The author argues that reading poetry in Kiswahili provides important insights into questions of language and power, as well as into discussions of socialist practice in East Africa and East African resistance to colonialism and neo-colonialism. Includes the text of numerous poems and footnotes.
AcknowledgmentsIntroductionKupambana: Uhuru na Kutungamana Poetry in Kiswahili: Struggles for Freedom and Solidarity“The Language of Struggle”Poems as Ideological Texts: Envisioning Kiswahili Speaking Communities/NationEstablishing Codes, Exploring Stances, Negotiating Strategies“Regenerative Reconnection” in Literary CompositionConclusionKujibizana: Ujamaa kwa Vitendo / Dialogue Poetry in Kiswahili and Ujamaa PraxisPrefaces to the DialogueTerms of Address Praxis: Balance of Responsibility for Text Production and InterchangeEstablishing Shared CommitmentsEstablishing an Intellectual ExchangeDismantling an Argument and Establishing a Commitment to SymbolismConstructing an Alternative NarrativeConstructing an Alternative Identity and Alternative “Tradition”Refiguring PraxisToward a Revitalized PraxisConclusionAppendixKazi za Kutunga, Kuhariri, Kutafsiri, na Kusoma / The Significance of Poetic Practice in Kiswahili to the Translation and Interpretation of Early Twentieth-Century Political PoetryOverview of Contexts of ProductionTenzi as NarrativesTenzi as TestimonyDefinition of AudienceDisruption of Narrative: Internal DialogueRestructuring MetaphorsRestructuring by Manipulation of Genre ConventionsTexts as WitnessesTenzi as Coerced SpeechNeocolonial Marginalizing of Texts: Example OneNeocolonial Marginalizing of Texts: Example TwoDenial of the Language of PoetryConclusionKuswahilika, Mfano Mmoja / Poetic Parodies of Missionary Discourse and the Conversion of a Missionary to Kiswahili DialogueMissionary Discourse from the East African CoastAnswers to the HymnsAnswer Poems as ParodiesComposers and CollaboratorsThe Answer PoemsUtendi na Utumbuizo / Women's Poetry as Scheme, Trope, and TextsIntroductionIdeological Production and Reproduction under Colonial RulePoetic Intertexts: Elaboration, Parody, and SubversionIdeological Production under Colonial RuleConclusionUtumbuizo wa Fatma binti Athumani and TranslationBibliographyIndex
Ann Joyce Biersteker is a professor in the Program in African Languages at Yale University.
