Academic

Swahili, The : Reconstructuring the History and Language of an African Society, 800 - 1500

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Outline: The Swahili-speaking peoples of the East African coast are one of the most-studied and yet least-understood peoples of Africa. This paradox stems from the long-standing assumption that the Swahili represent an Arab Muslim culture divorced from their Bantu-speaking African neighbors - "alien jewels on a strange and distant shore." This has led historians, linguists, archaeologists, and students of literature alike to treat the Seahili as a foreigh civilization and to disregard the African nature of Swahili culture and society. Derek Nurse and Thomas Spear show that what distinguishes the Swahili from their neighbors is not their alien "race" or culture; it is the fact that they are maritime urban-dwelling farmers and herders. The most significant element in Swahili history is thus not their foreign origins, but their development of syncretic and specialized cultures alongside those of other African peoples. The assumption that the Swahili are non-African has caused previous researchers to neglect important facets of Swahili history, language, society, and culture. In spite of the extensive studies of the Swahili language, for example, there has been no classification of the various Swahili dialects, or of the language itself, in relation to other Bantu languages to reconstruct its probable historical development. Historical and socioculturral studies have also assumed the uniqueness of the Swahili, and hence have neglected the continual economic, social, and cultural interaction that took place between various Swahili-speaking communities and their neighbors, interaction that caused significant changes in all of the societies. The Swahili brings together the author's own original research and a reinterpretation of earlier works in a fresh and comprehensive synthesis, showing the development of these peoples, their language, cultures, and societies, over more than five centuries. The emphasis is on a broad conceptual approach, establishing an overall framework in which existing local studies can be viewed in a wider context. The Swahili provides a lucid and easily read synthesis for students and others interested in African history together with innovative analysis and interpretation of scholars.

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Ketersediaan

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

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No. Panggil

306.089963 N937s

Penerbit

Philadephia, USA : University of Pennsylvania Press., 1985

Deskripsi Fisik

133

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

0-8122-7928-X

Klasifikasi

306.089963

Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

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Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

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Versi lain/terkait

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