Utenzi wa Kijumwa Kumuusia Mwanawe Bw Helewa (Siraji) (MS 380761a)
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Material Information

Title:
Utenzi wa Kijumwa Kumuusia Mwanawe Bw Helewa (Siraji) (MS 380761a)
Series Title:
Knappert Collection :
Creator:
Kijuma, Muhammad ( Author, Primary )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Typescript manuscript : In black type on thin paper; type is blurred on some pages

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Etiquette ( LCSH )
Customs and traditions
Islam ( LCSH )
Religious belief
Religious practice
Imani za kidini
Uislamu
Kiswahili mashairi
Faith ( LCSH )
Mazoezi ya kidini
Islam -- Customs and practices ( LCSH )
Manners and customs ( LCSH )
Genre:
Poem
Utenzi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Eastern Africa -- Lamu -- Lamu Island
Coordinates:
-2.269444 x 40.902222

Notes

Abstract:
Muhammad Kijumwa wrote the utenzi to advise his only son, Helewa, on manners, etiquette and how, generally, to show respect for Other people and lead a good life. He called the poem Siraji, meaning ‘taa,’ lamp, to indicate its role in guiding the reader. The utenzi is somewhat unusual in that it does not centre on a religious, historical or mythical subject, or use the Qu’ran or Other Arabic writing as a primary source (although some verses from the Quran are quoted). Instead, in more than 200 stanzas, the author presents his own advice on daily behaviour: how to act while visiting someone’s home (‘do no take the lids off boxes to look inside’), for example, and how to order work from a craftsman (‘don’t tell him “do it for me at once” ‘); he also treats subjects such as relations with the poor and how to choose and behave towards a wife. The utenzi is important as an expression of Kijumwa’s own understanding of the world and of the social milieu of Lamu, in which Kijumwa was a notable and at times rather disreputable figure. Abou Egl (1983) discusses the poem and provides a complete translation. From his work the date of the poem is obtained. ( en )
General Note:
Biographical information: Muhammad Kijumwa was born circa 1855 in Lamu. He was a poet, scribe, peformer calligrapher, carpenter, tailor and sculptor who taught his son, Helewa, the craft of decorative woodcarving. He assisted many Eurpoean scholars of Swahili literature, including William Taylor, Alice Werner, Carl Meinhof, H.E. Lambert, William Hichens, Ernst Dammann and John Williamson, and was a well-known character in Lamu
General Note:
Date of Composition: 1927 AD1346
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Roman script)
General Note:
Dialects: KiAmu
General Note:
Poetic Form: Utenzi
General Note:
Extent: 10 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Keti hapa sikutiwe, Sina illa wewe, Na likupatalo uyuwe, babangu alinambia
General Note:
See also SOAS University of London manuscript MS 380066a
General Note:
Archival history: This manuscript was formerly part of MS 380526
General Note:
VIAF (name authority) : Kijuma, Muhammad : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/43775563
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Lamu County -- Lamu -- Lamu Island
General Note:
Part of a collection purchased from Dr. J. Knappert in March 1993
General Note:
Publication information: Abou Egl, Mohammad. The life and works of Muhamadi Kijuma. Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD at SOAS, University of London

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 380761 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 380761a ( SOAS manuscript number )