Poems by Ahmad Nassir and Others (MS 380528a)
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Material Information

Title:
Poems by Ahmad Nassir and Others (MS 380528a)
Series Title:
Knappert Collection :
Creator:
Nassir, Ahmad ( Author, Primary )
Nassir, Ahmad ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : Written in ink of various colours and in pencil, on paper of various sizes. In addition to loose handwritten sheets, the manuscript contains one leaf of typescript and three portions of exercise books, still<PARAGRAPH>loosely bound

Subjects

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

Notes

Abstract:
This manuscript contains poems by Ahmad Nassir bin Juma (known as the poet Bhalo) and Others. Among the longer compositions by Bhalo are a poem in the shairi form called ‘Irshaad’ (93 stanzas), a poem in the utenzi form called ‘Utume Wetu Mohammad’ (86 stanzas, with portions missing) and a poem called ‘Utenzi wa Swala’ (116 stanzas, apparently incomplete). One of the three sections of bound exercise book (the one marked ‘13’ at top) is devoted to poems in the wimbo form. Many of these nyimbo seem to have been written quite specifically for musical performance. While the majority are unsigned, the name of a performer - a musical group or a singer -- is attached to some. Other names in this portion appear perhaps to be those of poets. These include Matano Juma and ‘Moh’d K. Juma Bhalo.’ It is unclear whether unsigned poems, such as many of the nyimbo referred to above, were composed by Bhalo. AnOther section of loosely bound pages (the first page of which bears the title ‘Kihunzi’) contains, in addition to works by Bhalo, poems by Muyaka and one poem by Shaaban Robert. It also contains work by a poet identified as Abdallah Omar Mohammed. The manuscript also contains a short letter from Bhalo to Jan Knappert, dated 28 December 1969. The script is Roman, save for one stanza written in Arabic script. ( en )
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
General Note:
Purchased from Dr. J. Knappert, March 1993
General Note:
Poetic Form: Various
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Nassir, Ahmad : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/17308450
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya
General Note:
Scribe: Nassir, Ahmad

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 380528 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 380528a ( SOAS manuscript number )