In Praise of the Prophet 1 (Mantugol Nelaaɗo 1)
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| Title | In Praise of the Prophet 1 (Mantugol Nelaaɗo 1) |
| Author or Owner | Samba Mombeya (author), Thierno Sire Bah (copyist), El Hadj Mouhamadou Sall (owner) |
| Subject | God, Sin, Divine Forgiveness, Divine Judgment |
| Content | This manuscript is an excerpt from Oogirde Malal (The Vein of Eternal Happiness) written by Cerno Samba Mombeya (1755-1852), one of the greatest Ajami poets of Fuuta Jalon. It discusses the mission of human beings on earth: to follow God and avoid sin. It suggests that death is sent by God to give us humility and that no matter how much temporal power or authority one possesses, God will always be greater in magnanimity. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing God’s commandments and that going against them brings regret. It argues that life on earth offers an opportunity for repentance. When death comes, it is too late for repentance. No matter one’s social status, all shall succumb to God’s judgment. The author also notes that God is polyglot, that his message can be communicated in all tongues, and that we are helped when we are taught God’s message in our mother tongue. The author also states a series of rules relating to marriage and the protocols for wives following the deaths of their husbands, as well as what is allowed (such as divorce) when one spouse is sick or passes away. |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Language | Fuuta Jalon Fula |
| Script | Fuuta Jalon Fula Ajami |
| Manuscript condition | Poor, with some pages torn |
| Type | Handwritten |
| Publisher | Unpublished |
| Provenance | Labe, Fuuta Jalon, Guinea |
| Source Reference | Mouhamadou L. Diallo and Fallou Ngom. 2016. African Ajami Library: Digital Preservation of Fuuta Jalon Pular Ajami Manuscripts: https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/18693 |
| Access condition and copyright | These materials are subject to copyright and are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 License, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For use, distribution or reproduction beyond these terms, contact Professor Fallou Ngom (fngom@bu.edu). |
| Contributors | Fallou Ngom, David Robinson, Mouhamadou L. Diallo, David Glovsky, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, Boubacar Biro Diallo, Omar Diallo, Ndieme Sow, Eric Schmidt, Alison Parker, Frank Antonelli, Shawn Provencal, and Mark Lewis. |
| Required citation information | Fallou Ngom (PI), Mouhamadou L. Diallo, David Glovsky, Boubacar Biro Diallo, Ndieme Sow, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, and other contributors. 2022. “In Praise of the Prophet 1.” https://sites.bu.edu/nehajami/the-four-languages/fula/fula-manuscripts/mantugol-nelaado-1/ |
Manuscript
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Transcription and Translations
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Multimedia