A research paper that analyzes three letters sent to Ladipo Solanke from Padmore George, Azikiwe Nnamdi and Awolowo Obafemi first published in the Keiai Journal of International Studies
SWAHILI: Shairi hili linazungumzia umuhimu wa kuchunga wakati usitupite ovyo ovyo. Lazima tutumie kila dakika ipaswavyo kwani kila mda ukienda haurudi. Ustadh Mau anakumbuka beti moja kwa moyo "mapigo ya moyo wa binadamu ni ukumbusho kwamba maisha ni dakika na sekunde".<br>ENGLISH: This poem is about the importance of time and being aware of the passing of time and not letting it pass unknowingly. The poem emphasizes that we should make every minute count since once time passes it cannnot be recovered again. Ustadh Mau still remembers one of the verses by heart ("the heart beat of a human being reminds the heart that in fact life is all about minutes and seconds").
SWAHILI: Waraka huu uko na mashairi manne tofauti: Mama musimlaumu ni shairi kuhusu mwanamke aliyetupa binti yake mchanga vichakani. Mtoto huyo aliokolewa na mbwa na jambo hili lilizua tafaruku katika jamii. Ustadh Mau aliandika shairi hili kupitia kwa muonekano wa yule binti aliyetupwa na mamake akiambia jamii isimhukumu mamake. Mwalimu ni shairi linalopendekeza kuwahusisha walimu katika mambo ya kijamii kwani wao ndio wenye kufunza jamii ijayo, wajibu wa walimu katika elimu na jamii lazima ieleweke na isisitizwe. Shairi pia linazungumzia umuhimu wa elimu na kupeleka watoto mashuleni. Kiswahili ni shairi lililoandikwa kwa mtindo wa ubinafsishaji. Mama kiSwahili analalamika jinsi wanae (waswahili halisi) walivyo kipuuza kiSwahili mpaka kunakiliwa na kuekwa viwango kwa kiSwahili kumetawaliwa na wageni wasiokuwa waswahili. KiSwahili kinaita wanawae wawe ni wenye kukiwajibikia na kukitilia juhudi kama zamani. Shairi hili limechapishwa. Yamechapishwa kwenye: In this Fragile World: Swahili poetry of commitment by Ustadh Mahmoud Mau. Leiden; Boston: Brill [2023], uk. 329-354.<br>ENGLISH: This manuscript contains Three different poems : Mama musimlamu (page 1-2); Mwalimu (page 3-4); Kiswahili (page 5-6). Mama musimlaumu is a poem regarding a woman who threw out her newborn daughter in the bushes, meaning to abandon her there. The newborn was saved by a dog and it caused a big spark of rage across the nation. Ustadh Mau's poem is written from the perspective of the daughter, telling the nation not to criticize her mother. Mwalimu, touches on how teachers should be involved in the community as they are teaching the next generation of kids. The role of teachers in both education and the larger community should be well recognized and emphasized. The poem also mentions the importance of education and schooling for children. and Kiswahili the poem is written from the perspective of a personified Swahili. ''Mother Swahili'' criticizes the way her children (native Swahili speakers of the coast) have long neglected the language and that the documentation and standardization of Swahili has been dominated by foreigners instead. It calls on her children to make an active effort for Kiswahili again. Published in: In this Fragile World: Swahili poetry of commitment by Ustadh Mahmoud Mau. Leiden; Boston: Brill [2023], pp. 329-354.
SWAHILI: Hati hizi ziliandikwa na Ustadh Mau alipotembelea Italia. Katika kulinganisha shairi la mwanamke wa kiarabu anayeitwa Umamah bint Al-Harith Al-Shaybany na mwanamke wa kibajuni anayeitwa Mwana Kupona binti Bwana Mataka. Wote waliishi nyakati tofauti na walitokea familia tofauti ilhali waliandikia wasichana wao shairi lenye funzo moja kuhusiana na kuchunga na kuwa heshimu mabwana zao.<br>ENGLISH: These are notes written by Ustadh Mau for a conference in Naples, Italy. He was comparing the poems of an Arab woman by the name of Umamah Bint Al-Harith Al-Shaybany and a poem by a Bajuni woman named Mwana Kupona bint Bwana Mataka. Both women lived during different periods and had differing backgrounds, yet both wrote a similar poem for their daughters on how to live with and please their husbands.
SWAHILI: Shairi hili linazungumzia kuhusu desturi na turathi za asili kuzingatiwa hususan lugha za mama. Shairi hili linasisitiza umuhimu wa kujua lugha ya mama na kuipitisha kwa vizazi vijazo. Na sio vizuri kudharau kipengee hichi cha utamaduni. Shairi hili liliandikwa kwa minajili ya uwasilishaji Mombasa.<br>ENGLISH: This poem is about traditional customs and heritage, especially in regards to linguistic heritage and one's mother tongue. The poem emphasizes the importance of knowing your mother tongue and passing it on. One should not neglect this part of their culture. This poem was written for a paper presentation in Mombasa.
SWAHILI: Karatasi hii ni maelezo ya mkutano kuhusu mashairi ya kiSwahili ambapo Ustadh Mau alikua mmoja wa walioalikwa na kuhudhuria. Mkutano huu ulifanywa kwenye ukumbi wa Mwanarafa, Lamu.<br>ENGLISH: This document is a production concept for a workshop about Swahili poetry which Ustadh Mau was invited to teach at. This event took place at Mwana Arafa in Lamu.
SWAHILI: Shairi hili lilitungwa kwa niaba ya waalimu wa Mkomani primary likielekezwa kwa wanafunzi wa Mkomani likiwatakia kila la kheri kwenye maisha yao ya mbele na pia kuwaaga baada ya kukamilisha mitihani yao.<br>ENGLISH: This poem was composed on behalf of the teachers of Mkomani school and was addressed to their students at Mkomani primary. It wishes them all the best in their future endeavours after completing their primary education and bidding them farewell.
SWAHILI: Daftari la Kimwondo lina mashairi mawili tofauti (namba 6 na 7). Kimwondo cha kwanza kinazungumzia hofu ya Ustadh Mau ya kupotea lahaja ya kiamu. Ustadh Mau anawataka wananchi wa Lamu kuelewa thamani ya Lugha yao na kuitumia lugha hiyo hasa kwa kuisoma, kuiandika na kuifundisha kwa vijana. Anabainisha kuwa lugha yetu ndio utambulisho wetu na tusipoilinda basi tuko kwenye hatari kubwa ya kupoteza utambulisho wetu. Shairi la pili ni shairi la kisiasa linalosawiri uzalendo na uaminifu wa watu wa Lamu kwa rais wa Kenya. Ustadh Mau anawalinganisha wanasiasa walafi na wanyama pori ambao ni wakorofi na wasio na amani. Anamlinganisha mbunge wa Lamu ambaye hakuwahi kuwakilisha masilahi yao bungeni na yule wa hivi majuzi ambaye ana masilahi ya watu wa Lamu moyoni.<br>ENGLISH: The notebook Kimwondo has two different poems (number 6 and 7). The first Kimwondo talks about Ustadh Mau's fear of the kiamu dialect getting lost. Ustadh Mau urges the people of Lamu to understand the value of their Language and to put the language in use especially by reading, writing and teaching it to the young ones. He notes that our language is our identity and if we do not protect it then we are at a higher risk of loosing our identity. The second poem is a political poem portraying the patriotism and loyalty of the people of Lamu to the president of Kenya. Ustadh Mau compares the greedy politicians to wild animals who are chaotic and unpeaceful. He compares the Lamu member of parliament who never represented their interests in parliament to the recent one who has the interests of the people of Lamu at heart.
SWAHILI: Kimwondo lina mashairi mawili tofauti (shairi nambari 6 na 7). Tenzi zote mbili zinahusu kampeni za siasa za hapa lamu. Utungo wa mashairi haya mawili yametafautiana baina ya moja na lingine.<br>ENGLISH: The notebook Kimwondo has two different poems (number 6 and 7). They were both written for a political campaign on Lamu. The structures of the two poems are different from one another.
