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Popular Verse of the Swahili Tradition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

Lyndon Harries
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Extract

In countries where conditions favour the preservation of manuscripts and books, the survival value of much of the literature may not be directly related to its popularity. Unpopular works may remain neglected for long periods and then regain favour; but in the conditions which have prevailed in East Africa, only those literary works receiving the continued favour of the people have had any chance of survival at all. There have been no library stacks, no dry cupboards or shelves for storing manuscripts, but only the white ant and the damp. The love of the Swahili people for a good poem has been the means of retaining much valuable work that would otherwise have been lost. Even so, much more has been lost to posterity than has been preserved.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 1952 , pp. 158 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1952

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References

page 158 note 1 In the library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

page 158 note 2 In unpublished notes in the same library.

page 158 note 3 Written about 1895 by Saleh b. Salim b. Ahmad b. Abdallah b. Muhammad Bashrahil of Lamu, and extracted by him from records written by Muhammad b. Famau b. Umar an-Nabahaniy, who compiled the same from the records of his ancestor, Muhammad b. Bwana Mkuu an-Nabahaniy (in library of SOAS).

page 160 note 1 Kinds of borassus palms, not yet scientifically identified.

page 161 note 1 Swahili Tales by Steere, new edition by Werner, Alice, S.P.C.K., London, 1928, pp. 472 et seq.Google Scholar

page 161 note 2 Steere, op. cit. in preface, p. xii.

page 163 note 1 Mentioned in the poem, Hadithi ya Liongo, MS. by Kitjuma, Muhammad, c. 1910, in library of SOAS, v. 120 and v. 127; also inGoogle ScholarAl-Inkishafi, ed. by Hichens, , Sheldon Press, 1939, v. 59Google Scholar.

page 163 note 2 Hadithi ya Liongo, v. 114; Al-Inkishafi, v. 43 and footnotes.

page 163 note 3 Al-Inkishafi, v. 50.

page 163 note 4 Manuscript in library of SOAS.

page 163 note 5 Al-Inkishafi, v. 39; and in Shairi la Mvule, The Song of the Teak Tree (in MS. in library of SOAS).

page 163 note 6 Al-Inkishafi, vv. 42-43; and in Shairi la Mke Muhakara, The Song of the Worthless Wife, v. 3 (in MS. inlibrary of SOAS).