Letter from Majid al-Mundhiri (MS 47769a)
Permanent Link:

Material Information

Title:
Letter from Majid al-Mundhiri (MS 47769a)
Series Title:
Taylor Papers : Swahili letters to W.E. Taylor
Creator:
Majid bin Ali bin Sa’id al-Mundhari ( Author, Primary )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : Old handwritten page collated into a larger page and bound in a book with red and gold cover.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Africa, East ( LCSH )
East Africa
Genre:
Letter
Correspondence ( LCTGM )
Personal correspondence ( LCGFT )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Eastern Africa -- Mombasa
Coordinates:
-4.05466 x 39.66359

Notes

Abstract:
The first letter of this collection of correspondence to Taylor is dated AD 1889 (AH 1307) and it was sent to Taylor by Majid bin Ali bin Sa’id al-Mundhiri, a wealthy landowner from Mombasa. The letter was written at Mtanganyiko, north of Takaungu by the Kilifi creek, and in it, Majid asks Taylor if he had received a previous letter, and he stresses that they should keep their friendship through correspondence. At the end of the letter, Majid says to Taylor ‘Takabadhi pishi ya munyu’ that means ‘I am sending you an amount of salt’ as gift. The word ‘pishi’ indicates a measurement. The letter was written while Rev. Taylor was in England on furlough, having completed the second of his three tours in East Africa. ( en )
General Note:
Biographical information: Majid bin Ali bin Sa’id al-Mandhari was a member of a wealthy landowner family from Mombasa.
General Note:
Date of Composition: 1889 January 25? AD (1307 A.H.)
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Dialects: KiMvita
General Note:
Extent: 1 leaf
General Note:
Incipit: Wa ba’du hali yangu njema wa thamma nawe kuwa kadhalika l-aafiya
General Note:
Majid al-Mandhiri’s letter was sent to England were Taylor was on furlough having completed the second of his three tours in East Africa. Apparently written in Mtanganyiko (north of T’akaungu, at the head of Kilifi creek). (Omar & Frankl, 1994).
General Note:
Donated by Mrs E. Hichens, 14 June 1945
General Note:
Archival history: The letters were collated into the present volume by Hichens
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Coast Province -- Mtanganyiko District
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Kilifi County -- Mtanganyiko District
General Note:
Publication information: Yahya, A Omar & Frankl, P. 1994. Swahili Letters from the Taylor papers (being a study of SOAS MS 47769 & MS 47782). in South African Journal of African Languages, 14 (1), pp. 2-11.
General Note:
Publication information: Yahya, A Omar & Frankl, P. 2001. 14th/19th century Swahili letters from the Taylor papers (Part 3: being fifteen items in SOAS MS 53826). in South African Journal of African Languages, 15 (1), pp. 17-24

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 47769 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 47769a ( SOAS manuscript number )