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Remembering the unsung heroes of Kiswahili literature
2005-07-06 08:53:24
By Editor
Africa has got a tendency of only honouring political heroes but burying national achievers in other fields in the dustbins of history.
The history of our nations is only intertwined with political heroes and heroines as if politics were the only important societal sphere of life, while apolitical central historical figures get a passing mention on the footnotes in our history books.
Here at home we have the case of the late Sheikh Shaaban bin Robert, who in his honour, Institute of Kiswahili Research (TUKI) at UDSM has established Shaaban Robert Scholarship Fund, which will be launched today in Dar es Salaam by the Prime Minister Fredric Sumaye.
Lovers of Kiswahili literature rate Shaaban Robert as the ’Father of Swahili modern literature’ just like Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, with whom he worked in the struggle for independence, is considered to be the ’Father of the Nation’.
Unfortunately, the young generation today, is not even aware Shaaban Robert street or school in Dar es Salaam is named after him for being a great literally icon.
The truth is, he is revered only in the universities across the world where Kiswahili literature is taught, while at home its only a group of the elite at the University of Dar es Salaam together with some members of his family that have tried to keep his name alive.
During his lifetime, though he had little formal education, he wrote more than twenty books. At the close of the century, he was put in the roll of honour as a writer when he was voted among all time 100 greatest African best writers.
This was in a contest organized by the Association of African Publishers Network (APNET). There has been no doubt among scholars that he is one of the greatest Swahili thinkers and writers.
Being such an important historical figure, one would expect his books, which are literally gems, to be in the secondary school national curriculum as set books at least once in a while. Almost every year in the neigbouring countries where Kiswahili is taught, his books are a must read and they are incorporated in the curricula.
His writings deserve more honour in Tanzania than they are accorded today considering what he is to Kiswahili, is the equivalent of what William Shakespeare is, to English.
Literature is a part of a people’s development, and it is high time the government as well as other stakeholders marketed the ‘Tanzania literature’ as an identity more so to the young generation.
This is because there are so many Tanzanian authors, whose works are respected globally but at home, today’s generation knows nothing about them.
There are living literally legends like Professor Abraham Hussein, the author of the world acclaimed ‘Mashetani’ and ‘Kijintikile,’ who are revered overseas and whose face students here at home can hardly recognise. The list could go on and on.
As Tuki launches Shaaban Robert Scholarship Fund today we call upon the whole nation to reflect on our unsung heroes and heroines who, with the might of their pens have kept our country alive in the world of literature. What have we given them for the honour they have wrought our country?
According to TUKI director Professor Mugyabuso Mulokozi, Shaaban Robert Scholarship Fund will be sponsoring students taking Masters and Doctorates in Kiswahili.
We welcome the news. The endeavour is timely as Kiswahili is gaining global acceptance day by day.
We feel that the men of letters who have made the language to be respected by writing world class literature in it like Robert and Hussein deserve more respect than we accord them today.
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