Collection of Kimai (MS 380059a)
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Material Information

Title:
Collection of Kimai (MS 380059a)
Series Title:
Knappert Collection : Collection of Kimai and Wawe
Creator:
[s.n.]
Ali Omar, Yahya, 1924–2008 ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : In blue ink on ruled paper, with lines to separate songs

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Kigunya
Kitikuu
Kibajuni
Vocal music ( LCSH )
Sea fishing
Oral tradition in literature ( LCSH )
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Kiswahili mashairi
Bajun (African people) ( LCSH )
Gunya language ( LCSH )
Saltwater fishing ( LCSH )
Genre:
Songs ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Somalia -- Eastern Africa -- Lower Juba Region -- Bajuni Islands
Coordinates:
-0.75 x 42.25

Notes

Abstract:
This manuscript is a collection of kimai, songs sung by fishers of Kizingitini, an island town in Bajuniland, on the north Kenyan coast. The first 19 songs precede MSS 380059b and c; the final seven follow those manuscripts. An introductory note explains that these songs are sung, in particular, when a fisherman is lost at sea or when the wife of a fisherman is in labour. The collector of the songs was instructed as to their melodies and made recordings; but the whereabouts of these are unknown, and the melodies have since been forgotten. For general discussion of kimai and translations of some of the songs in this manuscript, see Yahya Omar and Kevin Donnelly (1982). In that article, the songs identified as 1A and 1B are best understood as a single song, as the manuscript suggests. The line marked (10) should read ‘walokuwa na madau, eo hurudishwa pwani.’ Some knowledge of the Kitikuu dialect is important for the understanding of kimai. Words noted by the collector during creation of this record include: kutoma: to fish; Kiwayiu: a city; nchondoo: a type of tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), the trunk of which floats on the water (mtondoo); Mmadi: Mohammed; Iriye and Masuo: male names; mayonda: baboons (nyani); mayungu: cucumbers (matango); tawau: monkeys (tumbiri, tumbili). What follows are transliterations of songs not treated in the above-noted article, numbered according to their place in the manuscript. (2) Huu mame unambidhie kalale, kenda kalala ngomani Asubuhi kiamuka, ha mai yatele nyangwani Mai yafumile pia, abakie Chongodhani Mai avudhie kisima, kaure dhivudhie mwani Kula nchu na mkwewe, huu mkwewa mame nyani Mkwewa mame nkasa, ndhalia kitangani Huvangua havangui, ha mai havonekani Hii michi kwa michi hulana, munenao hailani Noni mbwa mayuvikidhi hula kwa masitarani Hula hula kwa mdomo, kitwa huchia nbawani Kitungi chatoka Hindi, na mwenyewe umo ndani (5) Hini duniya duniya, ndisi vana waadamu Ulimwengu una nyufa, na mashimo akudhimu Mara moja hufa, ukatukua laumu Duniya walaa yadumu, imechughuri duniya Duniya ni nchambadhi, huchambaa kama pepo Mara huvuma dha iti, dha yiu ndipo dhiapo Dhikipambua mapaa, shani langalie hapo Duniya walaa yadumu, ina hadaa duniya Iyema langu hutoma, nivisie uvaani (6) Kwimba ndilo jadi letu, vana varere Hasani Wimbo na urore ngoma, vatedhi vai ngomani Kula ntedhi wa ngoma, madirikano ngomani Kula mvuvi wa pwedha, madirikano mwambani Kula mvuvi va bavo, madirikano bavoni Kwimba namwimbia mame, vene kuvawa vawani Kula bandari kwa nanga, hii ni bandari gani Kasi umedhidha yua, na dhilidhomo yuani Iyema langu hutoma, nivisie uvaani (8) Nimesikiya ya homo, tini mwa mai kunani Tini mwa mai kudhicha, ni ntimbi na kambani Kidhamacho ni kijiwe, kiweacho ni kiyani Kama pepo hadhivumi, nami bahari simbwani Kikachika kaya kaya, hainguvu foromani Dhikachikadho nadhende, dhirudhidho ni hayani Niwene kinifumiye, wala hakimo mbuchani (9) Chololo kwa Tima Dala, na Mmadi wa Mbetani Nakiye kimele mwamba, kambiwe kina dubani Inya konya na kudasa, na kupodhea kanwani Ha mai sikunwa, sikowa alisiyai Chambwani Nena mwana wa vaneni, usife kwa mikindani Mwenye kwimba na vainga, hidhi lugha hadhisikidhani Ndimi mwana wana hodha, safari hainianganyi Dhela na dama hushika, mai kafua ngamani Ndhinga dhinga na bara, ukiumwa hunenani Howea (Owea?) pandi wa mai, nchondoo uye pwani (10) Tandamiya vavinda, niiliye tayamani Niiliye nbiringwisi, matata nyama dha ndani Na chamba hachi kuvua, ni ngamba wa udhivani Sinipe ngodhi za nyonga, nguva mbwa majirifani Licha jarifa la udhi, hata ingwe la katani Huu mkunguru una mimba, shindi una mwana ndani Huu Iriye si nahodha, na Masuo si rubani Tawau kula dhilinga, mikora a duniyani Mayonda kula mayungu, tanbini kwa Asumani Howea (Owea?) pandi wa mai, mchondoo uye pwani (12) Keekee sinitowe vunga, nkumango siniasuwe ndani Mambo ana misimenyo, hutinda nyuma na nbe(e)ni Huu papa ukasiwa kitwa, kuna kilo udhiwani Tadha humwambiya kasa, hala hala sobani Takwandama nikupache, pindi ingawa mwakani Takwandama nikupache, nikupwedhe kitandani Wavudhi wakule nyonyo, wake wakule dha ndani Rabbi chuvuse chuvuke, kana ndovu kisimani (14) Shindo libisiwe chula, litanganye galani Ngala akisikiya, aliveka hirimani Idhevale kwa hiringi, samuli npeche mani Hasomeya shahidini, na hitima ziyarani Baki iliyobakiya, kachia vake kitwani Kwinba namuinbiya mame, inya muchu kajawani Tena nichukenwa (nichukenwe?) sikujibu, na nipijwapo sinbwani Nbuni nbwa kibayakuti, udhaliye kitangani Mwalochangulia kwanda, nanyi vake hongerani Mama nankadha mbwana, huchecha wivu wa nani Hukichechea kitungi, kwenda mai kandaani Siyacheka siyayadha, duri hulilia ndani Duri kidomo chekundu, maguu ni dhafarani Labu mbwa wenyewe labu, kula labu sitarani Pambe harusi ya mwana, mwenye harusi nyani (15) Upepeeni upowe, hata niyapo ilani Niliye wali kwa uya, na isi kwa kisahani Mwalivokuya kunicha, hii ndiyo nambiyani Musinichonese donda, nichalipapo dondani Enyi mulao mabibo, korosho nivekeyani Mwana wa kiadhi kile, sishindane na shambani Shambani npapa pepo, huchwaa inge kwa tani Mwana mvua kwa yeye, akivua hunenani (16) Hadaribo taso, mafumo ni maso Dhembe ni ushingo, malalo ngodhi Komba valokilaliya, kina kurtidhi Navapawe ngidhi, wengwangwe wa kadhi Vakinwa labani, kina kubo nibo Wasangale kubo, kina daradabo Wapa ng’ombe mai, wapavo kwa pembe Na kanda dhang’ombe, na chovu la inde Mwana ni usiku, wendapi kwa huku Mwana ndiwe pweke, nena kakupeke Kundokuwa kite, ndiya dhindhochisa Ndiya dhikichisa, sipati (siati?) kupicha Nami hwanda sasa, kwenda kutembeya Ndimi muarabu, wa kuful babu Ndiya dha arabu, nimedhidhoweya Ndimi mwana kamba, ndhawa na simba Na ambaye hanba, miyini nachewa Mwana mvua kwa yeye, akivuwa hunenani (17) Nina kipande cha isi, taka nyungu kwandikiya Siki dhitungi dhinane, na pilipili wakiya Kivavudha wenye konda, amba haikuwaviya Husumbuka wenye kuni, na wenye mai hulia Vanavake vanyaka, na dhichechedho vitwani Shungi watamiye kacha, vakiya wa milimani Nyee dha mayapa, mada hufunga ngisani Kinuka tinene kiya, kapawa habari hiyo Kanyuka kahele mama, kapigwa na nshangao Kapawa mai nisinwe, wala nisitunde nguvo Nijepewa changu chuvo, cha sauti’l habari Hujepwaye chuvo hicho, nyumba miliya michachu Na midi nafunguodhe, napo hapandoki muchu Chondo imedhidha nanga, na dhilidhomo nangani (18) Mame mwanawangu, niombeya Mungu Niombeya Mungu, nivuke na changu Nivuke manyasi, na micho michesi Siku ya utungu, bandari salama Nindhaye juma, kipendiche chema Jinale Fatima, wa huru ‘l aini Nindhae simba, ivumi la nyumba Au mwanamke pamba, mmbeja wa shani Kamonde umwiche, nchu aso chake Aye ale mache, na miva chanoni Kamwicha akaya, ntovu wa haya Na miva akala, iliyo chanoni Uso wa nkacha, wendee kichicha Kwa ndaa na nyocha, dhilo machumboni Nkacha ni nyoka, ndudhe humwepuka Kwa ule ukacha, na ule umaskini Nkacha si muchu, akosapo kichu Angawa sharifu, hana burhani Burhani tele, sambe dhondoshele Dhandidha Nkele, hata dha Adeni Chondo imidhidhe nanga, na dhilidhomo nangani (19) Unani nami mwanasha, kila vunga hunisonga Kinwa mai hupaliwa, na pumudhi dhikanikunga Na mai ninwie chocho, vunga niliye mkavu Hulingoja yua kutwa, kuiva nishishiyepo Nikursiye mangi, mwana wa nlungwi Mai kwa ntungi, kinwa sishi nyocha Makoma kwa ngaa, kila si shindaa Kitunungu kitunungu, kiyaniche cha mkungu Kuchafunakwe ni ladha, kumidhakwe ni utungu Mambo kwa wenyewe, asiyo mambo ni nyani Yambo alina nchumwa, yina akamwicha Simbo Simbo alina nchumwa, yina akamwicha mambo Vanavake vanyaka, na dhichechedho vitwani, Shungi watamiye kacha, wakiava milimani Natoka kulonda, gongo la mvunda Na chundale konda, tamu kama chende Niliye likuti, machunda maviti Langu la nkiti, na la mwambazi Kiyakadhi mwakombo, siuliwae uyumbe Siliwae kosa moo, mai kusulia nde Mai suwa poe poe, usinajisi dhiumbe Sinajisi vafamau, vanwa mai kwa dhikombe Kijumba shubiri moya, niwawene wachu ndani (20) Goshi nbawarali waningwa, kitwa cha yiu mwambani Ndisi vatonyi vakuru, chutomao dhambambani Chambo chukichunde chema, chukichiye iyemani Dhiviani kuku wenyu, nina chambo njamani Kuku tatinda kiwala, huu mwenye utanichendani Kuku hana muamudhi, wala hendi shariani Kitungi chatoka hindi, na mwenyewe umo ndani (21) Nanbidhiwa sowe, sitane ichowe Nguvo sifuwe, madowe sauwe Na nyee sinyowe, hadi bandarini Nami sowi, sitani ichowe, nguvo sidhifuwi Na nyee sinyowi, hadi bandarini Babe sala na mame sala, nami mwanavao tangiya salani Babe dhicha, na mame dhicha, nami mwanavao tangiya dhichani Babe ngondo, na mame ngondo, nami mwanavao tangiya ngondoni Mama afuwaka, Rabbi nafu nami, unafu akhera na duniyani Muja sive na hudhuni, kuliko pepo na jinani La takarabu zzinaa, waja fahamuni Yeda uchofewa iye, na nkamidhi nyani (22) Nali ndiani nendao, kashikwa na kuru nyota Kavona dhiva la mai, aviyo akanitoka Karama kufiye chua, kuchachilene mijoka Ni heri kufa kwa nyota, kana kunwa mai hao Mai hao hayanwiki, mbedha yachidhiwe sumu Kiyachiya kikombeni, dhinishukiye hukunu Mai hao si ya hapa, atoka koko barani Risala sidhifakii, nina neno takwambiya Nalikwenda baharini, nkao kaumbiriya Sikudhani kuna vidhi, kamba watanijepeya Inshaalahu hatabakiya, mwidhi atukudhiyeo Tura nambwara hatibu, Alii nisalimiya Mambo ni taratibu, sifai kuvoneya Sililii sufuriya, mwidhi atukudhiyeo Yeda achovewa iye, nkamidhi nyani (23) Alikwanda mbiboni, kuchiya mocho mikoma Akangiya dha peponi, kavaka bara dhima Ni kweli madi kugema, na chenbo kudhanya rubu Madi ni nchukanani, kauli yake si njema Alichukana watonyi, akarudi akatoma Madi nsameheni, msimwandame nyuma Nkweli madi kugema, na chenbo kudhanya rubu Mwana ni usiku, wendapi kwa huku Hata kina kuku, nao wamekuvikiya Mwana ndiwe pweke, nena kakupeke Kundokuwa kite, ndiya ndochisa Ndiya dhikichisa, sipachi kupicha Nami hwanda sasa, kwenda kutenbeya Ndimi muarabu, wa kufuli ‘l babu Ndiya dha arabu, nimedhidhoweya Ndimi mwana kanba, ndhawa na sinba Na anbao kwanba, ni nyini huchewa Mupenbao vana venu, na vangu nipenbeyani (24) Mwana natoka hondeni, mato haishi kuwenga Honde imedhee yani, haichiliki nfunda Na hii ni Ramadhani, nasi twataka kufunga Shauri gani malenga, hulimwaye honde hii Andika maguu mane, utekedhe na mapema Ufanye na jitihadi, usimamiye wachumwa Na papa korija mbili, uwavanye wakulima Utakapo langu lema, na Ramadhani ufunge Mpenbao vana venu, na vangu nipembeyani (25) Yua laiviya yaya, lienee uvangaa Kitaka kula ni ndaa, kitaka kunwa ni nyota Vunga niliye mkavu, na mai ninwile chocho Ulingoja yuva kutwa, kuyiva nishishiyepo Nchiya nanga kwa vidhi, haisi aiyelepo Masalala a Muhammadi, likudhiye ishambani Ukudhiye papa kuu, nchwaa ingwe kwa tani Nahodha vangu torobe, nkache hula vumbani Mtapakudha andevu, kipoteleya ngamani Bahariya wakichunda, akivambiya atani Mai yatedhi na omo, maregeo ngamani Kana pepo halivumi, nami bahari simbwani Vana wendee yamote, Tuma na Selemani (26) Mwene mui fumo Alii, na wapwawe kwa miongo Wale mbele wale nyuma, kachi wachendele shingo Kivavudha mwenda kwapi, twenda kulivunda shango Shango la Mwana Manubi, Kivayiu cha upembo Sichukane Kivayiu, omwe sitomoi kombo Kivayiu nina mame, omwe niweshele dhombo Niwesee fedha kari, na dhahabu dha michembo Huvaa dhikinawiri, huchadhama lake vumbo (H)ata ua la urembo, hulitaba ua hilo Ua hilo nda shajari, lipanbiwalo dhiyambo Huvaa likinawiri, huchadhama lake vumbo Hata ua la urembo, hulitaba ua hilo Rabbi chuvuse chuvuke, kama ndovu kisimani ( en )
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Extent: 33 pages
General Note:
Incipit: Al-salamu alaikum, waialaihi salaami, sala nda wenye nde, hodi nda wenye ndani, na sala hii nda dhicha, msione ni amani
General Note:
SOAS University of London manuscript MS 380059a resumes after MSS 380059b and c
General Note:
T’ikuu is a reference to the Bajuni Islands. T'ikuu, or Tikuu, alternately Tikulu, means 'islander'
General Note:
Kizingitini is also sometimes spelled Kisingitini
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Somalia -- Lower Juba Region -- Bajuni Islands
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Kizingitini -- Pate Island
General Note:
Purchased from Dr. J. Knappert, August 1979
General Note:
Scribe: Ali Omar, Yahya, 1924–2008
General Note:
Publication information: Omar, Yahya and Kevin Donnelly. 1982. Structure and association in Bajuni fishing songs. In Genres, Forms, Meanings: Essays in African Oral Literature, ed. by Veronika Gorog-Karady, pp. 109-122. Oxford: JASO Occasional Papers (No. 1).
General Note:
Publication information: Omar, Yahya. 1987. Farmer and forest: Bajuni agricultural songs. Ba Shiru 13 (1): 11-39

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
This item is likely protected by copyright. Its status has yet to be assessed.
Resource Identifier:
MS 380059 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 380059a ( SOAS manuscript number )