{"id":900,"date":"2017-12-18T11:23:01","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T19:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=900"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:48:55","slug":"ngamia-na-paa-the-camel-and-the-gazelle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=900","title":{"rendered":"Ngamia na Paa – The Camel and the Gazelle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h1>\n

In doing this new translation of Ngamia na Paa<\/em> I have relied on two previous translations. One by J.W.T. Allen (1971) into English; the other by Ernst Dammann (1940:285-327) in German. Unfortunately neither identify the author of the poem. Given the theme of the poem, I presume it is based on an original Islamic tale or story; the author of the poem does identify the source (see Synopsis below). The Swahili version here is that of Allen\u2019s. In some very few cases I have substituted a vocabulary item from Dammann\u2019s text; these are properly footnoted.<\/p>\n

Synopsis<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

This page is under construction. \u00a0It is incomplete.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Only the first 20 verses of the poem are listed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Utend<\/u><\/em>i wa Ngamia na P\u2019aa<\/span><\/td>\nThe Epic of the Camel and the Gazelle<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1. Bismillahi nadhikuri, Ina la Mola Jabari, Aliyo pweke Ghafari, Mwenye kutughufiriya<\/span><\/td>\nIn the name of God, I say, The name of the Lord Almighty, Who alone is the Forgiver, The one who forgives us.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. U pweke Mola Rabana, Hana mke hana mwana, Haonekani huona, Hakuzawa hakuzaa<\/span><\/td>\nHe is the only Lord God, He has neither wife nor son, He is not seen (but) He sees, He was not born (nor) does he beget.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. Arrahmani azizi, Mtukufu mwenye ezi, Mwingi mno wa mbawazi, Wa sut<\/u><\/em>\u2019e kutumbawaa<\/span><\/td>\nThe most glorious Compassionate God, The Glorious all powerful, Exceedingly Great in pity, Who pities us all.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. Ya Rabi ndio Rahimu, Wa janati na jahimu, Mt<\/u><\/em>euzi wa qaumu, Kesho Mola tat<\/u><\/em>euwa<\/span><\/td>\nOh God you are indeed Merciful, Of Paradise and Hell, (He is) the one who chooses among the people, In the end (lit. tomorrow) Almighty God will choose.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. Tat<\/u><\/em>euwa wema wema, Watenda amali njema, Akiwatiya neema, Na huri wakiwaowa<\/span><\/td>\nHe will choose the very best, The doers of good deeds, Bestowing grace on them, And marrying them to houris.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6. Na aswi zake Manani, Fisadi za duniyani, Wenda kukaa motoni, Kwa pingu na silisiya<\/span><\/td>\nAnd the rebels against the Beneficent One, The corrupt in the world, They go to dwell in hellfire, In shackles and chains.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7. Hayo mtenda ni yeye, Haku mwingine ilaye, Na mngu kuliko yeye, Na sut<\/u><\/em>\u2019e twafahamiya<\/span><\/td>\nHe is the doer of (all) those things, There isn\u2019t anyone else except him, Nor a god over him, And all of us understand (that).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8. Mtenda zema nkwambiye, Utendee nafusiye, Na ambao uaswiye, Enda kuona muhaa<\/span><\/td>\nThe one who acts morally let me tell you, He has acted of his own accord, And the one who is disobedient, He will only (lit. goes to) see trouble.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9. Ulinenee Manani, Kwa aya ya qur’ani, Ili kwamba tubaini, Insi na mursaa<\/span><\/td>\nThe Beneficent One had spoken long ago, through a verse in the Koran, So that we may know for certain, (We) the people and prophets.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ha mim 46<\/span><\/td>\nVerse from the Koran: Whoso does right it is for his soul, and who does evil it is against it for thy Lord is not unjust towards His servants (< JWT)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10. Swifa za Mola latifu, Basi na tuziwaqifu, Tumtaye ashirafu, Muhamadi mfadhaa<\/span><\/td>\nSo the praises of the Good God, Let us dedicate them (to him), Let us speak of the \u201cnobles\u201d, Of the favorite Mohammed[1]<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11. Kwand<\/u><\/em>a kuumba Moletu, Kwand<\/u><\/em>a hakuumba kitu, Ilaye mwema wa watu, Akamuweka kakaa<\/span><\/td>\nIn the beginning of creation our Lord, To begin with, he did not create a thing, Except for him the best (lit. good one) of every one, He blessed him and then rested<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12. Alimuumba qadimu, Mbee za wanaadamu, Akapowa na maqamu, Kuliko watu sikiya<\/span><\/td>\nHe created him long ago, In times before any other human beings, And he was given standing, Over all other people, oh hear (what I\u2019m saying)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13. Uumbilwe mdathiru, Mzagaa nuru, Qabulati ‘lqamaru, Wa qabula shamusiya<\/span><\/td>\nHe was created \u201ccovered\u201d, One who gives off light, Even before the moon, Or before the sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14. Uumbilwe muombezi, Yuwa kusi mwezi, Kusi kiza kivumbizi, Na ambapo paangaa (pa angaa)<\/span><\/td>\nHe was created as an intercessor, When there was no sun, nor moon, When there was no gloomy darkness, And when (there was no) bright place<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
15. Uli umbilwe Bashiri, Kusi mbingu kusi bari, Kusi na mwana tuyuri, Kusi mtu wa kumeya[1]<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nHe had been formed as a Herald of good news, When there was neither sky nor land, When there was no young of any bird, Nor living person<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16. Kusi nyama hayawani, Kusi mai baharini, Kusi malaka mbinguni, Kusi nyota za kuwaa<\/span><\/td>\nThere were no wild beasts, Nor water in the sea, There were no angels in heaven, Nor blazing stars<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17. Kusi arshi qadimu, Kusi kursi adhimu, Kusi janati naimu, Kusi na kitu asiya<\/span><\/td>\nThere was no ancient Holy Throne, No glorious seat, Nor blissful paradise, There was nothing at all<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18. Kusi moto kusi p\u2019epo, Kusi jaradu na p\u2019opo, Kusi kitu kiliyopo, Kusi simba kusi p\u2019ea<\/span><\/td>\nThere was no fire, No winds, No grasshoppers nor bats, There was nothing in existence, No lions nor rhinoceros<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19. Kusi asadi na fili, Kusi na mwenda na vuli, Kusi na mwenda tutuli, Kusi mwenye kutambaa<\/span><\/td>\nThere were neither lions nor elephants, Nothing that goes with shadows, Nothing that travels on two legs, Nothing that crawls<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20. Kusi kitu chenendao, Kusi p\u2019epo ivumao, Kusi mtu anenao, Ghairu ‘llahi taa<\/span><\/td>\nThere was nothing that moved, No rustling wind, There was no one who speaks, only God alone on High<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[1]<\/a> Dammann (1940) has kusi mti wa kumea<\/em> \u201cthere was no growing tree\u201d. Either version works; but I\u2019m keeping to the JWT text.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Compare with verse 27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introduction In doing this new translation of Ngamia na Paa I have relied on two previous translations. One by J.W.T. Allen (1971) into English; the other by Ernst Dammann (1940:285-327) in German. Unfortunately neither identify the author of the poem. Given the theme of the poem, I presume it is based on an original Islamic … Continue reading Ngamia na Paa – The Camel and the Gazelle<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":60,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-900","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/900","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=900"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":916,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/900\/revisions\/916"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}