fasihi
English meaning: Literature
Swahili Definition
(Kiswahili)Kazi za kisanaa za maandishi au simulizi zenye thamani ya kudumu katika lugha au utamaduni.
English Definition
Written and oral works of artistic value. Swahili literature (fasihi) has a rich tradition spanning oral epics, poetry (tendi), and modern novels. Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Kenya) is Africa's most celebrated novelist — his Petals of Blood and Devil on the Cross critique colonialism and capitalism; he writes in Gikuyu and Swahili, not just English. Shaaban Robert (Tanzania) is called the 'Father of Swahili literature.' East African literary tradition is both oral and written.
Example
“Ngugi wa Thiong'o ni mwandishi mashuhuri zaidi wa Kenya anayeandika katika Kikuyu na Kiswahili.”
In English: “Ngugi wa Thiong'o is Kenya's most celebrated writer who writes in Kikuyu and Swahili.”
Synonyms
- uandishi
- hadithi
Literary Heritage
“Mashairi ni hazina ya lugha, yamehifadhi hekima ya vizazi.”
“Poetry is the treasury of language; it has preserved the wisdom of generations.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- Kiswahili
- Swahili
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Niger-Congo
- Speakers
- 100M