Knappert, Jan
Dr. Jan Knappert was born in Holland and received a classical education, qualifying in six languages. Dr. Knappert holds three degrees in Oriental studies, one in Sanskrit with Indian history, Hinduism and Buddhism, one in Semitic languages with Hebrew, Arabic and Islam, and a Masters’ in Austronesian studies, with Malay, Tagalog, Hawaiian and Malagasy, with highest distinction. He has specialized in the languages and literatures of Africa, studying in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Pretoria, and University of Ghent, Belgium; lectured and researched in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Zaire and Kenya; in India, Pakistan and Egypt continued Orientalist studies. As professor at the University of Louvain in Belgium he taught Oriental Art and Islamic institutions, as well as the religions and languages of Africa.
1991 0-7734-9705-6Reproduces in photogravure original pages from several manuscripts of the classical Swahili poem on the Death of the Prophet. The poem is an important witnesss to lore concerning death and especially the death of that paradigmatic human being, the Prophet, among African, West Indian Ocean and Islamic people. Complete transliteration and translation of one manuscript, excerpts from others and of a quotation in a woven mat, with notes on how to decipher and edit texts and literature.
Price: $159.95
2004 0-7734-6443-3
This massive book of Swahili songs, with English translations, contains 28 chapters of categorized songs. Contains a long introduction setting the songs in historical context.
Price: $319.95
1999 0-7734-7544-3
This book of African fables gives examples of the interplay of animals and human beings in the folk tale. The aspects of behavior of the animals represents the character of a human being. These tales are those specifically for children, and can be classified on the basis of their purpose, e.g. whether they are for young chiefs, girls, or ‘underdogs’. A long introduction puts the work into literary and historical context.
Price: $239.95
2010 0-7734-3768-1
This dictionary is the result of over forty years of research and the collection of vocabularies from Swahili texts, poetry, prose and proverbs.
Price: $379.95
1999 0-7734-7882-5
This work contains a very condensed grammar of literary Swahili, that is, of the traditional literary language, the idiom in which the epic poetry, the proverbs and the traditional songs are composed. It serves as a vehicle for the Islamic literature, both prose and poetry, including the town chronicles, as well as the long didactic poems on moral duties.
Price: $139.95
1999 0-7734-7880-9
After an explanatory Preface and Introduction, chapters include: The Discovery; The Oldest Texts; The Origin; The Poets; Informants; The Singers; Priorities; Documentation; Collation; Editing; Analysis and Translation; The Translator and the Culture; the Translator as Ethnographer; Cnclusion. Works Cited – Abdu Rahmani; Adamu; The Creation of Adam; Ayubu; Badiri; Barasisi; Burudai, the Mantle; Daudi, Durari l’Bahiya; Esha (Ayesha); Fatima; Futuhu Li Maka; Habibu bin Maliki; Hadija; Mwana Hasina; Haudaji; Hejira; Herekali; Hudu; Husayn/Huseni; Ibrahim; Nabi Isa (Jesus); Isibani or Utenzi wa Katirifu or Ghazwa ya Sesebani; Khaibari; Kishamia; Kozi na Ndiwa; Kutawafu; Kutawafu kwa Nabii; Liongo; Masaibu; Maulidi; Bahira (Continuation of Maulidi); Miiraji; Mikidadi na Mayasa; Mudhari bin Darimi or the Twenty Questions; Musa - Utenzi wa Munajati ya Nabii Musa na Mungu; Mwanzo; Nuhu; Rasi Li Ghuli; Salehe; Shamia; Utenzi wa Shufaka; Sikandari; Sulemani; Uumbaji; Yunusi; Yusufu; Zanzibar Complete List of Swahili Poems Known to January 1, 1996
Price: $159.95
2005 0-7734-6109-4
This two-volume book (each volume sold seperately) is a series of essays on the culture of the people who live on the east coast of Africa between the border of Somalia in the north and the Mozambique border in the south. The term ‘culture’ is to be taken in the widest sense. It includes ways of earning a livelihood, pastimes, sailing and other occupations as well as religion. Obviously not all aspects of culture could be represented in this work, which is the fruit of a lifetime of study. Every chapter in this work is the fruit of my own investigation of the East African coastal culture. Students of advanced anthropology might also, read these essays will benefit from this work.
Price: $239.95
2005 0-7734-6193-0
This two-volume book (each volume sold seperately) is a series of essays on the culture of the people who live on the east coast of Africa between the border of Somalia in the north and the Mozambique border in the south. The term ‘culture’ is to be taken in the widest sense. It includes ways of earning a livelihood, pastimes, sailing and other occupations as well as religion. Obviously not all aspects of culture could be represented in this work, which is the fruit of a lifetime of study. Every chapter in this work is the fruit of the author's own investigation of the East African coastal culture. Students of African Studies and advanced anthropology who read these essays will benefit from this work.
Price: $239.95