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- Permanent Link:
- http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LSMD000385/00001
Material Information
- Title:
- Waadhi (MS 41960a)
- Series Title:
- Taylor Papers : Swahili Verses
- Creator:
- [s.n.]
- Publication Date:
- 19th century AD (circa 1215 A.H.)
- Language:
- Swahili
- Materials:
- Paper ( medium )
- Technique:
- Handwritten manuscript : 1 Bound volume with red cover; the long pages are folded into three parts
Notes
- Abstract:
- The first poem in this 19th century manuscript collection, is a waadhi, or religious poem, entitled ‘Waswiya’, meaning ‘to instruct upon moral values’. The title is not mentioned in the heading but in the text, in stanzas 2 and 3. The author instructs the community (although the poem is addressed to one person) upon moral values and how to be a respectful and trustworthy person. The author begins by setting out his concerns about the way society has become corrupted. The aim of the waadhi is to teach those members of the community who went astray, to return to Islamic values. The writing of the waadhi, in the northern dialect, is very smooth and the text is relatively easy to follow. The manuscript is well preserved and the Arabic script is finely written. At the beginning of each page there is a drawing, usually of flowers. The poem contains 17 stanzas, the last of which is written on the first page of the following waadhi. The waadhi is followed by a religious poem in which the poet asks God for forgiveness and for moral support, ‘kuomba Mungu’. It is a short poem of 6 stanzas, also written in northern dialect, followed by an even shorter religious poem of only two stanzas. The latter is a conversation between two men who are threatening each Other. The readers should note that there is often more than one poem on the same page. Also, because most poems have no title it can sometimes be difficult to where a new poem begins. ( en )
- General Note:
- Date of Composition is unknown
- General Note:
- Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
- General Note:
- Dialects: Northern
- General Note:
- Poetic Form: Shairi
- General Note:
- Extent: 4 folded long leaves
- General Note:
- Incipit: Nipatiani karatasi na mwema mno katibu na kalamu ya unyasi nimependa kujaribu
- General Note:
- Donated by Yahya Ali Omar
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Swahili Coast
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- SOAS University of London
- Holding Location:
- Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- This item is believed to be in the public domain
- Resource Identifier:
- MS 41960 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 41960a ( SOAS manuscript number )
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