Book Review of: Johannes Fabian (ed.), History from below. The vocabulary of Elisabethville. By Andre Yav. Text, Translations and interpretive essay (Creole Language Library, Vol.7). Edited, translated and commented by Johannes Fabian with assistance from Kalundi Mango. With linguistic notes by W. Schicho. Amsterdam- Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 1990. 236 pp. Review of Noel-Jacques Gueunier (ed.), La chroniques Swahilie du Cad/Umari de Mayotte. Edition critique. (Recherches et Documents, 2).(Madagascar\''): Etablissement d\''Enseignement Superieur des Lettres (CEDRATOM),1989.

Watu wa pwani ya Afrika Mashariki wanaojumuisha vikundi vingi wana historia ndefu ya mitagusano na makundi mengine yakiwemo ya bara na wageni kutoka sehemu mbalimbali za ulimwengu. Mitagusano hiyo ya wapwani na wengine pamoja na athari zake ni mojawapo ya maudhui makuu ambayo Rocha Chimerah anashughulikia katika kazi zake zote. Makala hii inachanganua maudhui na vipengele vya fani vya kazi za mwandishi huyu ili kubainisha jinsi anavyoshughulikia suala lililotajwa hapo juu. Katika kufanya hivyo, makala inatathmini uhalisi wa kijamii na kihistoria unavyowakilishwa na kazi za Chimerah. Japo kazi zote za Chimerah zitarejelewa, zile za karibuni zaidi zitapewa kipaumbele.

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This article compares two cases of poetic self-translation in two different periods in the development of modern Swahili literature – Euphrase Kezilahabi in Tanzania of the 1970s and Kithaka wa Mberia in Kenya of the 2000s. These writers represent two different literary situations and two different statuses that Swahili literature had achieved in the respective periods. The main argument in the article is that the two writers in their works seem to have a similar aim – to familiarise wider audiences on the national level with elitist poetic forms. The differences in both cases are determined by the specific socio-cultural context.

This article shows how changing ideologies and evolving market forces have combined to lessen German publishers’ enthusiasm for Swahili literature – and how, surprisingly, translators of Swahili are now taking the initiative to ensure that Swahili literature still gets published. After outlining preceding periods of translation and showing how they are determined by ideologies and market forces, I take a close and partially personal look at the development and role of the translator-publishers: how digital technology and new formats have enabled them to take over classical publishers’ tasks. Still, even if translators manage to publish their translated works, they are confronted with the challenge of reaching an audience and creating a space for Swahili literature in German-speaking countries. These translators could possibly join forces to reach a critical mass for translations, thus paving the way for Swahili translated literature to be recognized and appreciated by German-speaking readers.

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Obituary in memory of Mu''Allim Yahya Ali Omar, a Swahili scholar

Obituary in memory of Thomas Geider, a former editior of the Swahili Forum

Swahili literature provides us with a useful insight into the meanings of the words busara, hekima and utu. Understanding these words helps us to see the relationship between different types of wisdom, intelligence and thought as seen by Swahili speaking people.

book review of Xavier Garnier''s "The Swahili novel. The notion of \''minor literature'' put to the test" (2006)