The Swahili poetess Mwana Kupona binti Mshamu composed Utendi wa Mwanakupona (“The Book of Mwana Kupona”) for her teenage daughter, Mwana Hashima binti Sheikh, around 1858. It’s apparent from the lyrics that Mwana Kupona was very ill at the time of writing these verses and she is believed to have died within the following two years. The composition reads an ailing mother’s affectionate advice to her young daughter on how she should conduct herself during her own life.
Born on the island of Pate, located within the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya’s Coast Province, Mwana Kupona was a deeply religious woman. Through her marriage to Sheikh Bwana Mataka the ruler of Siu (or Siyu), she held a high social position within what was a thriving, prosperous region frequented by trading Arabs, Persians, Indians, and others. The poem has become established within the canon of early Swahili literature, and is frequently sung at weddings in the Coast Province of Kenya.
The poem conveys the Swahili traditions and Islamic religious teachings believed to nurture a marriage, leading Mwana Kupona to describe her composition metaphorically as an amulet (hirizi) and precious necklace (kidani) for her daughter.
The reasons for the popularity of this poem maybe different for men and women. For men, the poem defines the duties of an obedient and loving wife towards her husband. For women, the poem contains guidance on how to influence, even manipulate, their spouse and navigate their way through society.
1
Come close to me my daughter,
and listen to my advice;
young though you are,
perhaps you will pay attention to it.
2
I have been ill
for a whole year
and have not had an opportunity
to talk properly to you.
3
Come forward and sit down
with paper and ink.
In my heart I have something
that I want to say to you.
4
When done, start by writing
In the Name of God;
send supplications to the beloved
together with his Companions.
5
When you have recorded
the Name of Almighty God,
now we pray for His bounty
and God will be pleased with us.
6
Man is nothing
and the world does not belong to us;
there is none
that shall endure.
7
My child,
accept my admonition
and God will preserve you
and keep you from ill.
8
Take the amulet that I give you; (1)
tie it firmly with cord;
honour it and
pay attention to it.
9
I will make you a necklace
of pearl and coral
to dress you as a noble lady
when it shines upon your neck.
10
I would love to give you a clasp,
fine without flaw,
to wear on your neck,
and you will see its usefulness for yourself.
11
If you heed my advice,
my child you will have no trouble;
you will pass safely through this world
and ascend to the next.
12
The first thing is to hold fast to your religion,
not rejecting the ordinances and obligations of God,
and when possible it is your duty to follow the Traditions,
it is a must you obey.
13
The second is to behave
properly and discreetly,
so that you are a welcome creature
wherever you go.
14
The third is to be trustworthy;
what you do,
do it conscientiously,
and do not make friends with a dishonest person.
15
Then, my child,
give respect to people of quality,
and wherever you see them,
make haste to greet them.
16
When they come in,
rise to meet them gladly,
and afterwards escort them
when they are about to leave.
17
Make yourself friendly,
but without deceit;
do not be stubborn and big headed,
that will make people hate you.
18
Talk with them cheerfully
so as to give them pleasure;
but it is better to be silent
than to give offence.
19
Do not express opinions on matters
that you do not know about,
and guard against talking and whispering aside
I advise you.
20
Do not consort with slaves
unless there is work to be done;
they will lead you astray
as I must have told you.
21
Do not associate with stupid people
who do not know how to behave;
have nothing to do
with immodest creatures.
22
Listen to me, my dear;
a human requires the approval of five
before she has peace
in this world and the next.
23
Of God and His Prophet;
of father and mother as you know;
and the fifth of her husband
as has been said again and again.
24
Please your husband
all the days that you live with him
and on the day that you receive your call,
his approval will be clear.
25
If you die first,
seek his blessing and go
with it upon you,
so you will find the way.
26
When you rise again
the choice is your husband’s;
he will be asked his will a
nd that will be done.
27
If he wishes you to go to Paradise,
at once you will go;
if he says to Hell,
there must you be sent.
28
Live with him orderly,
anger him not;
if he rebuke you,
do not argue; try to be silent.
29
Give him all your heart,
do not oppose what he wants;
listen to each other,
for quarrelling is hurtful.
30
If he goes out, see him off;
on his return welcome him
and then make ready
a place for him to rest.
31
If he lies down, do not neglect him;
go to him and comfort him
and for air
let there always be a person to fan him.
32
If he is sleepy do not disturb him,
and neither should you speak in a loud voice;
sit still and do not get up,
so that when he wakes he shouldn’t go looking for you.
33
When he awakes,
do not delay to set food before him;
care for his body,
perfuming and bathing him.
34
Shave his head
and shape and tend his beard;
sprinkle and burn scent for him,
morning and evening.
35
Tend him like a child
that cannot speak;
take particular care
of his digestion.
36
Amuse him so that he may relax;
do not oppose his command;
if he mistreats you in any way,
God will defend you.
37
Do not, my child, be a slut,
keep things looking nice;
never be too proud
to wash and sweep the wash room.
38
Wash and perfume yourself
and hold your hair up neatly in a band;
string jasmine
and lay it on the counterpane.
39
Then make your clothes pretty,
always like a bride,
and wear anklets on your legs
and bracelets on your arms.
40
Always have a necklace
and clasp on your neck,
and never allow your body to be dirty
nor omit perfume and rosewater.
41
Always have rings on your fingers,
always henna on the palms of your hands;
always kohl on your eyes
and eyebrows.
42
Your house must be neat and an honour to your husband;
then when people meet there
always praise your husband
by saying good things about him.
43
Know what he desires and loves,
and also love and desire the same things
and whatever he dislikes
do not bring that to him.
44
If you have occasion to go out,
ask his permission;
if you see that he is vexed,
come back and stay at home.
45
Follow his authority,
so that he may be really satisfied;
and do not stay out
after two o’clock.
46
Do not gossip in the road
nor unveil yourself;
keep your eyes down
and your expression modest.
47
Return home quickly
and stay with your husband;
have cushions ready
for you both to sleep on.
48
Praise your husband
and extol his reputation;
but do not make promises
that he cannot fulfil.
49
What he gives to you take from his gratefully;
and show happiness from your heart
what he does not of his own accord
you need not mention to him.
50
When you look at him,
show your teeth in a laugh;
accept all that he tells you to do,
so long as it is not against the will of God.
51
Do not raise your voice,
be like your mother;
I saw ten years in marriage
without a quarrel even once.
52
In my marriage with your father (2)
we had joy and laughter,
and never in the time that we were together
did either give the other cause for shame.
53
Not once did we quarrel;
he found no fault
with me nor I
with him.
54
When his time came
he told me many times how satisfied he was;
I gave thanks and and entrusted him to God
and my heart was full.
55
From that day to this
I have not ceased to mourn
his easy ways,
his goodness and his behaviour.
56
When people are considerate,
they always think of each other;
if they are quarrelsome,
they regret it for ever.
57
To carry out your husband’s instructions
and to be friendly
with your family
and relations are my instructions to you.
58
When you meet friends
of your own quality
and they invite you in,
go in at once.
59
If they serve a meal
and you are invited to eat,
do not delay
and be hesitant.
60
Do not be too proud to eat your fill;
but if you have not had enough,
do not admit it;
ask for the plate to be taken away.
61
Be friends with all believers;
do not fawn on aggressive characters
and defeat them
by keeping them away.
62
Do not love only those
who have beauty and wealth,
while you despise
and disparage the poor.
63
Love him that loves you
and seek him out that rejects you;
wear him down with kindness
and he may accept you.
64
When anyone comes to you in need,
do not, my dear,
ask too many questions;
hasten to do all that you can for him.
65
Listen to me, dear,
and do not treat my words lightly;
you will find what I say useful to you
in this world and the next.
66
That is the end of my advice to you,
my daughter;
now I will ask God
to grant me a petition.
67
For however much we talk,
human beings are helpless creatures;
it is God that is able
to destroy and to save.
68
I pray God of His goodness
to aid me
in what I say aloud
and what I leave unsaid.
69
All that I have said
Lord accept from me;
and what I have omitted supply,
I pray Thee.
70
Look after my children
and my younger brother;
may their names grow great
and their reputations be high.
71
Lord, look after my kin
and the children of my kin;
may they flourish in this world
with grace and prosperity.
72
And to the muslim community Muslims,
Lord, have mercy;
fulfil their desires
that their hearts may be glad.
73
O God, I have given my children
in trust to Thee;
guard them and ever preserve them.
Don’t stop watching over them.
74
I have given them to Thee
in this world to preserve and cherish;
give them back to me in Paradise
before the Prophet.
75
Look on them mercifully,
guide them in the right way;
keep them from trouble
in this world and the next.
76
I will not cease to pray to Thee,
nor will I hold my tongue.
O Consoler of worries,
bring me to the end of my afflictions.
77
I stand before Thee
as a suppliant;
give quickly of Thy comfort,
deliverance and health.
78
Take from me the grave sickness
that has fallen hard upon me,
and, Lord, forgive me my sins and wickedness.
My God I beseech you.
79
To us it is a great matter,
to Thee it is a trifle;
take from me the fever
and relieve me quickly.
80
I pray Thee of Thy kindness
to take from me fear;
by the day of Arafat
and the feast of Sacrifice.
81
By these great days,
of the Pilgrimage and the Kaaba,
save me, O Lord
and send deliverance down to me.
82
O God, O God, O Lord, O Lord,
Thou to Whom prayer is made
and by Whom it is fulfilled,
answer me when I call upon Thee.
83
I pray to Thee, O Lord,
by Thy Beautiful
ninety-nine Names,
one hundred less one.
84
I have listened to the learned
and they tell me
that if a Muslim prayers
this prayer it will be answered.
85
I, Thy feeble servant,
pray to Thee in my troubles to ease them;
lighten them,
Lord, for me.
86
I pray Thee hasten to do for me blessings
beyond my reckoning;
grant me all good fortune
and deliver me from evil.
87
Lord, finish for me
that which I cannot manage;
matters which even my heart
never expected to come to pass.
88
Lord, make me happy,
grant me good things;
put evil away from me,
so that we do not meet.
89
Keep me in this world
in the company of the blessed;
that when I die I may go to Paradise,
the dwelling of the saved.
90
I have composed this poem
in trouble and sorrow
by Thy decree and Thy dispensation,
Most High Judge.
91
I have composed it in illness
and without great understanding;
but read it, Muslims,
when you help one another on the Way.
92
My reason for composing
it is not that I am a poet or an expert;
but I have an immature daughter,
whom I wish to instruct.
93
I want to make her aware,
and perhaps she will heed the warning,
to follow God
and her husband.
94
Read it all women
and perhaps you will understand
and be blameless
before Almighty God.
95
Read it you who are growing up
and be obedient to your husbands;
then you will not be afflicted
in this world nor in the next.
96
She who is obedient to her husband
has good repute and charm;
she who obeys him
has her path made clear.
97
The composer of this work
is a sorrowful widow;
the Lord will forgive her
the worst of her sins.
98
Her name,
whose hope is in the Lord,
is Mwana Kupona Msham,
born at Pate.
99
The date
is 1275
of the
Hejira.
100
The number of verse
is one hundred
when they are counted
and two extra verses.
101
God will smooth our way
by the blessing of the Prophet
and of the companions
who supported the Faith.
102
I will give praise and prayer for the Prophet,
our Apostle,
and his family and descendants;
may blessing be upon us all.
Here is the poem in the original Swahili.
1
Negema wangu binti,
mchachefu wa sanati
upulike wasiati
asa ukanzingatia.
2
Maradhi yamenshika
hatta yametimu mwaka
sikupata kutamka
neno lema kukwambia.
3
Ndoo mbee ujilisi
na wino na qaratasi
moyoni nina hadithi
nimependa kukwambia.
4
Ukisa kutaqarabu
Bismillahi kutubu
umsalie Habibu
na sahabaze pamoya.
5
Ukisa kulitangaza
ina la Mola Muweza
basi tuombe majaza
Mola tatuwafiqia.
6
Mwanaadamu si kitu
na ulimwengu si wetu
walau hakuna mtu
ambao atasalia.
7
Mwanangu twaa waadhi
pamoya na yangu radhi
Mngu atakuhifadhi
akuepue na baa.
8
Twaa nikupe hirizi
uifungeto kwa uzi
uipe na taazizi
upate kuyangalia.
9
Nikutungie kindani
cha lulu na marijani
nikuvike mke shani
shingoni kikizagaa.
10
Penda nikupe kifungo
kizuri kisicho ongo
uvae katika shingo
utaona manufaa.
11
Yangu utakaposhika
mwanangu hutosumbuka
duniani utavuka
na akhira utakia.
12
La kwanda kamata dini
faradhi usiikhini
na sunna ikimkini
ni wajibu kuitia.
13
Pili uwe na adabu
na ulimi wa thawabu
uwe mtu mahabubu
kula utakapongia.
14
La tatu uwe sadiqi
wambiwao ulithiqi
mtu asoshika haqi
sandamane naye ndia.
15
Tena mwanangu idhili
mbee za maqabaili
uwaonapo mahali
angusa kuwenukia.
16
Wangiapo wenukie
na moyo ufurahie
kisa uwapeke mbee
watakapokwenda ndia.
17
Ifanye mteshiteshi
kwa maneno yaso ghashi
wala sifanye ubishi
watu wakakutukia.
18
Nena nao kwa mzaha
yaweteao furaha
iwapo ya ikraha
kheri kuinyamalia.
19
Wala situkue dhana
kwa mambo usoyaona
na kwamba na kunong’ona
tahadhari nakwambia.
20
Sitangane na watumwa
illa mwida wa khuduma
watakuvutia tama
la buda nimekwambia.
21
Sandamane na wainga
wasoyua kuitunga
ziumbe wasio tanga
wata kuwaqurubia.
22
Mama pulika maneno
kiumbe ni radhi tano
ndipo apate usono
wa akhera na dunia.
23
Nda Mngu na Mtumewe
baba na mama wayuwe
na ya tano nda mumewe
mno imekaririwa.
24
Naawe radhi mumeo
siku zote mkaao
siku mukhitariwao
awe radhi mekuwea.
25
Na ufapo wewe mbee
radhi yake izengee
wende uitukuzie
ndipo upatatpo ndia.
26
Siku ufufuliwao
nadhari ni ya mumeo
taulizwa atakao
ndilo takalotendewa.
27
Kipenda wende peponi
utakwenda dalhini
kinena wende motoni
huna budi utatiwa.
28
Keti naye kwa adabu
usimtie ghadhabu
akinena simjibu
itahidi kunyamaa.
29
Enda naye kwa imani
atakalo simkhini
we naye sikindaneni
ukindani huumia.
30
Kitoka agana naye
kingia mkongowee
kisa umtengezee
mahala pa kupumua.
31
Kilala siikukuse
mwegeme umpapase
na upepo asikose
mtu wa kumpepea.
32
Kivikia simwondoe
wala sinene kwa yowe
keti pao siinue
chamka kakuzengea.
33
Chamka siimuhuli
mwandikie maakuli
na kumtunda muili
kumsinga na kumwoa.
34
Mnyoe mpalilize
sharafa umtengeze
na udi umfukize
bukurata wa ashia.
35
Mtunde kama kijana
asiyoyua kunena
kitu changalie sana
kitokacho na kungia.
36
Mpumbaze apumbae
amriye sikatae
maovu kieta yeye
Mngu atakulipia.
37
Mwanangu siwe mkoo
tenda kama uonao
kupea na kosha choo
sidharau mara moya.
38
Na kowa na kuisinga
na nyee zako kufunga
na asmini kutunga
na firashani kutia.
39
Nawe ipambe libasi
ukae kama arusi
maguu tia kugesi
na mikononi makoa.
40
Na kidani na kifungo
sitoe katika shingo
muili siwate mwingo
kwa marashi na dalia.
41
Pete sikose zandani
hina sikome nyaani
wanda sitoe matoni
na nshini kuitia.
42
Nyumba yako i nadhifu
mumeo umsharifu
wakutanapo sufufu
msifu na kumtaya.
43
Muyuwe alipendalo
nawe ufuate lilo
yambo limtukialo
siwe mwenye kumwetea.
44
Na ukitaka kutoka
sharuti rukhusa taka
uonapo meudhika
rudi na kuikalia.
45
Fuata yake idhini
awe radhi kwa yaqini
wala sikae ndiani
saa yane ikasia.
46
Wala sinene ndiani
sifunue shiraani
mato angalia tini
na uso untie haya.
47
Rejea upesi kwako
ukae na mume wako
utengeze matandiko
mupate kuilalia.
48
Mume wako mtukuze
sifa zake zieneze
wala simsharutize
asichoweza kutoa.
49
Akupacho mpokee
na moyo ufurahie
asolitenda kwa yeye
huna haja kumwambia.
50
Uonapo uso wake
funua meno uteke
akwambialo lishike
illa kuasi Jalia.
51
Mama sinue ulimi
nioleza wako umi
nalioa nyaka kumi
tusitete siku moya.
52
Alinioa babako
kwa furaha na ziteko
tusondoleane mbeko
siku zote twalokaa.
53
Siku moya tusitete
ovu langu asipate
na lake nisilikute
hatta akakhitariwa.
54
Yalipokuya faradhi
kanikariria radhi
nkashukuru nkafawidhi
moyo wangu nkatoshea.
55
Tangu hapo hatta yeo
siyanyamaa kilio
nikumbukapo pumbao
na wingi wa mazoea.
56
Watu wakipulikana
milele hukumbukana
illa wenye kushindana
daima huiyutia.
57
Mausio ya mvuli
Allah Allah yaamili
na nduguzo na ahali
wapende nakuusia.
58
Uwaonapo swahibu
ambao wakunaswibu
wakwambiapo qaribu
angusa kuqurubia.
59
Na wachandika chakula
uchambiwa nawe nla
wala siweke muhula
nyumanyuma kurejea.
60
Wala sifanye kiburi
nla hata ushakiri
usiyakuta siqiri
ukamba ni kondolewa.
61
Watu wote waumini
kwako na wawe wendani
sipende masalatini
washinde ukiwepua.
62
Sipende wenye jamali
na utukufu wa mali
fuqara ukamdhili
cheo ukamvundia.
63
Akupendao mpende
akuizao mwenende
kwa zema mvundevunde
laala akiridhia.
64
Na ayapo muhitaji
mama kwako simuhuji
kwa uwezalo mbuji
angusa kumtendea.
65
Mama haya yasikize
tafadhali sinipuze
utaona nafuuze
za akhera na dunia.
66
Tamati maneno yangu
kukuusia mwanangu
sasa ntamuomba Mngu
anipokelee dua.
67
Kwani yote ninenao
mwanaadamu ni pou
Mola ndiye awezao
kupoteza na kongoa.
68
Nakuombawe Manani
unitilie auni
ninenayo ulimini
na yote nisoyatoa.
69
Yote nimezoyanena
Rabbi taqabali minna
na yasalieo tena
Rabbi Mola nitendea.
70
Niwekea wangu wana
na umbu langu mnuna
yakue yao maina
yenee majimbo pia.
71
Rabbi waweke nduzangu
na wana wa ndugu zangu
wenee na ulimwengu
kwa jamala na sitawa.
72
Na jamii islamu
Mola wangu warehemu
matakwa yao yatimu
na nyoyo kufurahia.
73
Ya Allahu wangu wana
nimekupa ni amana
watunde Mola Rabbana
siwate kuwangalia.
74
Nimekupa duhiani
watunde uwakhizini
unipe kesho peponi
mbee za Tumwa Nabia.
75
Wangalie kwa huruma
waongoze ndia njema
uwepulie na tama
za akhira na dunia.
76
Kukuombawe sikomi
wala sifumbi ulimi
ya Mufarrija ’lHammi
nikomeshee udhia.
77
Nisimeme muhitaji
mjao nakutaraji
alili bi ’lfaraji
ya afua na afia.
78
Nondolea ndwee mbovu
yaloningia kwa nguvu
dhambi zangu na maovu
ya Rabbi nighufiria.
79
Kwetu yangawa mazito
kwako wewe ni matoto
nepulia uvukuto
uepuke mara moya.
80
Nakuombawe Latifa
unondolee makhafa
kwa yaumu ’lArafa
na idi ya udhuhia.
81
Kwa siku hizi tukufu
za kuhiji na kutufu
niafu Rabbi niafu
unishushize afua.
82
Ya Allahu ya Allahu
ya Rabbahu ya Rabbahu
ya Ghayata Raghbatahu
nitika hukwamkuwa.
83
Nakuombawe Rabbana
bi asmaika ’lhusna
tisia wa tisiina
mia kupungua moya.
84
Nipulishie walimu
wakinena yafahamu
dua hini Islamu
akiomba hujibiwa.
85
Nami mjao dhaifu
mwenye nyingi taklifu
nakuomba takhfifu
Rabbi nitakhafifia.
86
Nakuomba taisiri
mambo nisoyaqadiri
unegeshe kulla kheri
shari ukinepulia.
87
Ya Rabbi nitimiliza
mambo nisiyoyaweza
wala moyoni kuwaza
kwamba yatasikilia.
88
Rabbi unifurahishe
mambo mema unegeshe
maovu uyagurishe
tusikutane pamoya.
89
Uniweke duniani
miongo ya wahusuni
nifapo nende peponi
makao ya hafidhiwa.
90
Ntungile utungo hunu
kwa zehemu na zitunu
kwa qadha yako Dayyanu
na hukumuzo Jalia.
91
Ntungile nili saqimu
moyo usina fahamu
usomeni Islamu
mukiogozana ndia.
92
Na sababu ya kutunga
si shairi si malenga
nina kijana muinga
napenda kumuusia.
93
Napenda kumnabihi
laala katanabahi
kamfuata illahi
pamwe na wake rijaa.
94
Somani nyuate huramu
maana muyafahamu
musitukue laumu
mbee za Mola Jalia.
95
Somani mite ya nganu
mutii waume wenu
musipatwe na zitunu
za akhera na dunia.
96
Mwenye kutii mvuli
ndaka jaha na jamali
kula endapo mahali
hutangaa yake ndia.
97
Mwenye kutunga nudhumu
ni gharibu mwenye hamu
na ubora wa ithimu
Rabbi tamghufiria.
98
Ina lake mufahamu
ni mtaraji Karimu
Mwana Kupona Mshamu
Pate alikozaliwa.
99
Tarikhiye kwa yaqini
ni alifu wa miyateni
khamsa wa sabiini
hizi zote hijiria.
100
Na baitize idadi
ni miati maadudi
na mbili za mazidadi
ndizo zimezozidia.
101
Mola tatusahilia
kwa baraka za Nabia
na masahaba pamoya
dini waliotetea.
102
Nahimidi nkisalia
Kwa tume wetu nabia
ali zake no dhuria
itwenee sote pia.
A new translation by Tashrifa Silayi,
from the Swahili manuscripts published in Tendi by J. W. T. Allen,
The Chaucer Press (1971)
Footnotes
- The poem itself is the “amulet” that Mwana Kupona is gifting her daughter with.
- Mwana Kupona was the last wife of Sheikh Bwana Mataka, ruler of a settlement on the north coast of Pate Island called Siyu.
