Celebrating Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi (Waccugol Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi)
Quick Jump: Manuscript || Transcription/Translations || Multimedia
| Title | Celebrating Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi (Waccugol Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi) |
| Author or Owner | Ahmad Julde Ba aka Thierno Amadou Dioulde Bah (author), Alpha Oumar Diallo (owner) |
| Subject | Hagiography, Eulogy, Meaning of Life, Meaning of Suffering |
| Content | The poem celebrates the life and work of Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi also known as Muawiya Maasi of Pita (1832-1903). He was a prominent scholar and a saint in the town of Maasi in Fuuta Jalon. He educated many scholars, orphans, and poor people. Thus, his death caused great sadness among the community of Maasi. He died on a Sunday. According to the poet, this was the lucky day to take him to heaven. In his estimation, the other days were saddened not to have had a chance to take him. Maawiyatu’s righteous deeds and impact in life was rewarded appropriately. The poet mentions, among other things, how God already promised him heaven for his righteous deeds. According to the poet, dying on that Sunday prevented him from being sick and on medication indefinitely. Shaykh Maasi is described as a model of Islamic piety, and thus his followers will be rewarded for their devotion to him. The author argues that Shaykh Maasi was such a saintly person that his followers will avoid the trials and tribulations of the Day of Judgment, and that all who aided him should be rewarded. Moreover, future generations who were unable to benefit from personal knowledge of Shaykha Maasi must learn and understand his teachings. |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Language | Fuuta Jalon Fula |
| Script | Fuuta Jalon Fula Ajami |
| Manuscript condition | Good with fraying and some tearing around the edges. |
| Type | Handwritten |
| Publisher | Unpublished |
| Provenance | Dalaba, 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/2144/18705 |
| 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, Abubakar Jalloh, Tafsir Mamadou Balde, Elhadji Djibril Diagne, Ndieme Sow, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, Omar Diallo, Eric Schmidt, Alison Parker, Frank Antonelli, Shawn Provencal, and Mark Lewis. |
| Required citation information | Fallou Ngom (PI), Mouhamadou L. Diallo, David Glovsky, Abubakar Jalloh, Elhadji Djibril Diagne, Ndieme Sow, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, and other contributors. 2022. “Celebrating Cerno Maawiyatu Maasi.” https://sites.bu.edu/nehajami/the-four-languages/fula/fula-manuscripts/waccugol-cerno-maawiyatu-maasi/ |
Manuscript
Image slideshow below. Click for larger image.
View or download a full-quality manuscript PDF here.
View or download a reduced file size manuscript PDF here.
Transcription and Translations
Click below to open or download the following resources:
Multimedia