It is heartening to note that the number of contemporary Swahili scholars whose work is receiving attention in books and university theses is steadily on the increase. This volume adds Abdilatif Abdalla to the list containing, so far as I know, the names of Muhammed Said Abdulla, Ebrahim Hussein and Euphrase Kezilahabi It is a volume on the poetry of Abdalla which Nyaigotti-Chacha writes with wrumth, understanding and a desire to place in perspective the poet`s works, in particular, Utenzi wa maisha ya Adamu na Hawaa (1971) and Sauti ya dhiki (1973) For this reason, perhaps, it tends to be less critical and more informative Nyaigotti--Chacha divides his work into four chapters. The first chapter introduces the reader to the author`s reasons for undertaking to Wiite it, originally his M A thesis at the University of Nairobi (1980) A bdefbut useful biography of Abdilatif Abdalla (ppJ-9), and a theoretical orientation to the author`s analysis of the works (pp 9--11) - socialistic in the Marxian mould - furnishes the reader with the background required fm a better understanding of what follows in the next two chapters which examine Utenzi and Sauti .. respectively The final chapter investigates the skills of Abdalla as a poet

It is heartening to note that the number of contemporary Swahili scholars whose work is receiving attention in books and university theses is steadily on the increase. This volume adds Abdilatif Abdalla to the list containing, so far as I know, the names of Muhammed Said Abdulla, Ebrahim Hussein and Euphrase Kezilahabi It is a volume on the poetry of Abdalla which Nyaigotti-Chacha writes with wrumth, understanding and a desire to place in perspective the poet`s works, in particular, Utenzi wa maisha ya Adamu na Hawaa (1971) and Sauti ya dhiki (1973) For this reason, perhaps, it tends to be less critical and more informative Nyaigotti--Chacha divides his work into four chapters. The first chapter introduces the reader to the author`s reasons for undertaking to Wiite it, originally his M A thesis at the University of Nairobi (1980) A bdefbut useful biography of Abdilatif Abdalla (ppJ-9), and a theoretical orientation to the author`s analysis of the works (pp 9--11) - socialistic in the Marxian mould - furnishes the reader with the background required fm a better understanding of what follows in the next two chapters which examine Utenzi and Sauti .. respectively The final chapter investigates the skills of Abdalla as a poet