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- Permanent Link:
- http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LSMD000391/00001
Notes
- Abstract:
- The second poem of this MS is the religious poem known as ‘Utenzi wa Wadi Isban’, rendered here as ‘Utenzi wa Qatirifu’. The same poem with transliteration is to be found is MS 47779 and MS 380552 (Hichens collection). This poem was given to Rev. John Williamson by Kijumwa in 1940. The writing of the scribe is difficult to read, and his spelling is erratic. The manuscript exemplifies (see, for example, the first several lines) the manipulation of Arabic words to fit the Swahili rhyme scheme, resulting in phrases that are neither properly Swahili nor correct Arabic. The poem narrates about a battle in a Valley, the Wadi Isban, between the Prophet Mohammed’s army and the army of an unbeliever, Katirifu. It is written in northern dialect, with borrowings from Arabic. In brief, the poem narrates of a Jew named Amri, who wants to become a Muslim and he is travelling to Mecca to see Mohammed. On his way, Amri meets a shepherd and inquires about the owner of a beautiful house visible in the distance. The shepherd explains that the palace belongs to a tyrant and his daughter Hasina, both of whom are unbelievers. A man named Katirifu wishes to marry Hasina, but as her bride price the princess has demanded that Katirifu kill Mohammed and Ali, against whom her husband fought in the battle of Badr, in which he died. Hasina and Katirifu made an agreement, and Katirifu went to gather his troops. The poem contains 450 stanzas, of one line in each stanza. ( en )
- General Note:
- Biographical information: Abu Bakr bin Mwengo, who is named by Knappert (1969) as the author of Utenzi wa Isubani, is described in that version of the poem as a natiive of Lamu who lived in Pate
- General Note:
- Date of Composition is unknown
- General Note:
- Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
- General Note:
- Dialects: Northern
- General Note:
- Poetic Form: Utenzi
- General Note:
- Extent: 16 leaves
- General Note:
- Purchased from Mrs W.E. Taylor for £10, March 1930 (entered in Accession Book 21 January 1942)
- General Note:
- Incipit: Bismillahi andika wahdahuu laa sharika ndiye mwenye mamlaka yake ye pweke amuri
- General Note:
- See SOAS University of London manuscripts MS 47779 and MS 380552
- General Note:
- VIAF (name authority) : Kijuma, Muhammad : URI http://viaf.org/viaf/43775563
- General Note:
- Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Swahili Coast
- General Note:
- Scribe: Kijuma, Muhammad
- General Note:
- Publication information: Knappert, Jan. 1969. The Utenzi wa Katirifu or Ghazwa ya Sesebani. Afrika und Ubersee 52: 81-104 and 264-313.
- General Note:
- Publication information: Knappert, Jan. 1999. A Survey of Swahili Islamic Epic Sagas. Lewiston, New York; Queenston, Ontario; Lampeter, Wales: Edwin Mellen Press; pp. 76-82
- General Note:
- Publication information: Abou Egl, Mohammad. 1983. The life and works of Muhamadi Kijuma. PhD thesis, SOAS, University of London
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 45022 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 45022b ( SOAS manuscript number )
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