Mashairi ya Kutweza (MS 380061a)
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Material Information

Title:
Mashairi ya Kutweza (MS 380061a)
Series Title:
Knappert Collection :
Creator:
Nassir, Ahmad ( Author, Primary )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Typescript manuscript : In black type on thin paper, with ten stanzas to a leaf

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Kiswahili mashairi
Genre:
Poem
Utenzi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Eastern Africa -- Mombasa
Coordinates:
-4.05466 x 39.66359

Notes

Abstract:
In this poem of 118 stanzas, the poet tells of being deceived by his uncle, who agrees that another suitor should marry his daughter after encouraging the poet himself to ask for her hand. The woman and her husband later divorce, but the poet rejects the uncle’s suggestion that he should marry the divorcee. Instead, he makes a marriage planned for him by Other members of his family. Mashairi ya Kutweza is characterised by odd and inconsistent use of the Kigunya (or Kitikuu, or Kibajuni) dialect, which is not the dialect of the poet. Some word forms in the poem, such as ‘viwaya’ for ‘vibaya,’ belong neither to Kimvita (the Swahili of Mombasa) nor Kigunya, and the application of some principles of Kigunya is uneven; ‘z’ is only sometimes replaced by ‘dh.’ An effect of this apparently calculated use of dialect is to eliminate from the poem any sense of spontaneity. This makes the poem unusual in another respect, for ‘mashairi ya kutweza,’ poems of insult, are traditionally characterised by impromptu composition and rapid exchanges of criticism. ( en )
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
General Note:
Poetic Form: Utenzi
General Note:
Extent: 12 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Bismillahi tukufu, Mola wangu maarufu, nakuomba takhafifu, Rabbi nitakhafifiya
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Nassir, Ahmad : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/17308450
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa
General Note:
Purchased from Dr. J. Knappert, August 1979

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 380061 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 380061a ( SOAS manuscript number )