Poetess from Pate Island (Kenya), Mwana Kupona binti Msham (circa 1810 -1865) wrote the long poem Utendi wa Mwana Kupona (“The Book of Mwana Kupona”), which marks the birth of Swahili literature.
A little-known life
What little we know of Mwana Kupona's life comes from his work and from the testimonies of his grandson, Mohammed ben Abdalla. Mwana Kupona was born around 1810 on Pate Island, a small Kenyan island located in the Lamu archipelago and inhabited by a Swahili population since at least the 7th century. Then under the control of the Nabahani [English] dynasty, Pate Island is an important center of Swahili culture.
Mwana Kupona is the last wife of Sheikh Bwana Mataka, reigning over Siyu, a city in the north of the island. They will have a son and a daughter, Mwana Heshima. Bwana Mataka died in 1856 and, widowed and sick, Mwana Kupona tried to prepare her daughter for the possibility of her own death. It is with this objective of transmission and teaching that she wrote in 1858 what will be one of the main works of the beginnings of Swahili literature, Utendi wa Mwana Kupona. Mwana Kupona died around 1865.
The teachings of a mother to her daughter
“The Book of Mwana Kupona” is addressed to his daughter Mwana Heshima, then 14 years old. In a Swahili poetic form (known as utendi ), the author signs her work in a few lines:
"The author of this work
is a sad widow
his worst sin
The Lord will forgive
is to be famous
She is
Mwana Kupona Mshamu
born in Pate.
The date
of the poem
is 1275.” [the date is based on the Muslim calendar]
In this poem, the mother strives to prepare her daughter for the roles and tasks that await her as a woman, as a wife and as a mother:married life, maintenance of the house, social relations... This teaching is tinged with the Muslim religion, reflecting the faith and piety of its author.
“The world is not ours”
Mwanadamu si kitu (The human being is nothing)
Na ulimwengu si wetu (And the world is not ours)
Walau hakuna mtu (And there is no one)
Ambao atasalia (Who will remain forever)
La kwanda kamata dini (Above all else, hold fast to faith)
(…)
Pili uwe na adabu (Then observe a noble character)
Na ulimi wa thawabu (Speak only good)
Uwe mtu mahabubu (You will be loved)
Kula utakapongia (Wherever you go)
La tatu uwe sadiqi (Thirdly, be honest)
Wambiwao ulithiqi (Believe what you are told)
Mtu asoshika haqi (An unjust person)
Sandamane naye ndia (Shouldn't be your friend)
Tena mwanangu idhili (My daughter, be humble)
Mbee za maqabaili (Before those in authority)
Uwaonapo mahali (When you must meet them)
Angusa kuwenukia (Hasten to show respect)