Use of Arabic script in early Swahili literature

Use of Arabic script in early Swahili literature

Swahili poetry prior to the twentieth century was written in ajami script that was adapted from Arabic. Many examples of this script have been preserved in manuscript form, as illustrated by the reproduction of the poem shown left, Utumbuizo wa mnazi [Song of the coconut palm], from the Taylor Collection, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Reproduced from Nyimbo za Liyongo (p. 153).

The Liyongo Working Group

Arabic, Swahili