ‘Qala’ meaning ‘The poet said’. ( en )
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
General Note:
Dialects: Southern
General Note:
Poetic Form: Shairi
General Note:
Purchased from Kegan Paul, 6 October 1948
General Note:
Extent: 44 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Awali Bismillahi, kuu ni jina la Mungu, Jina lisilofanana, na yote ya walimwengu
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Tanganyika

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 53508 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 53508g ( SOAS manuscript number )