{"id":372,"date":"2015-07-13T11:36:54","date_gmt":"2015-07-13T18:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=372"},"modified":"2016-04-15T11:06:05","modified_gmt":"2016-04-15T18:06:05","slug":"naapa-kwa-mungu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=372","title":{"rendered":"Naapa kwa Mungu"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Sayyid Abdallah Ali bin Nassir<\/p>\n

Translation by TJH:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Naapa kwa Mungu na Mungu ndiye kiapo<\/span><\/td>\nI swear to God, God who is the oath himself<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nampend<\/em>a mt\u2019u p\u2019indi naye anipend<\/em>apo<\/span><\/td>\nI love anyone as long as they (lit. he\/she) love me<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bali nd<\/em>uu yangu p\u2019indi ari abwagazapo<\/span><\/td>\nBut when my kinsman imputes something shameful about me<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninga mwana kozi sioneki niwak\u2019uapo;<\/span><\/td>\nIt is then that I, unseen, (like) the young goshawk snatch the green pigeon<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ni muwi wa nyuni nawak\u2019ua katika nyama<\/span><\/td>\nIt (the goshawk) is among the animals the worst of birds snatching (prey)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note: This\u00a0verse \u00a0is quoted by M. Abdulazziz in his study of Muyaka, as an example of a poem modeled\u00a0on the\u00a0takhmis<\/em>, the Arabic forerunner of the Swahili\u00a0shairi.<\/em> For more information see Abdulazziz’s discussion (1979:56-57).<\/p>\n

Translation by Mohamed Abdulazizz:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Naapa kwa Mungu na Mungu ndiye kiapo<\/span><\/td>\nI swear by God and God is the only One whom you may swear an oath by<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nampend<\/em>a mt\u2019u p\u2019indi naye anipend<\/em>apo<\/span><\/td>\nI will love a fellow being as long as he loves me<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bali nd<\/em>uu yangu p\u2019indi ari abwagazapo<\/span><\/td>\nBut even my own kinsman, if he should tarnish my honor<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninga mwana kozi sioneki niwak\u2019uapo;<\/span><\/td>\nThen I become\u00a0ninga<\/u>\u00a0the young goshawk who swoops down unseen;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ni muwi wa nyuni nawak\u2019ua katika nyama<\/span><\/td>\nThe most ferocious of birds snatching its prey at will from the brood<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Glossary<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
apa<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. i.]<\/span><\/td>\nSwear, take an oath (TJH). Naapa<\/strong> kwa Mungu na Mungu ndiye kiapo<\/em>, I swear to God, God who is the oath himself (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ari<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10]<\/span><\/td>\nDisgrace, shame, reproach, dishonor, a thing to make one blush, but usu. effort, trouble, exertion, etc., expended to avoid shame or disgrace, to keep one’s reputation, not to be thought lazy, incompetent, mean, lacking in hospitality, etc. Kazi ilikuwa kama kwamba itanishinda, lakini nilifanya ari<\/strong><\/em>, it seemed as though the work would prove too much for me, but I made a special effort (so as not to be shamed by being thought incompetent, or lacking in strength, &c.). Often used of eagerness to return hospitality equal to that received, or play a return game (i.e. football, &c.) (FJ). Bali nd<\/u>uu yangu p’indi ari<\/strong> abwagazapo<\/em>, But when my kinsman imputes something shameful about me. (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bwagaza<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. cs.]<\/span><\/td>\nThrow down, throw off. See –bwaga<\/em> (FJ); see \u2013bwagaza ari<\/em> below.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bwagaza ari<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. phrase]<\/span><\/td>\nBring down in shame, shame someone; encumber with shame, impute, accuse of something shameful (TJH). Tarnish honor (MHA). See Sx: -mtia mtu ari<\/em> voir un affront, de la honte en qqch., \u00e9prouver un sentiment de honte, se croire d\u00e9shonor\u00e9 (Sx). Bali nd<\/u>uu yangu p’indi ari<\/strong> abwagaza<\/strong>po,<\/em> But when my kinsman imputes something shameful about me… (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
kozi<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nEast Africa Goshawk, Astur tachiro. Also applied to the Black Sparrow, Accipiter melanoleucos (TJH). Ninga mwana kozi<\/strong> sioneki niwak’uapo,<\/em> It is then that I, unseen, (like) the young goshawk snatch the green pigeon (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
muwi\/wa-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 1\/2]<\/span><\/td>\nEvil, bad person; St. mbaya<\/em>. See mbi<\/em> [9\/10 adj.] evil, evil thing; see \u2013wi<\/em> \u00a0 (TJH Ni muwi<\/strong> wa nyuni nawak’ua katika nyama<\/em>, It (the goshawk) is the worst of birds snatching (prey) from among the animals (SAN-1)).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
nd<\/em>uu<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nBrother, sister, relative; see St. ndugu<\/em> (FJ). Bali nd<\/u>uu<\/strong> yangu p’indi ari abwagazapo<\/em>, But when my kinsman imputes something shameful about me. (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ninga<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nGreen pigeon. Aina ya tetere<\/em>. (KKS). Deland\u2019s green pigeon (Viango delalandii)\u2026. ) (FJ). G. mwana-ninga<\/em>) tr\u00e9ron ou pigeon vert (Colombar Waalia ou abyssinica)…. (Sx). Ninga<\/em><\/strong> mwana kozi sioneki niwak’uapo,<\/em> It is then that I, unseen, (like) the young goshawk snatch the green pigeon (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
nyama<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nAnimal, beast, wild game (TJH). Brood (MHA). See St. mnyama<\/em> (FJ). Animal, b\u00eate, gibier …. (Sx). Ni muwi wa nyuni nawak’ua katika nyama<\/strong><\/em>, It (the goshawk) is the worst of birds snatching (prey) from among the animals (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
nyuni<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nBird, but usu. ndege is used (FJ). Ni muwi wa nyuni<\/strong> nawak’ua katika nyama<\/em>, It (the goshawk) is the worst of birds snatching (prey) from among the animals (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
oneka<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. St & Pot.]<\/span><\/td>\n(1) be seen, etc.; (2) be perceptible (vision, audible, tangible, etc.) (FJ). Ninga mwana kozi sioneki<\/strong> niwak’uapo,<\/em> It is then that I, unseen, (like) the young goshawk snatch the green pigeon (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
p\u2019indi<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10; adv.]<\/span><\/td>\nAs long as (MHA). When, if, supposing, although, i.e. at the time, when, giving time for, allowing time for (FJ). See St. kipindi<\/em> a portion of time, period, etc. (FJ).<\/em> Nampend<\/u>a mt’u p’indi<\/strong> naye anipend<\/u>apo<\/em>, I love anyone as long as he loves me (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pend<\/em>a<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. tr.]<\/span><\/td>\nLike, love; St. has no dental \/d\/ (TJH). Nampend<\/u>a mt’u p’indi<\/strong> naye anipend<\/u>apo<\/em>, I love anyone as long as he loves me (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wak\u2019ua<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. tr.]<\/span><\/td>\nSeize, take, snatch, catch suddenly (TJH). Not in FJ, but see St. \u2013nyakua<\/em> (FJ). See \u2013akua<\/em>, –wakua<\/em> Ng. = nyakua<\/em>, -saisir. < -akia \u00a0 (Sx). See St. –akia<\/em> 1. swallow, gulp down; 2. throw food into the mouth; 3. gorge (Cf. bwakia<\/em>…) (FJ). Ninga mwana kozi sioneki niwak’ua<\/strong>po,<\/em> It is then that I, unseen, (like) the young goshawk snatch the green pigeon (SAN-1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Sayyid Abdallah Ali bin Nassir Translation by TJH: Naapa kwa Mungu na Mungu ndiye kiapo I swear to God, God who is the oath himself Nampenda mt\u2019u p\u2019indi naye anipendapo I love anyone as long as they (lit. he\/she) love me Bali nduu yangu p\u2019indi ari abwagazapo But when my kinsman imputes something shameful … Continue reading Naapa kwa Mungu<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-372","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=372"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":580,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372\/revisions\/580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}