Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-mzp66 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-12T12:09:46.547Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Swahili Epic Literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

Lyndon Harries
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The Swahili people are unique among the Bantu of East Africa in possessing an heritage of written literature of considerable range and antiquity. The earliest reasonably authentic examples consist of mashairi, song-poems, attributed to Liongo Fumo, prince of Ozi, c. A.D. 1150–1200. Many of the well-known mashairi were impromptu compositions of the minstrels who vied with one another at the songtourneys.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , January 1950 , pp. 55 - 59
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1950

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Biblography

Abel, M.Die arabische Vorlage des Suaheli-Epos Chuo cha Herkal, Berlin, 1938.Google Scholar
Büttner, C. G.Anthologie aus der Suaheli-Litteratur, Berlin, 1894.Google Scholar
Dammann, E. ‘Eine Suaheli-Dichtung über Moses, den Habicht und die Taube’, in Zeitschrift für Eingeborenensprachen, vol. xxviii.Google Scholar
Freytag, G. W.Darstellung der arabischen Verskunst, Bonn, 1830.Google Scholar
Meinhof, C. ‘Chuo cha Herkal’, in Zeitschrift, vol. xv.Google Scholar
Meinhof, C. ‘Das lied des Liongo’, in Zeitschrift, vol. xv.Google Scholar
Paret, R.Die Legendäre Maghāzi-Literatur, Tübingen, 1930.Google Scholar
Steere, E.Swahili Tales, London, 1922.Google Scholar
Velten, C.Prosa und Poesie der Suaheli, Berlin, 1910.Google Scholar
Weil, G.Das Leben Mohammed's nach Mohammed ibn Ishak bearbeitet von Abd-el-Malik lbn Hischam, Stüttgart 1864.Google Scholar
Werner, A.Miqdad and Mayasa, Medstead, 1932.Google Scholar
Werner, A. and Hichens, W.Mwana Kupona, Medstead, 1934.Google Scholar
Werner, A. ‘Utendi wa Ayubu’, in Bull. S.O.A.S., vol. ii, 1–3.Google Scholar