Mwana Kupona
1865) was a Swahili poet of the 19th century, author of a poem called Utendi wa Mwana Kupona ("The Book of Mwana Kupona"), which is one of the most well-known works of early Swahili literature. Relatively little is known about her life. Her grandson Muhammed bin Abdalla reported in the 1930s that Mwana Kupona was born on Pate Island, and that she was the last wife of sheikh Bwana Mataka, ruler of Siu (or Siyu), with whom she had two children.
Also recorded as Mwanakupona Binti Msham · Utenzi wa Mwana Kupona
Mwana Kupona
Abdulhakim2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Mwana Kupona binti Msham
- Birthplace
- Pate Island
- Died
- c. 1865
- Occupation
- Poet
- Known for
- Utendi wa Mwana Kupona
- Spouse
- Bwana Mataka
- Born
- 1810 · Pate Island.
- Nationality
- Kenya
- Languages
- Swahili
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
1865) was a Swahili poet of the 19th century, author of a poem called Utendi wa Mwana Kupona ("The Book of Mwana Kupona"), which is one of the most well-known works of early Swahili literature. Relatively little is known about her life. Her grandson Muhammed bin Abdalla reported in the 1930s that Mwana Kupona was born on Pate Island, and that she was the last wife of sheikh Bwana Mataka, ruler of Siu (or Siyu), with whom she had two children.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
gnd · 123319625 · wikidata · Q4006760 · wikipedia · Mwana Kupona
In this article
Biography
Biography
Mataka died in 1856; two years later, Mwana Kupona wrote her famous poem, dedicated to her 14-year-old daughter Mwana Heshima.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mwana Kupona binti Msham • Birthplace — Pate Island • Died — c. 1865 • Occupation — Poet • Years Active — 19th century • Known for — Utendi wa Mwana Kupona • Spouse — Bwana Mataka • Children — 2
Utendi wa Mwana Kupona
Utendi wa Mwana Kupona
The poem dates to about 1858 (year 1275 of the Islamic calendar), and is centered on the teachings and advice of Mwana Kupona to her daughter, concerning marriage and wifely duties. Despite the seemingly secular subject, the book is prominently religious and even mystical, and it has been compared to the Biblical Book of Proverbs. A few lines of the poem are dedicated to the author herself: •:Swahili: — |:Translation: •:Mwenye kutunga nudhumu:Ni gharibu mwenye hamu:Na ubora wa ithimu:Rabbi tamghufiria:Ina lake mufahamu:Ni mtaraji karimu:Mwana Kupona Mshamu:Pate alikozaliwa:Tarikhiye kwa yakini:Ni alifu wa miyateni:Hamsa wa sabini — |:The author of this work:is a sorrowful widow:her worst sin:The Lord will forgive:Know her name:she is Reliant-of-the-Provider:Mwana Kupona Mshamu:born in Pate.:The date in reality:Is one thousand two hundred:Seventy-five.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1810
Mwana Kupona born at Pate Island.
1860
Mwana Kupona died at Kenya.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Pate Island.
Birth place
Kenya.
Death place
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Mwana Kupona, revision 1341626234 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Mwana Kupona”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4006760: Mwana Kupona
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 123319625, Mwana Kupona.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
References in culture
References in culture
• The Kenyan writer and Swahili literature scholar Kitula King'ei published in 2000 a children's book entitled Mwana Kupona: Poetess from Lamu, based on the work and life of Mwana Kupona.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 123319625, Mwana Kupona.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings Mwanakupona Binti Msham and Utenzi wa Mwana Kupona. Her recorded language was Swahili.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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