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AAP 7
1994).. 47 85
HISTORIC L
TEXTS
FROM
THE
SW
HILI
CO ST
Contents
Introduction
DEREKNURSE
Shungwaya and the diaspora
Mwiini: The origins ofMwiini
Bajuni: Uten i
wa Shungwaya
Vave
kwa
Mgunya
Vave2
Siu:
Introduction
Vave3
uyu a Vabajuni
Translation offoregoing
Translation offoregoing
Asili a Vabajuni
Contemporary political
verse
Uten i
Between 1977 and 1980 I collected a nuber
of
texts on the northern Kenya coast Most were
tape recorded
by
myself fiom oral performances, a
few
were written down or recorded
by
others Most of the current collection consists of texts gathered so,
plus:
the Mwiini material,
provided
by
Chuck Kisseberth, originally provided or recorded
in
Barawa
by
M I Abasheikh,
and the Bajuni "contemporary" verse, taken form a publicly available cassette-recording
by
AM
Msallarn in the 1970
My
thanks
are
due to all the original consultants, and to these
collaborators
Once collected, the material was transcribed almost immediately
in
Larnu Town under
my
supervision
by
local schoolboys, each
of
whom was a first speaker
of
whatever he was
transcribing I explained the necessary phonetic distinctions, they then transcribed, I checked
the work as accurately as
possible..
Thus the source of each piece was
in
most cases, except
perhaps the Mwiini material,
an
individual other than the transcriber This meant that the
transcribers sometimes chose to interpret rather than transcribe, and I tried to control this
as
far as I could
My purposes were twofold
One was to collect material for a Swahili Dialect Handbook, a purpose not entirely
abandoned. But since this material
has
been gathering dust for a decade or more, it seemed
appropriate to make it available now in public form Material
in
one northern dialect or other
is
scattered through scholarly journals and
is
unevenly available on the coast. My idea was to
have
in
one place material from
as many
dialects
as
possible, and to have various styles
and
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
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48
EREKNURSE
registers represented, so proverbs and riddles, utendi, mashairi, vave, political verse, ngano,
hadithi, oral traditions, even just people talking.
The other was to collect histmical texts for Swahili and its relatives, and particularly those
relating to Shungwaya. Numerous such traditions exist, mainly among older people, some are
recorded, few are published. This topic
is
taken
up
again
in
the next section
Shungwaya,
nd the
diaspora
Swahili, Commian, Pokomo, Elwana (both spoken along the Tana River
in
nmtheastem
Kenya), Mijikenda (spoken along the southeast Kenya and norhteast Tanzania coast), and
Mwani (spoken on the Mozambique coast) form a (Bantu) linguistic unity referred to often
since the 1970s as the Sabaki languages Several
o
these communities have recorded
traditions o having migrated south
in
the past from Shungwaya : Mijikenda, Pokomo, Bajuni
(who live on the southem Somali and nmthern Kenya coast) and some other Swahili
communities living
in
and around Mombasa These traditions are also present at least: at Siu
(in the Lamu Archipelago), among some Taita clans (southeastern Kenya, inland from the
coast), and among the Aweera (also called Boni, Eastem Cushitic hunters living inland behind
the Kenya coast}. The details o the period at Shungwaya , o its exact location, o the reasons
for the diaspora, and o the different migrations south out o Shungwaya are disputed, and
fmm the subject o an extensive literature The most comprehensive discussion o this can be
found
in
Spear 1978: 16-43 No scholar has yet attempted to collect and analyse all the still
extant traditions relation to Shungwaya : versions fiom Barawa, Elwana, Orma, and Korokoro
would be particularly welcome, and we need more Bajuni and Pokomo material While we do
not intend to repeat details here, we do give a bare outline below
as
background One o the
Bajuni poems also appears
inEtudes Ocean Indien
III, 1983: 61-64: three others
in Etudes
Oceanlndien 12, 1991: 130-159
At a period long before the sixteenth century, a considerable Bantu settlement existed
near
Barawa on the southern Somali coast This pre-Shungwaya period is mentioned in, inter
alia,
Mijikenda and Bajuni traditions, and
in
the Kitab a Zanuj Details are not well remembered and
often contradictmy: this period
is
not represented
as
important Later, as the result o Arab
incursions
(?),
most o the Bantu communities moved further south into the general
area
between the Juba River
in
Southem Somalia and the Tana River
in
northem Kenya: this
is
the
area
refeued to as Shungwaya, but although it appears on some older European maps and
although archaeologists such
as
Neville Chittick have searched for a specific town site, it has
never been conclusively discovered. Some migration south out o this
area
occurred at an early
period: for an analysis o such early Swahili movements, see Spear 1984
Migration on a much larger scale took place in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth
century. This coincides exactly with the time o large Orma (formerly, Galla) movements into
the area and then turning south along the Kenya coast. Indeed, most versions o these
migrations identify Orma aggression as the major single cause. However at least one Bajuni
version (see
Suyu a Vabajuni
below) points to Korokoro not Orma as the aggressors, and
Aweera traditions collected by D Stiles
and
myself
in
the late 1970s spoke o overcrowding
and
a lack o wild game
as
additional factors. At this point
in
the late sixteenth
or
early
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HISTORICAL TEXTS FROM lliE SWAH ll COASI
49
seventeenth century, Pokomo say they moved south to the Tana River; Mijikenda and Taita
further, to southern Kenya; Bajuni on to the southern Somali
and
nmthern Kenya offshore
islands; and Aweera into the adjecent hinterland. These are the areas in which these peoples
live today
As
there has been much controversy about the historical veracity of Shungwaya and the
earlier period, we set out very briefly the evidence for them here:
i. the traditions of the peoples allegedly involved: Pokomo, Mijikenda, Bajuni, Aweera,
some Taita clans, some Siu clans, and certain Swahili communities at Malindi and Mombasa
Morton (1973) claims that many of these peoples in fact simply adopted versions of the
tradition, mainly during the nineteenth century, but were never present
in
Shungwaya
t
seems inconceivable that so many different versions, with such detail, present among so many
communities with minimal contact between them, and such a fiercely stated belief in the fact
of
the impmtance of Shungwaya , could result from a latter day adoption of a single myth
ii.
the fact that several of he more complete versions refer not only to the single community
involved, but contain and apparently plausible description
of
the other communities present:
thus, for example, the Swahili Kitab
al
Zanuj
iii
the fact of Sabaki place names on the Somali coast Thus for instance,
Merca
(=Marika),
Macaia (= Ma-kaya), and the Muqdisho quarter Shanga-ni, which is the Class 5 form
of *-canga sand , with characteristic nmthern Swahili palatalization of *c to sh after the Class
5 prefix /i 1.
iv the linguistic evidence, which suggests that a group
of
closely related languages
( Sabaki ) descend fiom a single common ancestor, spoken
in
a specific time and place
Pokomo, Bajuni, and Mwiini (the Swahili dialect spoken at Barawa on the Somali coast) are
still spoken within the area widely interpreted as Shungwaya Pokomo, Mijikenda, Bajuni, and
at least some of the Swahili communities at Siu and along the southern Kenya coast tell of
migration from Shungwaya .
f
the current geographical distribution and the collective
traditions of
all
six Sabaki communities are juxtaposed and examined
in
detail, there is no other
single place common to most which qualifies for the early shared homeland at the period
in
question as well as Shungwaya
These recorded versions
are
variable
in
size and quality None formed part
of
a
comprehensive investigation of historical traditions, but were recorded somewhat incidentally
as
part of a language
research
project.
All
were tape recorded
in
Lamu District
in
the late
1970s The two Bajuni versions Suyu a Vabajuni, Asili a Vabajuni) were tape recorded by
elders who were said in their community to have particular knowledge ofmatters historical As
readers can see for themselves, they agree in much detail, while diverging in certain respects
Finally the
Vave kwa Mgunya
and the
Utendi wa Shungwaya are
most likely of considerable
antiquity Both are incomplete because neither of the infmmants could remember the entire
song
or
poem.
t
is quite possible that further enquiry would elicit more verses,
or
different
details, or both. Both contain occasional snatches of older Bajuni, on the interpretation of
which neither the singers nor other Bajunis consulted were in
full
agreement
t
would be very
desirable to mount an attempt to collect further versions of these, and of other songs and
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50
DEREKNURSE
poems of this type, before the older members
of
the community who still remember take them
to the grave forever..
ibliography
Bunger,
RL
1973 Jslamization among the Upper Pokomo. Syracuse
Chittick, N. 1976.. The Book of the Zenj and the Mijikenda , International Journal
of
African
Historical Studies 9: 68-73
Danoch, RG 1943/4, Some notes on the early histmy
of
the tiibes living on the Lower Tana,
collected by Mikael Sampson and others , Joumal
of
the East Africa
and
Uganda
Natural History Society 17: 244-254, 370-394
Morton,
RF
1973. The Shungwaya myth
of
Mijikenda migins: a problem
of
late nineteenth
centmy Kenya coastal history , African Historical Studies 5: 397-423.
Lambert,
HE
1958 Chi-jomvu and Ki-ngare. Kampala
Nmse, D 1980 Bajuni Historical Linguistics , Kenya Past and Present
12:
34-43
Nurse, D and
TT
Spear 1985
he
Swahi/i; reconstructing the history and language
of
an
African society 800-1.500 Philadelphia
Spear, TT 1978 he
Kaya Complex
Nairobi
Spear, T.T. 1982 Traditions of origin and their interpretation.. the Mijikenda of Kenya
Athens (Ohio)
Spear 1984 The Shirazi in Swahili traditions, culture, and histmy , History in Africa
11:
291-305
Wemer, A
1913..
Some notes on the Wapokomo of the Tana Valley ,
oumal
of African
Studies
12:
359-384
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H
IS TOR
IC AL
TEX
TSF R
O M
THE S
W A H
LI C
O S
T
THE
O RI
G IN
SO
M W
IIN
I
Sk
u mo
:yi m
wa:n
a mw
uz iz
e wa:
waye
, "W
a:we,
C'him
wi:n
i ch
ilazil
epi?
Cho
siwo
ka
m ulugh
z w
anth
u wi
:ngin
e " B
a:ba
chim
wuz
a mw
a:na,
"Nin
i
ka
ha.Qa
kuwa
Chi
mwi:
ni
si
wok
m
lugh
zi:
ngine
?" M
wa:
na ch
im ji:
ba, "K
a xi
ssa k
arka
Chim
wi:n
i zim
o jaw
a: bu
z C
hiso:
ma:l
i, za
Sh.ia
lya:ni
, z
Chin
gere:n
za , z
a Ch
a: rab
u, z
Chi
hi:nd
i, ha
t ta ja
w ab
u za
m
aj in
i zim
o "
W
aw a
ye m
wa: n
a chih
a.la
chim
wam
bila
mwa:
na we
y a k
uwa
mux
.ia m
waji:
tu
ung
am af
iishiz
o xa
bi:la
zott e
xpa
ki la
xab i:
la lug
ha:le
, rnz
elew
a wa
nthu
w aM
wi:
ni
nt
hak e
:n da
m aha
la ya
lu
gh
sc
hawa
fio :w
a; ye
wali
ko il
ali:le
n.ihi
ni ya:
mut
i. M
ux.ta:
ye
on
dosh
elo k
us
inziz
i:nin
iw
i:lok
uw a
kilax
ab i:l
a ipe
la: lu
gha,
olos
hele
k m
o:je
kis
h.iak
a kuw
a: y
e nth
an alu
gha
. Mw
aji:tu
chi
mwa:
mbil
a, "L
o:m u
nda:
k6,w
al ik
opi mux
j;a:
lug
h
sc
haw a
no:w
a?"
"M ba
lik o
nd e:l
e n
.ihini ya
: mu
ti, m
o:ja
Ch
ichaQ
6 rn
zelew
a
wa
nthu
waM
wi:n
i.. M
waji
:tu c
himw
a:mb
ila, "
Olo k
a pas
a ko
:di k
kila
xab
i:la"
Mze
:le
sh
fa :fia
j isa
m wa
ji:tu
mwa
m bi:
l6; sh
pasa
ko:d
i k
xa bi:
la zo
tte zi
walik
o xa
ri:bu
ye l.
a:k in
i
mux.
ia: ye
.iUk
ilo
kod
i za:
ye p
asi:z6
, n
peles
helo
kax
ab i:la
ye , w
a:nt
"u we
wam
wam
bi:le
ya ku
wa:
wo h
awap
e:n.l
i kod
i spa
si:za.
Mze
:lesh.to
wa
ya:
yeku
ha.Qa
. S
hfiki
ra k
mud
da:
mu
le, m
ali zo
p6chih
a.Qa,
"
,ugha
li:nu
ni il
i, kam
a: n
i ham
pen.
l i lo
xfan
ana
n lu
gha
zi :ng
ine t
ala :n
i ko:
di zo
tt e n
pot
ola n
i kaa
pan
ap
a si sp
ate x
fa :n
anan
ko
di za
wan
thu
wi
:ngin
e am
o xta
m bu
lo wa
n w
ant"
u wi:
ng ine
51
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5
E
REKNU
RSE
One da
y a chi
ld aske
d his fa
ther,
My fathe
r, were
did C
himwi:n
i come
from?
It
is
not
like th
e langu
ages of
other p
eople
The f
ather a
sked hi
s child,
Why
d
o you
say
that C
himwi:
ni
is
no
t like o
ther lan
guages
? The
child r
eplied,
Becau
se in C
himwi:
ni
there
are wo
rds from
Soma
li, from
Italian
, finm
English
, frnm
Ambic,
from H
indi, e
ven
wo
rds from
the ji
nns are
in
it
T h
e child
's fathe
r spoke
and to
ld his c
hild th
at when
God g
athered
togeth
er
ll
th
e tribes
to give
each t
ribe its
langua
ge, the
chief o
f the pe
ople o
f Mw i:n
i did n
ot go to
th
e place
where
the lan
guages
were b
eing di
stribute
d; he w
as asle
ep under a tree.. When
he
awoke
from
sleep a
nd learn
ed tha
t each t
ribe ha
d bee
ngiven
a langu
age, he
went t
o
his Lord
and c
omplai
ned tha
t he ha
d no lan
guage..
God
told him
, You
are to
blame;
where w
ere yo
u when
langua
ges we
re given
out?
I was
asleep
under
a tree,
my Lor
d.
The
one wh
o spoke
was th
e chief
of the
people
of M
wi:ni.. G
od said
to him
, Go a
nd
borro
w word
s from
each t
ribe T
he chi
ef did w
hat G o
d told
him to
do: he
borrow
ed
words
from a
ll the t
ribes th
at were
near h
im. B
ut when
he car
ried th
e words
that h
e
b
orrowe
d and t
ook the
m to h
is tribe
, his pe
ople to
ld him
that the
y did n
ot like
borrow
ed
wo
rds.. The
chief d
id not k
now w
hat to say.
Hethough
t for a
long ti
me and
when he
finish
ed thin
king h
e said,
Your l
anguag
e
is
this
one;
i you do
n ot w
ant it t
o
be
sim
ilar
to o
ther lan
guages
, take a
ll these
words
and tw
ist them
here
and the
re so th
at they
do
not
resemb
le the w
ords o
f other
people
and ca
nnot b
e under
stood b
y othe
r peopl
e
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HIST
ORIC
L TE
XT S
FROM
T HE
S W
HIL I
C O
ST
B
ajun
i
Uten
di
wa S h
ungw
aya,
reco
i ded
bv O
m ari
A th
m a n i
1
C hw
ende
n i Sh
ungw
aya k
aang
alie
C hu
kaen
g e U
mba
na
mad
arie
K
ula
m u
ungwa
na na
anga
lie
N
a kul
a
sha
rifun
a ka
rama
dh e
2
.
Itim
buk
o la
jad
i la
vaM
aka
3
C
hang
u M
kudis
ho
h
ata
Ma
ri ka
4
N d
io m
beu njem
a
is i
o sh
aka
Na
m
wene
ku
yaa
u m a i n
H
am ud
i Ha
mudi
chuo
m be
om be
Yi
to la hu
suda
li s
ic hup
amb
e
K
u:a
nc
hi
N2a
u hw
ichwa
mvin
ie
5
H
una
wiri
_ 'anE
_u na
mas
hina
e.
6
Nch
'u nk
ukuc
he
m ue
nge mate
Mw
anga
lie
k'op
e apep
edha
po
Ma_ o
hu n
_ oka
e_
e dh
a m
acho
Kwa
ukavu
w ake
alivona
o,.
Do
me
uvu
rnbiw
a kw
a
m
ada
ngany
a
Hu
chwa
a ak
il i
a k a ~ a
w a n y
a
vak
uu v a l i
m w a n
~ a m a
Ak
ipach
a
pw
'anivan
shis
hie
N
ch'u n
kuku
che
m uen
ge m a ~ o
M
wan
galie
k'op
e ap
epedh
apo
hun _
oka
dha
m o
cha
Kw
a uk a
vu w
ake a
livo
nao.
Let
us
go
to
Shungw aya
and
ga ze
G
aze
at the
ho
uses
a
nd
th
ei r u
pper
f
loor
s
Let
ev
ery fre
eman
l
ook
Ever
y
gifte
dsh
arif
The
orig
in of
the lin
eage
o
f th e
men
of
Hec
ca
From
M uq
disho
to
t
i s th e
goo
d se ed
bey
ond
sus
picio
n
And th
e so
wer m
ay h
ope .
L
et us
pra
y to
Ham
udi
T
he eye
of
jeal
ousy
sh
all n
ot to u
ch u
s
T
here
i s
a pla
ce on
Nd
au c
alle
d
t
he
C
asu a
rina
t s
bra n
ches and
trun
k
f l
ouri
sh .
He
wh
o i s wit
hout
s
ham e
may re
gard
h
im
Ma
y lo o
k at h
im
wi
th
s
tead
y ey
e
H
is
ey
es send
o
ut spar
ks
of f
ir e
W
ith th
e fe
arles
snes
s of
h
is g l
ance
? ).
Ih e
cu
tt le f
ish
7
He t
akes
his
br
ains
and
sh
oots
t
hem
ou
t
' Ihe gre
at
fi
sherm
en f
ollow
ed him
On re
achi
ng
sho
re
th
ey
seiz
ed h
im.
He wh
o i s
wit
hout
sh a
m e may
re
ga rd
him
Ma
v
look
a t
h i m
with
ste
ady
eye
Hi
s e
ye s se
nd o
ut
sp
arks o
f f
i re
\.;ri
th
th e f
earle
ssne
ss o
f h
is glan
ce
K'
arnas
i
kum
i na n
an e
ndi
s i
c
hwal
ovuk
a
m i
cho
8
Th
e eig
htee
n cla
ns,
i t i
s
we who
cros
sed
the
r
iver
s
C
huk
apich
a
ku k
avuu
w
ala
chu
sida
re c
h'o c
ho
C
hw a
lishu
kia
Shun g
w aya
na ala
ma dh
echu
dh
iko
We
passe
d
by
th
e
dry
a
reas
and
avo i
ded the
mud
We
cam
e dow
n to
Shu
ngw a
ya an
d ou
r
sig
ns ar
e th
ere .
53
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54
ERE
KN
URS
E
Mi
shi d
hi
A
vut
ilaa
n
a
va
F am
au va
liko
9
Th
e K
atw
a A
vu
tila
a an
d F
ama
o
ar
e
there
10
na che
si dh
omb
o
dh
id h
ich
o dh
id h
icho
Th
ey
h
ave
ca
rri
ed
by
pa
ch
anim
al
N
a m
ar a
vul
ei
a
vo
huti
nda
h
aan
a
m
aso
M
wend
avo
nisa
lirn
ia kw
a
y
ina
usi
nich
aye
12
Vac
h u b
aia
dhi
ni
te
le
ng u
vo m
oya
ap
ich
ae
K
ich
and
a
n t o
mmo
ya
v
ach
ach
u
h
uiy
ala
e ?
A
fad
bal
i
a
fad
ha
li
wa rnu
hin
i
W
alik
uya
w
ali
ku y
a
kak
e t i
sa
baa
nd
im a
Aso
hay
a as
o h
aya
n
i
m
wan
a N
ua
na
iny
a
14
Va
nen
ee
ven
e kae
ap
is i
e ma
an ja
ra
1
5
K
ik
um b
uk a
k
iku
mbu
ka ruhu
an
gu hun
iv a
va
16
Nyu
ani m
ate
m u
enge
v
ach
u
va
bar
ani
hav
a.
K
am a
si
k
um
i
na n
ane
nd
isi
chw
alo
vuk
a m i
cho
C
huk
api c
ha k
uka
vuu
wa
la
c
hu
sida
re
ch
och
o
Ch
wal
ishu
ki a
Shun
gwa
ya
n
a a
lam
a dh
ech
u
dhi
ko.
Mi
sh id
hi
v
u ~ i
l a a
n
a
va F
am a
u
va
lik
o
V
a tuku
dhi
e
na
ch
esi
dhom
bo
dh
id h
ich
o
dh
id hi
cb o
Na ma
ra v
ulei
avo
h
utin
da
haa
na
m
aso
the
ir
b
agg
age
th
ere
A
nd
th
eir
kni
ves
c
ut,
tho
ugh
w
it h
out b
lad
es
H
ail
y
our
com
pan
ion
(fo
t me)
by
a
na
me
you
do
n t
say
t
o m
e
M
any
pe
ople
to g
eth
er ho
w
sha
ll I
pas
s in
on
e
clo
th ?
On
e b
ed on
e
pi
llo
w ho
w s
ha
ll
thr
ee
peo ple
sleep
?
the
Ind
ian
Fa t
ima
13
She
cam
e
(re
pea
t) and
s
tay
ed a
wh
ole
w
ee
k
S
he
w
it h
out
sh
ame
(r
epe
at) is
Lad
y
N
ua
and
h
er
mo
ther
Ihe
p
eo p
le o
f
yore
s
aid
(s
)he
pa
sse
d
Whe
n I r
em e
m be
r
(r
epe
at)
t pa
ins
my
soul
R
aise
y
our
ey
es,
be h
old
the
pe
op le
of
the
mai
nla
nd
The
eigh
tee
n
c
lan
s, t
i
s
v e
w
ho
p
ass
ed
the
r
ive
rs
We
p
ass
ed by
th
e
dr y
a
rea
s
an
d
av o
id ed
th
e
mud
W
e
ca
me
dow
n
to S
hun
gwa
ya
an
d
ou
r
s
ign
s a
re th
er
e
Th
e K
atw
a
Avutilaa
and
Famao
are there
Th
ey
h
ave
c
arr
ied
by
p
ack
an
im
al
the
ir
bag
gag
e
th
ere
And
th
e ir
kni
ves
c
ut,
th
ou g
h
w
ith
out
b
lad
es.
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
9/40
HI
STO
RI
CAL
T
EXT
SF
RO
M
m
S
WA
HIL
IC
OA
ST
1
.
Re
co
rde
d
in
th
e
La
mu
Mu
seu
m
i
n 19
79
by Om
ar
i A
th m
an
, a
B
aju
ni
tra der.,
Some
S
tan
da
rd
S
wa
hi
li f
otm
s
are
in
ter
sp
ers
ed
w
it
h t
he
B
aju
ni.
Om
ar
i
At
hm
an
s
re
co
lle
cti
on
of
th
e
so
ng may
h
ave
b
een
im
p
erf
ect
a
t s
ome
po
in
ts.
Th
er e
w
as
no
co
nce
nsu
s
a
mo
ng
B
aju
ni
co
nsu
lte
d
abo
ut th
e
mea
nin
g
of
som
e
p
ar
ts
o
f
t
he
s
on
g.
2.
K
ar
am
adh
e
kar
am
a d
ba
ke.
Re
fez
s
to th
e t
ra
d i t
ion
th
at
th
e
Ba
jun
i ca
me
fr
om
M
ecc
a.
4 . M
uq
dis
ho
(
o ld
er
, M
oga
dis
hu
)
i
s
t
he
ca
pi
tal
o
f t h
e S
om
ali
D
em
ocr
ati
c
R
ep
ub
lic
,
and
Me
rca
i
s
ano
th
er
co
as
tal
to
wn
, j
u s
t s
ou
th
of
Mu
qd
ish
o.
5
N
dau
i
s a
sm
al
l B
aju
ni
i
s la
nd
no
rt h
o f
La
mu
i
n th
e
L
amu
A
rc
hip
el
ago
Mv
ind
e
S
t. S
wa
hil
i
mv
in j
e c
as
ua
rin
a
t re
e
.
6.
N
ku
kuc
he
(C
la
ss
1)
w
it
ho
ut
s
ha m
; ?
7
. T
he
m
ean
ing
of
th
is
l i
ne
i s
ob
sc u
re
. 8
.
K
a
ma
si cl
an
B
aj
uni
son
gs
and
le
gen
ds
m
ake
co
nst
an
t r
efe
re
nc
e to
th
e i
r
eig
ht
een
cla
ns
. Th
ey
a
re
div
ide
d
i
n to
th
e te
n
and
th e
e
ig
h t.
T
he
e
igh
t
a
re s
a i
d
t
o be
K
atw
a
(B
. va
-ka
ch
wa
) an
d
include the Avutila a.
Bajuni in forman ts sugg
es
te d
t
ha
t
m
is
hid
hi
re
fe
rre
d to
th
e
K
atw
a.
9
Av
ut
ila
a a
nd
Fam
ao
are
two
Ba
ju
ni c
lan
s. .
10.
Ch
esi
pac
k a
nim
al
11
. M
ara
vu
lei
, tw
o
e
dge
d
S
om
ali
kn i
fe .
. A
vo,
h
aan
a
St
S
wa
hil
i
ya
o,
h
aya
na
1
2. U
si n
ic
hay
e
St
.
Sw
ah
il i u
sin
ita
je
.
1
3 T
he
m
ea
nin
g
o
f
t
h i
s l
in
e
i
s o
bsc
ur
e
14
. I
he
m
ean
ing
of
mu
ch
of
t
h is
v
ers
e i
s
o
bsc
ur
e.
th
e t
ape
an
d ma
y
b
e: .
....
m
wan
a nw
ana
na
iny
a.
The
l
a s
t l
ine
i s
ind
is
tin
c t
o
n
I
ny
a
hi
s /h
er
m
oth
er
15.
Re
pe
titi
on
. Ba
ju
ni
a
pis
ie
(-p
ic
ha
pl
us t
he
-
ie
s
uf
fix
) a
nd
A
rab
ic ~
j
r
a
re
v
ir
tua
lly
s
yno
ny
mo
us.
16
'
vav
a
S
t, S
wa
hil
i -um
a
h
ur t
,
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
10/40
6
EREK
NURSE
Bajun
i : begi
nning
of the
Vav
e kw a M
gunya
record
ed
by Ali Fa
m au
1
Kut
oka S
hiradh
i sh
i l a r i hor
i
2
1
Jlilnw en
gu u
la l ie k
:ungu.
Aka.nd
a ku
nyaya
ngunya
ny
aya
udhiva
3
-
4
C
hukavuk
a kwa
k a s
i
na
k oa
K
afika P
ungwa
nyi
w angu
5.
Ukidhi
va
n
dia
nka
nda
t
1
api
cha
wase
e
N gun
ya ~ n
y
k u
li
k
heri7
~ a k
ama mafun
gu kw
avanya
8
a
msh
el a
na
ch
unyaye
ni
Ch um
wase k
ubika m
a.fun gu
am
u amu na
chu
nyayen
i
Chumwa
se da
ri
na
dhiungu
9,
Mpate
end
e
aka
pate na
chun
yayeni
10
P
ola
Mola
ashu
she
kiv i
ngu
11
12
.A
kafunga
pa chu
na
shureng
e
Akash
usha mas
hehe m
avili
Shee
ja fa r
i
na
Buni Ma
ngeman
ge
13
Akashusha nchu ch u
na
ndue14
.Ak
avam bia
no
oni mu kaen
ge ,
.Akadir
ika
u
tine v
a ng
1
om be
Van
avake m
akange
m
akange
15
6
wamung
u
um
wa wani
chum w
ase n
devu na
c
hun yay
en i
6
ilinad
hi t i
nani eh
embo
sumuan
i 7 ,
N
paka
chuka.f
ika Sh
ungwey
a
Chu
ka.fika K
iva cha
M vtm d
e
18
C
hu kafik
a Kiwa
yuu
Chukenda
ch ukavon a
fun gu
Chuk
anena n i
ng om
be
C
hukavo
na
20
ntanga
k
anena
n i
lo
ya
M
uwaa
w a fll.ngu
kaf\mg
ia .
ng
om be
a uku n
gu dhim
ba uk a
.funga
kinov
u
2
1
2
2
Ch
uka.fika
Sh
ungway
a
m
ume
t alaya
Al if
uma t
1
aya
kwa mu
vi
oy
2
3
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
11/40
HIST
ORIC L
TEXTS
ROM
T
HE SW
HJLI CO
ST
Na ~
usishe
na
k
o dh im n
is
ende
ingw
eni
2
4
,
Va
kadirik
ana
vadhee
k
wa vana
25
K
umi
dh
a m
iu li n
n ne dha
ba.na
1 , Gu
ny a (a
nd T
1
iktm
)
are
alte:
mative
nam es
for Ba
juni.
): he
vave i s a
po
etic gen
re
part
icular
to
them, 2,
S
hirazi
, port in
Pers
ia; s
hi lar i
Port
; hori
1
creek
1
or
can
oe. 3 .
-n y
aya se
em s t
o be use
d
in tw
o senses
, tr ave
l an
d beat
.
4.
k as i oa
r ; k 'oa
not c
lear, p
ossibl
y
1
pole
1
, 5.
P
'ungwa
,
pl
ace nam e
; nyi
=
S
t. Sw.
mji.
6, W as ee
'open
spac
es' ,
7 , Kuli
kher
i it
i
s
bet te r
; N ganya
gmoyan
ya i s
a pra
i.se nam
e. e
- t"J
lia St.
Sw. -p
okonya
I tak
e by
force
I
-av
any a
St. Sw,
-gaw
anya.
9, K iun
g u
'build
ing
o
fm o
re tha
n one
story
10,
Obsc
ure.
1
1.
Pola M o l a
Bw a
na Mungu.
12.
Pac
hu 'r o
pe
1
;
shuren
ge
1
f
lag .
1
3. S
heejaf
ari i s
today
the nam e
ofa
d
eserted
vi
llage jus
t
s
outh
of
Kiun
ga;
Bu
ni
Man
gemange
o
ccurs
in o
ther Baju
ni so
ng s, 1
4. N ch
uchu obsc
ure;
ndue
h i
s
bro
ther ' .
15
. Makan
ge maJrang
e vang
i vangi
many many
'.
16, Dum
wa M
wani a
per
sonal nam e
. 17.
-sumua
=S
t. Sw -simu
a k
noc k d
ow n . 1
8 Ki
va isla
nd;
M v
unie , un
identi
fied
place.
N ote
use of n
on -Baj
un i
-f ika
, here
and
e
lsewhe
re.
19,
K iw ayu
u Ni
odhi, villag
e
on Kiwa;
ru u
Island
, 20. Loy
a 'cow
'.
2
1.
Kin
ovu
c a
l f .
22
. T
'alaya
t a
ya ' sp, sm
all
~ z l l
(or i
b i ?)
.
2
3.
Muvi
'ar;
ow',
24
.
I
sishe,
fr
om
-sha f in
ish ; k
odhim n
?;
is
ende i-si
-ende;
ingwe
l ine
and
then 'a r
ea m
easure
d
by
s t
ring ,
f ie ld
25.
Tr
adition
ally the Baju
ni
had
18 cl
ans
(k
1
a
masi),
ten
miu
li a
nd eight
bana: the
re
ferenc
e
of
mi
uli
and bana i s
di
sputed
, Althou
gh the v
ave m
ay la
s t seve
ral hours
, the
si
nger here
did
no
t
re m em
ber m o
re tha
n wh
at i
s
set
down
here
.
Vave
2:
r
ecorded
by
Bwan
a Sh
alo
1
llamcy
ambo
mwal
ojenga
jengo
j
engo
V ash
ua lim
ango m
uli
hal i gani
imahim
a h
umwa
nc
hum.e
sim
ama
Na
sik
u
a k
wim a
n i kam a
a eo
Ima
naM a
yasa na
nchum
e Isa
N
chume
wa kw
isha
Ib ur s
himu,
Uta
kanip'a
ni kipok
eo k
ongo
2
K
1
inya
misa
sh in
go3 utan
ip 'anini
?
Je
s
asa nitsl
rup'a kar
amu a
ntudh
i tamu
Na na
m a a s
h sham u
dh ot
1
e u
le uwe
4
,
T
1
,;;.,P a
kic h
aDgauiva
po 5 k
wim ba
Nabi
ka panda
uvon
e
uw
e
T
1
s l rupa
buk
e
6
na k it
a ra
bake
T
u m bslr
u un
uke u
chudhe akili
. ,
57
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
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58
ich i
cha
sham ba
n i
gogo
H
uk
ali
a n
ka
lid
hi
H
uk
ali
a
mw
e;ge
ch
ak
e
A
si
o c
ha k
:e n
i
m
wid
hi
.
ER
EKN
U
RSE
B
is m
il
ahi
ch
wa
mb
e
k i
t ~ b
u
t u
m b u
k a
7
K
ali
cho
hu
ik a
ng
od
hi
na
m
ifup
a
k
aya
d
un
ian
i
8
Ka
mb
a
b
ab a
tob
a n
a
m
am
e t
ob
a
N
am
i mw
ana
wao
k
an
gi
ato
ba
ni
,
K
amb
a b
ab
a
sw
ala
n
a
mam
e
5w
al
a
Na
mi m
wan
awa
o k
a
ng
ia sw
a
lan
i,
S
ifa
i s if
a i
s
if
a i
s
ifa
i
Na
mi
mw
an
awa
o
k
ik
os
a n i
n
in
i ?
K
ic
hi
cha
sh
am
ba
n
i
gog
o
Hu
ka
li a
n
ka
lid
hi
H
uk
ali
am
we
;ge
ch
ak
e
As
io
cha
k:e
n
m
w
idh
i.
Ni
M
sim
amb
ay
e k
am
wam
bi
a9
C
he
li
k
ilin
ge
ne
c
han
o c
ha
va
ch
'u v
an
ane
1
0
Cha
ng
ll c
ha
ine
ne
1
1
cha
n
ch
i n
le
dh
i
K
am
wa
mb
ia
mv
um
bo if
un
gtll
l lo
2
ma
n i n
chw
an
a
ifu
ng
o i
mo
ya
Ka
mw
am
bia
if u
ngu
mo
'
oe i ja
v i
m
a
ny
uk
al3
nc
hw
ana
i
fun
go
im
oya
uno
e k
ic
ha n
ga
K
any
uka
ul
eem
fu
ngu
mnr
.te
14
k
ny
u
;;;_
cha
.n .o
a.
Va
lee
va
na
ne n
av e
v
ali
ng
ene
V
al
id i:
rik
an
a
vad
he
e kw
a v
ana
V
.k:a
kuc
han
a
pa
ha
lap
am
oya
V
alik
wa
mb
ani
va
lid
ir
ika
na
Valiktlchamana1 5 val ikw am ba
nini
?
16
V
an
a m
am
bo
ham
ba
ven
ev
e
hun
en
a
V
al
ikw
am
ba
su
mi
lan
i
1
7-
Chw
am
be m
an
en o
a
ku
va
R
ape
ik a
ch
iw a
p e
fu
k
aom
bw
a
L
atw
if
a
18
C
h u
mw
a
m
sh
ara
fu
ka
ch
ia a
un
i
K
aeh
ia
au
nik
aom
ba
W
a
dud
il9
C
hu
mw
a
~
h a m
a d
i
ka
ch
ia
au
ni
Ka
ehi
a uv
um
ba
kam
wo
mb
a Y
an
ga
20
husichundekingachwendapo Mwa
m
bo
ni2
7/24/2019 Derek Nurse - Swahili Writings Collected - Antiques
13/40
HIST
ORIC
AL TE
XTS
FRO M
IE
SWA
H IL I
C O A
S
1. T
he d
ialo
gue
natu
re of
th
e
v
ave
is
ob
viou
s h
ere.
2
.
U
taka
nip
1
an
i wha
t w i
ll
yo
u gi
ve
me ? ;
ko
ngo,
te
rm of
w elc
om e.
3. -n
yam
isa sh i
ngo
1
bow
th e
he
ad .
4.
uw
e St.
Sw. w
ewe
5
. -iva
St.
sw. -
jua.
6.
b
uke tob
acc
o. 7
.
Chwa
mbe
f
rom
-amb
a; k
i um b
u-tu
m buk
a, a t
ree
gro
wing
ou
t of t
he
burn
t-ou
t s tu m
p of
a
noth
er, s
aid o
f pe
op le
g
athe
ring.
8
,
K
alich
ohu
ika,
rela
tive
o
f
-hu
ika;
kay a
=
S
t. Sw
. kaj
a . 9,
Msi
mamb
a.ye,
pe rs
on f
rom
th e
isl
and
of
Sim
am ba
ye. 1
0. T
here
cam
e to
geth
er a
grou
p of
eigh
t peop
le ,
l
l T
in e n
e
belo
w ,
12,
Mvum
bo and
if1lll
gtllllo
both
=
St.
Sw, m
tumw
a. 13
.
I jav
i =
St. S
w. jamv
i; -n
yuk a
s tan
d ,
14
. -m
we
arc
haic
f
or
o
ne.
1
5.
-
kucha
man
a
m
eet
. 16,
H
amba
hu-am
ba,
17. S
umi
lani
give
wey
1
18,
P e f
u inc
ense
; L
atwi
fa
1
God
1
19
. W
adud
i
G
od .
2
0,
Uvu
mba
1
i
ncen
se
1
;
Yan
ga G
od 2
1,
Mwa
mbon
i, pl
ace
nam e
.
Vav
e 3:
r
ecord
ed b
y
Bwa n
a Sha
lo
T
1
avuk
a nc
ho w
a
mash
aka ?
B
anda
ri. k
if ik
a t
1
av
uka
na
nini
?
T
a ~
n
a sum
i
1
n
cho w
m
asha
ka
B
an a
ri k
1
i
f ik a
na
Bis u
mil
ahi.
T
av u k
a na
M we
li nch
o w
a m a
shak
a
Ba
nd ari
k
1
i fik
a n
a M
wel
i wa
Nun g
u,
~
na
ml
ingo
n
cho
wa m
asha
ka
2
Ba
n ar
i k
i f ik
a na
mli
ngam
ano,
T
1
avuk
a na
sh a
u neh
o
wa m a
shak
a
B
an a
ri k
1
i
f ika
na
m as
haw :
i,
T
1
avu
ka na
af i neho
w
a m as
haka
B
aniar
i
k i f ik
a na. l
i na
a
f ia ,
T
1
avuk
a na
tam
a n
eho
wa m a
shak
a
Ban
a,ri
k i f ik
a n a
li n
a t
amaa
.
T
av u
ka na
mala
nch
o
wa m a
shak
a
B
an a
ri k
1
i f ik
a na
mal
aika
,
T
1
avuk a
na v":: e valovalingene
Va
sivo
p
enyen
ye
n
ehu
ku
ngi a
3,
T
av u
ka na
Ada
mu ch
1
u
mwa
wa
K ad
im u
4
Nuh a
mad i
m
ungam
o
e
hu
mwa
tach
ia a
uni 5
,
Ta
vuka
na
v
avil
i
m
uke n
a mv
uli
V
alala
san
gali
u
kum b
i um
oya
6
,
T
1
a
vuka
na n
dhee
n
kalia
mbee
mbee
Ns
hika
suka
ni
di:r
a
dhim
wele
e7,
59
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60
T avuka
na
mwalimu mwene
zhito
lumu
8
Ashikao
ya111 _9
jahadhi
l ikwea.
EREKNURSE
T avuka na
malasho
kanda na mada ku.pinda
10
Asiokupinda
henendi
Mwamboni.
11
T
1
avuka na Latete fahal i mweupe
Wadhi mechemeche t ang ia
changani
12
T avuka na wamamba wa Obo kivamba
1
3
Chukinyua
changa
har ia kwa ndani
14
T
1
avuka na wahemero mwene
chapa
keru
1
5
K ibika
wajiro ndudha
n :
mapachani
16
Dhitavunda
nguli l7 dha kipembe cha t i
Dha m l ~
kachi
t abika kimondo
18
i t a v u n ~ a nguli
jahadhi
la k
1
omba
Dhombo dha haiba t akwenda na mayi
Dhitavua mayil9
dhilima
nsuko
Na nyamba
20
dha iyu t
1
a.ku:va k
1
avuu
Maana t achiwa mocho upande nkoko
Umwangue boko kiremberembeni
21
1. Sumi, abbreviation for Bisumilahi in the next l ine , a device used seven times in
the
next l ines .
2.
Mlinga, the f ru i t of a
type
of
mangrove. 3.
No one else can
entez
the i r
narrow gzoup . 4. ~ e prophe of Go
1
5. Mungamo, used
of
God.
6.
Sangali together . 7 Dhimwelee, from -e lea . 8. -umu = S t . Sw. -gumu. 9.
Yamu
= ?
10.
Malasho = viatu; mada
shoe
s t rap ; -pinda t igh ten . 11. Latete, name
of cock.
12.
Mechemeche,
c . f .
St. Sw.
kimetemete.
13. Wamamba name of
black and
white cock; Obo, Bajuni personal name; kivamba,
c . f . St.
Sw. kiwamba-moto.
14.
-nyua = St. Sw. - inua; -har ia thzow .
15.
Wahemero, bright red cock:
k..ezu
black
1
?
16.
-bika
wajiro
make a
noise
1
;
ndudha
=
nduu
dhangu;
mapachani
=
mashakani.
17. Nguli = shamba
(?).
18. Milia, place name, or see Sacleux,
p.572;
kimondo thunder .
19. -vua
mqi , said of reef , e te ,
uncovered
a t low t ide .
20. Nyamba, plural of mwamba Class 4. 21. Boko sp. dove ; kiremberembe t ree
top .
(middle) Ponde majumba k
1
omba
Na nkeyea nimponde
momo
22
Ponde na a l i ? majumba k
1
omba
Na nkeyea kwa valivo iye
2
3.
onde na sumi ? majumba k omba
Na nkeyea na
Bisumilahi.
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HISTORICAL TEXTS FROM THE SWAHILI COAS
Ponde
na
Mweli
?
majumba k
1
omba
Na nkeyea na Mveli wa Y ~
Ponde na mlingo ? majumba k
1
owba
Na nkeyea na mlingamano.
Ponde
na shauri ?
majumba k
1
omba
Na r ~ e y e na mashauri
Ponde na
Adamu
? eh
1
UlJlVa wa Kadimu
Muhamadi wa munga mo
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62
EREKN
URSE
N as
i chuna
dhic
ha dha k
wenda
Mwamboni
Al
itoa mik
ondo
pasin a
mikondo
Alito
a pasin
a
K atoa
m iyan
ga
pasina
m iy
anga
A lichen
da tuu
amba
yo angu
k
uu
35
Nam ic
hi mik
uu kap
anda
ka ngu
a
a
m ich i
mikuu
na mich
ava nda
Na m
wangach
i
36
ka
panda
moyam
oya
N
aliata
a
la kva
kusi
ni
Kva
kasikadhini
k
aata
alama
Nal
iata ala
i
yuu mwa nde
re37
in
i mwa
nde
re k aata
a la
ma
Nal i
tinda sa
ngu
38
na
saba
a
mbin
gu
K
amfu
ma
p un
gu
zh
uu l u
vingu.
D
hikaya
t
atan
gu3
9
n m
kichang
ani
Nimek
ota kva
s h u n ~
K ach
a
40
w e ~ e
nia
p ata
nan
isie
sh mbu
4
N iv un
ie maju
mba k o
m ba
a nkeye
a nimp
onde mem
o
(
end) P
anda
viche la m
ba lik
okoche
42
Jo goo av
ike wa
mash
eh e k
uu.
T aka kuv
a pv
ani chuk
enda
kiv i
cha
avapa
nini ?
T
v p
mlinga
u
kenda
kuvic
ha
akidix
ikana na m
lingam
an o
T
av
apa f
tiuke
nda
kuvic
ha
V akid
i:r ikana
vanaf
atiha
T
avapa
hi
tima aloto
ka
nima
Na v e ~ e
kusom
a ni
T avap
a b i
s i na
buni n
eusi
Nadh
ika:r a
tasi vate
dh:e :
randa
44
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64 E
REK
NUR
SE
v ak aan a ku pondana hapo
kulipa
kisasi
cha
is he
am uaee ku
bika
m
akun
gu.
n
i k
ugem
a al
ee m
afuch
a a eh
em
be.
A kan
ena n
a M
uamu
n
a
chun
yayez
:ii c
humu
ase
hid
hi dh
umba
t
1
n
n
a
pala
ga d
hi
14
, ch u
mua
se
dari
na dhi
ungu
ak
ampon
d.
vakam
po n
da,
s
asa n
a M pat
e n
a Mm
achon
doni
na
Mm
anda ch u
n y ay
eni
chu m
uase
kubi
ka
t
1
atan
gu.
:
Sakar
i w
a Sh e
h
e nd
ie al i
ni
m
wenew
e l i u
na n
guvu
.
A
kan
ena
na e
na ch
uny
ayen
i
Pola
Mol
a
ashu
she
kivin
gu. Is
h aku
v a
1
5
s
v
avi
li
c
huna
nguv
u
ladhi
ma
ku
la mmo
ya
taum
ia
vale
e v
adod
i v
adod
i. ak
ampon
da
sasa
iy
e
16
hu
toka hu
kunu
hu
rudi
a
kule
e
al
ip oto
ka is h
e a
kap o
ndwa
Sh u
ngw a
ya.
B
asi
aka
sik il
ia
h
apa ki
wa
cha
mvun
e
akas
ikil
ia
Ki
way u
u Nd
odhi
akav
ona
nta.n
ga aka
nena
ni lo y
a, a
k av o
na f u
ngu
ak an
en a
ni n g
o m b
e,
aka
sik
ilia mp
aka S
hung
waya
. Sh
ung w
aya a
k en d
a a
kak
: e ti,
va
kash
uka
vaken
da
k
ute d
ha
m
ated
ho h
utedh
wa h
uichw
a ng
war
el7.
V ak
atedh
a ha
po
k
ach i
ka
ho
c
1
muyi
kis
ha
k ila
n
ch
1
u
ake
nd a
m sha
la p
ake,
Basi
usul
i
w
angu
uk
asik
ilia h
apo
Swa
li: M
boni
v
alid
irika
na Shu
ngwa
ya ?
V
akate
mbe
a
va ka
rudi
a ku le
e maa
na i
lee
n
dio it
i avo
valo
shuk
ia
kis
ha
kach
ika
m
atem
bedh
i va
kapa
cha
a
ja l i v
akau
kia
18
mbee
ki
sha v
aka
rudi
ku
tapi
a
it i
avo
val
d ya
ve ae
ve i t
av
o ni
i i
v a
ka p o
nd a n
a . K
ula m
moya n..
ake
uwe
n ~ a k
l
lill
n
angu
, Nc
han,9
;aa,
Nkoy
ama,
Muo
mwe N
dhip
ingo
ni
1
9
va
lipo
siki l
ia
S
hung
waya
kuto
ka
Ara
buni,
V
apok
omo,
V ag
iriam
a ,
na V a
koro
koro
vali
ko.
Valit
anga
man
a
vot
1
e,
v
alito
ka h
oko
p
1
an
de d
ha
m
asha
riki,
ho k
o dh
a Kil
w a
Kiv i
nje,
K il w
a Kis
iwan
i
Lind
i,
Miki
nani, ndipo
valipotoka
Vapokomo
na
Vagiriama.
Sw
ali:
V
abaj
un i
vali
pos
ikil i
a
h
apa
Snu n
gway
a,
Vapo
komo
n
a V a
nyik
a n
a Kor
okoro
val i
veko
?
Va
live
ko .
Sw
ali:
Va
k.ap
ondan
a ?
V
akapo
ndan
a. V
alee
hute
mbe
lea v
akapa
mba n
a Sh
ungw
aya
vak
ache
cha.
S
asa
u
u Ngun
ya
wa
Kiw
ayuu a
kash
indw
a a
k aki
m bia
aken
enda
Shi
rad h
i,
vaka
fany
a
d
hana
mp
aka
dh
ik it i
mu
vakaa
na ku
pon
dania
mu
yi wa
vo v
akap
onda
na v
ach
1
u
ve
ni h
ava V
akor
okor
o .
S a
sa
hava
v
ashu
kie miy
i hii
S
hela,
M
acho
ndon
i, P
ate, n
ae
akava
pond
a m
paka
Shungwaya
va kachia
alama, dhot
1
e va kachia alama.
Sw
al i: M
boni
v
aasie
Shung
waya
?
2
0
Vaan
dose
e k
wa
saba
bu ya
kup
onda
na
tu ,
vas
hindi
wa . U k
ipon
dana
ukis
hind
wa
tak
e ti
apa
le e ? H uk
im b
ia u p
ach e
m as
haur i
u
kipa
cha ng
uvu
u
karu
di uche
chee
.
Swal
i: N
i m b
ani
21
va
lova
shind
a ? V ag a
la
?
Koro
koro
.
S
wali
: V
aga l
a v
aliv
eko
?
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HISTORIC L TEXTS FROM THE SW HILI CO ST
Question:
When they
l e f t Shungwaya, did they come on foot or y boat
?
On foot When they l e f t here to go and
fight
they went
by
dhow But
f ighting
from
Jedda
to
Shirazi , they only went by foot
Question: When
they came down here to Kiwayuu,
Kiunga,
Mwambore, Ndau,
were there other
people here ?
Were
the Pate here ?
Ihe
Pate
were
at Pate.
But the
Pate, the
Giryama,
Korokoro,
Pokomo
Were
a l l mixed up
Question: Had the Portugese already
arrived,
or
not
yet
?
69
When
the Portugese
arrived,
they came
to
the lands of
the Bajunis, Kiunga,
Mwambore, Ishakan
Bur Gao, Mkokoni, Chula, Chovae, Koyama, as far as Vasi and Vumbe, their
rosaries
were long,
and
they
wore one
piece of
c lo th
below,
and
another
above
with
the i r
hat .
T hey
were
s t rong
but they s t a r t ed
to
f igh t us .
Question: Where
was Fume Liongwe born
?
Fume Lion,gwe was a t Shungwaya. Fume Liongwe i s a
Bajuni ,
he
was
born up there a t
Shungwaya
Question:
When
they
a l l
l e f t Shungwaya, did he go with
them
?
He was a chi ld I t
was when
they
re turned
that he
took the
towns, he
took
Kipini . He
became
a grea t leader . In
those
days
Kipini was
a
Bajuni
town
Old
Mzee
Boramusa
said
tha t
Fumo
liongwe l e f t and went to Tungi
and died
there ,
but
othet's say Fume
Liongwe
died a t Kipini ,
ki l l ed by
his own s tep
son, the
chi ld
he had
brought
up
He
had never been cut u n t i l he was
stabbed,
and although he was
dying
he re turned
with
him
wi.th
his ::emain:lng s t r ength , hi s
arrow
in
his
hand
The
people
had
no
drinking
water
Fume
Liongwe
seized
the
well
People
were
dying,
they
couldn t ge t water u n t i l Mohammed s
son
came
and
soothed
him and
said to hi1
'Stop
your
anger,
move
out
of the
way,
l e t the people drink
water ' ,
but he was dead already,
the
maggots
were
on
him a lready,
then he
fe l l ,
and the people got water ,
Question: Ihe Pokomo c la in tha t Fume Liongwe was a Pokomo,.
No.
Neither
Fume
Liongwe nor
Mohammed
was
a
Pokomo, he was
a
Bajuni.
Dabo
was
a Pokomo,
the
leader
of the
Pokomo
was
cal led
Dabo,
he
was
a
powei-ful
man
aiound here,Those
h i l l s
aver
there wheie the t
c l i ves
is
ca l led
Hidabo Hil l , t h a t s where he ruled.
Question: The
big
buildings , the ru ins , the
towers,
the mosques, the
gi'aves
ovei there
on
mainland, who bui l t them ?
Ihe Portugese and
Bajunis.
I t was the Portugese who came
and
bui l t
the
ruins,
the
towers ,
mosques, they
were
helped by the people of those Bajuni sheikhs , Shehe Jafar i , Shehe
Omwe,
when they died they were
bur ied
there
They were given
the towns by the Portugese
but
the
people
who
l ived
in
them
were Bajunis , that was the
s ta i t
of Kismayu, Chula, Chovae, Bur
Gao
Sakwe,
Shungwaya, Kiemboni, Ishakani , Kiunga, Mwambore,
Rubu,
Simambaye,
Mvundeni,
Shuwei,
Mkokono, as
fa r
as
Vasi ,
they wei'e
a l l
Portugese towers Those Portugese were strong and r i c
they
helped
people
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7
ERE
KN
URS
E
Qu
es ti
on :
Th
ey
we
ren
t r
ab bu
ild
in g
s ?
o no
, Por
tug
ese,
Th
e
i r s
t
peo
ple
he
re wer
e
the
B aj
uni
s, th
en
c
ame
the
Po
rtug
ese
, the
y
ca
me
her
e t
o th
e
tow
ns.,
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H
ISTO
RI C
L TE
XTS F
ROM
T
H SW
HILI
CO
SI
tafa
nya e
ch
usidh
a.ny
e
21
Vajum
be
ven
ev e
va
lid.ha
nya
lak
ini
i i
n
i a
rd hi
echu
ver: e
ve
a v
adhe
e
vech
u ch w
al ipa
wa, k
uto k
a Shu
ngw a
ya m
paka
Tun
gi
Im
i
s ina
ki
tabu
la
k in
i
bw
ana mm
oy h
oko
C
h undw
a un
ac ho
. Imi
siku
so ma
la
k in i
ulee
bw
ana Kuh
amm a
d
Athu
mani
u
nach
o
ki abu
ch a
ngu
mwan
o w
B
ajun
i, nch
um e
kudh
aw a m
paka
mwi
sho.
Sasa
h i i
A
rafa
t il
iposh
amb
uliw
a.na n
a v
aara
bu ,
k
a
masi
kum
na
n
an e dha
ba na
, vac
h
u
va
likim
bia
v
an gi
ne
vak
ashu
kia S
hung
waya
, h
i i m
iyi o t
e
i l
ikim
biliw
a na
v
ach u.
i
i ni
anrw
:i a m
tmgU
H
ala i
ki a
vach
u s i
vac
h
u kati
t
i a
k a
m asi
ku
mi
na nane
d ha ban
a.
1.
r
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80
E
REK
NURS
E
S
iu
: U
tend
i
Bisumi
Allahi nabutadi
yangu nadhima
N
a
A l R
amdu
f i
r a t
i l i p
anap
asom
a
S
wal
a
na s
ala.m
u. nE: a
m
ichu
me
naw
alo ny
uma
A
li n
a
swa
haba
Na d
huri
a
w e
nye
k
1
ar
am a
na w
afue
sio
W
af'wa
si n
a m
ichu
mid
hima
.
T
un
a na
wen
E:,an
i pu
J.ik
ani nina
sha
uri
H en
d a k
uuw o
nya
moy
o w a
ngu
kwa
ush
airi
N
ita
gha
falie
ham
wan
E: am
i
n.
ia
dha
her
i
B
ahat
i n
a mj
a
Mi
tenye
oyo
wa
ta
f ak
uri
hat
a nam
i ka
w a
ama
s
oyo
m
ulow
adhi
ma.
Moy
o siwe
p
iche
kam a
jura
la
nE:,a
wad
him u
Kw
anE:
a tan
aba
hi
umbo
la
ke
ulifa
ha m
u
Ich
one
l m
ai
lal
okaa
l
ik aw
a d
amu
T aba.r alt
Allahu
C
hwal
iu m b
wa
Mola
k
adh
imu
kach
ia m
ifu p
a
Na
mi
ship
a ng o
dhi n
a n
yama
.
Nd
io ya
loku
wa
s i m
ane
no y
a ac
hiac
hi
Mi
edhi
t i
s ia
m
ach
umbo
ni. w
alim
o k
achi
.
U
kax
udhu
kua
kw a
u
sik
u n
a n t
i
kac
hi
am
a na
p
ong
odh
i
W ata
sh ile
h
aw a
kupa
chi
kuk
upa
cha
kul
a
Wa
ngaf
isha
d
hao
ru h
uma.
Dhik
isa
k
utim
u ny
edhi
che
nde
dhi
loanE
:,ikw
a
U
kong
odhv
a n i
i
dh a
m
asha
ka
dh
isho
pich
ik a
aaa
a
U
kay
apa r
aha
pas
i sh
ida
na
kusu
m bu
ka
J a
mii y
a w a
ch u
Wali
opo
w
ata ta
nka
Alla
hu masw
ali
W as
alim u
w
atas
ilim
a.
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HISTO
RIC L
TEXT
S
F
ROM
THE SW HIL
I CO S
T
Ukisa
lrudhava
ukiwedha kucha
dhis hin d
o
Utu
nushie
lon kwa
Mola
k
upija
k'o
ndo
Un
sikilid
ha
ma
mbo maw
i
ye
nye
uvun
do
Haram
u
h
okuw a
Shaa
khidhu
dhak
o dh
ic hend
o ushish
ie
fu m o
Jur
undha
likic
heche
ma.
Ush
ishie
ngao
kan
akw
am ba
una
jun
uni
U
walidh
a k'o n
do k
umpij
a
M
ola man
ani
He
la
mu
kichec
ha
dhic
ha
dh
ako
hund
lnl:runi
Hasa
ra
na
ve
Muk
ichech
aw
endamoch
oni
nyu m
ba jid
ha ji
dha
Na uva
ndo us
iokom
a.
w
ata ka
ku che
cba na
m ach
ecbo s
iyoya
wao
K
ucbech
a na
nch u kw
a chak
ula ch
ake
na ngu o
wn
dadhi
dhuru
ku
n
a mak
adhi
uka.dh
ieo
Dha
bib i
mangine
U ka f
anye yako
m
akao nt
i dhak
e gur
a
Sichu
lie
uk asim
ama.
Ukis
a
k
ugura n
t i dh
ake
u
sidbik
ae
Cha
kula n
an
gu o uk
aw ata
usichu
mie
Hap
o ndipo
dhicb
a um
ewedha
k
ucbech
ana
e
Dha.tia
mac
becho
wawed
ha ipocb
olee
akus
ukum ap
o
Hu
na s
haka tansok
uma.
n a
u
li m
umu
yu l a t i t
i n i
m11a m
ingu
H uw
edhi k
uc becb
a n
i muo ng o
nafu
si yan g
u
H
eri ufu
ase tw
aa yake
m
wali wa
mun u
R abim
u wafa
ru
Nfua
si bu
pacha f
ungu n
a ku
washu
shidba
waj
a w ake
f
i l i
kiyam
a.
81
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82
Heri
u
fuase
uw epoche
l a
wafu
asi
Lolot
e l
i a lo uri
hie
us
ichechesi
Usi.
kasirike kasirani
haikupa si
haman
i
dh
nyuma
EREKNUR
SE
ali
wac
h u
w enye dhi
asi lo
lo t e l ia lo
Kuridh
ia
liki
wegema.
Kwan.9,_a
tanabahi u i
k i r i amed
hopicha
Mio
hume teule M
ola wechu aloiecha
Hapa. d1mia.ni
k
u o n godha . wach
u kwa
dhicha
Sambe
w l
hi.ti
Ndio
huja. ya.kuwa
kucha. mau
ti
nisiku
Dhikomap
o nave
hukoma..
Runjush
a nya
i to
siwe ka
na ulo ndeon
i
Umw
ao dhlleo au ulo
usin
.9 . idhini.
1Jmur
i hupicha
kamwe kam
we
hudh1
m.9,_1lka.ni
Swahibu
muo vu
Ufenyeo kuva mw
en.9,_ani
w akukul
i .wadha
Na.
s ira
tv i i mustakima
Upa.mba u
kiwa s ifura
h i
na
kutol
eva
U
oamba. umuri
uko mbee ulo
ndikiva
.
Hidhi siku d
hot e dh
ip i.chadho
huha.si .b iva
.
l
l l :W to mak
osiku
li a
'I'II R ri v k
o huk o ma.
H
icho upechecho
kifahamu um
edhopacha
Us
idhani
kwamba umur
iwe
hcya
uka
cha
Wa.n
ga.pi w ach ocho ku l
ikowe wame
dhopicha
ah ikama
shibu
Rata eo hcya
iecha tuba
hungoja.ni
Ushengee
huha
J.imana.
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HIS
TORI
CAL
TEXT
S
F
ROM
JESW
AHIL
I CO S
T
A ja
li huso
nga
nyu
m a
yak
o hu
kufu
kud
ha
Na
uso
ni mwa
ko s
hetw
ani
h u
k upu
m ba
dha
Kw
a
i l i
na
i l i m
afah
am u
h uk
w an g
am i
d h a
T
wabi
bu ma
hiri
N ia
m ba
o
w
alio
kod
ha
hap
a du
nian
i
N
a akh i
ra
ch
en da
sala
ma.
Y e
nye
kuko
kod
ha ukit
aka
k
uyaf
aham
u
Siw
ena
dh
i tim
bi na
nd
ugud
ho
wa
naaO
amu
Swaf
i mo
yo w
ako
yam
bo i
l i
usidh
UIJII
l
D
hahi
ri us
hike
A
dhi
kani
dh
a
isil
amu
s
haha
da. na
swa
la
N adh
akat
: . h i
ja
sa
umu.
i ja n
a
dhak
ati
dhik
upe
se
kw
a
sh
a.ru
tidhe
Uka
wa na
mal
i
na
s
aum u
usa
nga
midh
e
Sh
ahad
a
na
sw
ala su
ra
d
hot e
dhik
upa
sidh
e
An
akul
.iha
li
U kaw edha
usidhiw edhe
sharu ti
uchende
Fa
ra dh
idhe
n
nakh
asum
a.
U
kim
udu
nadh
o ngu
dho
t
an
o
uk
idh
ishik
a
Sw
aal
a
uk
aswa
li kwa
w
aka
ti
u
sio
toka
k
afun
ga t
um
u
uka
h iji uk
apa
dh ak
a
Gha
f
a.ru
dh
ll U
b i
Tak
ujad
hi hap
ana
sh
aka
kw a
am
ali hio
N a sha
had a
u kil
inen
a.
U
kitoy
ach
en de
ma
mbo say
o
yaku
pese
o
Uk
aipum
bad
ha
y
a
nlev
i
nila
dhil
eo
Um
eiku
pidha
u
ifah
am u
yu
a
w end
ao
F
ad h
aa mb
ora
Dha
ma
uti ya k
ung
ojao
kuf
a n ni
a re
Nch
u
hen
di
k
awia
nyum
a.
83
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8
U
nukapo
k
ui a u
.k igux
a
dh d
uniani
Ukaw
a na
ma
li
uw
asie
uJ i mw
engani
Ka
xa ba hu
nen a w
ali opo
m
akab
urini
Cha
ndoka
po hapa
C hud
h e
mali chw
awanye
ki
ma.
EREK
NURSE
Ha
wasik
it i k i
kuf a kw
ako
hawak
ujali
W
atini
e dh
ite
mas
huuJ.i yao
na m
ali
W
ataka kw
awanya
him
a h
im a k
wa t s ih
i l i
K
a.f a n
in ng
uo
D h a kuo
shedhw
a dh
ikiwa gh
a.li
ini
huwat
ina
Ka
na kw am
ba n
ao m ap
ema
Ka
xa ba
na mba
si
ka
burini
wakuch
i apo
U
kawa w
epweke
usio
ne nch
1
u kuw
epo
Nen o l
mu
ka ri
na
n
kir i
acho
ngoapo
La
kuch
ia huna
N
a b r
idi yenye
k i
ap
o kwa kucha
dh
imon d
o
D ha
mochoni simbo
dha
chuma.
Kuna
na f a
dhaa bo
ra nn
o dh
alosif
iwa
D
haidi
mauti
na kabu
ri kuh
adithi
wa
lr
a y o siku
h
io
kuich
wa s
iku
ya k:ufuf
ua
Mato
ya p
1
a
ni
Hay
aoni yan
ga shund
ua h
akucha
mbuan
i
Ndhal
iw a
ha .
yui mam a
Baa
da ya
k
ui a kui
ufua
kun
hisab
u
Dhi
lcaadhi
niwa m
alimbi
na
dha nt
hawabu
Mja adh
ishao ha
sanat
i hana a
dhabu
Na
am bao
kw am
ba
Yainam
a una
h
ikabu lenda
o lew
aw e
N yum
bani
ya Jahana
ama.
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HISTORIC
LT XTSFROM
W SW HILI CO
ST
H apo
kayanida sir
twin in;o
ni
upe
si
Wach
1
u wa
tapioha kan
a k a l i p
1
epo
ya kusi
Na wangin
e
tena
w
atapioha
k
ana f
aras i
angi
watapioha
Kana
kwamba n
i mahabusi wa
piohao n;ia
Dhi .n;ren
yeoha
na
dhanguli
ma.
Ha
po
sir
twini
wach u w
angi takaoche
a
Moya wa
kipicha w
angukao dhai. d
i
mia
N
a kwa nguk
a hoko n
i sha.ruti kusiki l ia
Ha.wia
saka ru
Na
jahimu
hudondome
a
k
w a kucha saghil i
Dha
mochon
i
la .d
h w a hutama.
.
W
alowahia.ri sira. win
i hawa.ta c
na
Shida. n
a
fa
.dha.a i la . nu
rn dhake Ra
.ba.na
Ha.i
nyuso dhac huna
.wiri ka.na
. nta.na
La Hlaha. h
u w a
Ta
chuja.dhi ka
t i ka ja.na. kwa a
mali hio
Mola
. wechu chuja.dhi
mema
Ban
a
toa.
a.dhi
ida.die
a.lifU be
e
Na mwenye k
uchunga. ni a.ini
mimu n
a
ree
Ni bunu ami
ni musidhani
u d h o w edhee
I l i
kueledh
a
Wa.jiwaji
na
uele
e aona .o ko
sa.
ki
o
a. h n la.
u ma
8
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