2014
427 pp.
18 colour photos, 2 colour illustrations, 1 comic, 7 b/w photos, 1 b/w illustration
Text languages: English, German, Swahili, French
This collection of essays is published in memoriam Thomas Geider (* 25 April 1953, † 15 October 2010). Since the beginning of his studies and research, he was fascinated by African oral literature. As a scholar, he participated in the discussion of the concept of Weltliteratur, and was particularly interested in the question of how oral narratives could be integrated into the discussion of world literature. Research on the oral literature of the Pokomo in Eastern Kenya, and, subsequently, of the Kanuri in Northern Nigeria formed the basis of his scientific publications.
The contributions to this volume reflect the breadth of Thomas Geider’s research interests in African Narrative Research, Documentary Literature, and Weltliteratur; West African Oratures, Literatures, and Music; East African Oratures, Literatures, and Music. The essays and a number of literary contributions by Thomas Geider’s colleagues and friends are complemented by a series of photographs he took in the Tana River area, Kenya, as well as a bibliography of his publications.
CONTENTS
Preface
In memoriam
H. Ekkehard Wolff: In memoriam
Ulrich Braukämper: Thomas Geider (1953–2010)
Wilhelm J.G. Möhlig: Thomas Geider (1953–2010)
Uta Reuster-Jahn: In memoriam Thomas Geider 29.4.1953 – 15.10.2010
Bosoma Sheriff: KASA Announces Geider’s Death
African Narrative Research, Documentary Literature and Weltliteratur
Manuela Kirberg: Narrare necesse est – Der Mensch als homo narrans und die Signifikanz des Erzählens
H. Ekkehard Wolff: Und sie reimen doch – Parallelismus in afrikanischen Oraturen
Uta Reuster-Jahn: Strategies of Persuasion and Manipulation in Animal Trickster Tales
Matthias Krings: Kinoerzählen in Afrika – Skizze eines Forschungsfeldes
Wilhelm J.G. Möhlig: Documentary Literature in African Languages
Ulrich Marzolph: The Grimmification of Narrative Tradition
Erhard Schüttpelz: Drei Schritte zur Weltliteratur
West African Oratures, Literatures and Music
A. Tahir Abba: Praise Song – Thomas Geider (Kanuri/English)
Raimund Vogels / Bosoma Sheriff / Wakil A. Wasaram: Interpretations of Kungulu, a Court Music of the Shehu of Borno
Norbert Cyffer: The Representative of the King of England in Borno
Marion Feuerstein-Tubach: Die Rezeption von Tausendundeiner Nacht in der Hausa-Literatur
Rudolf Leger: “I want to be my own Cow” – Fulani Names and Superstitions about their Cows
Ursula Baumgardt: Création et répertoire en littérature orale
Nadia Cohen: Bamanankan-Literatur – Eine kleine Geschichte des Veröffentlichens und Verlegens in Mali
East African Oratures, Literatures and Music
Hassan Adam / Omar Babu Marjan†: Shairi / Poem ‘Thomas Geider’ (Kiswahili/English)
Said Ahmed Mohamed: Shairi / Poem: Kaburi! / Grave! (translated by the author)
Kyallo Wamitila / Omar Babu Marjan†: Shairi / Poem ‘Nakukumbuka … Thomas Geider’ (Kiswahili/English)
Farouk Topan: Hadithi Fupi / Short Story: Sitaki kwenda chuoni! / The Reluctant Scholar (rendition by the author)
Ridder Samsom: Swahili Manuscripts – Looking in East African Collections for Swahili Manuscripts in Arabic Script
Clarissa Vierke: „Im Gebälk die Fledermäuse“ – Figurationen der Vergänglichkeit und der Täuschung in der klassischen Swahili-Dichtung
Werner Graebner: The Qanbus Connection – Pre-Taarab Roots on the Northern Kenya Coast
Said A.M. Khamis: Linguistic Knowledge and the Creative Writer
Lutz Diegner: The Kenyan Challenge (?) – Dis/Continuities in Swahili Novel Writing 50 Years after Independence
Rose Marie Beck / Maarten Mous: Iraqw slufay and the power of voice
Getie Gelaye: Local Names and Technical Terms for Amharic Poetic Genres in Ethiopia
Photo Series
Hannelore Vögele: Der Palmweinzapfer – Photoserie i-4 von Thomas Geider (compiled and edited by Hannelore Vögele)
Thomas Geider’s List of Publications
Notes on Contributors
About the editors:
Hannelore Vögele taught Hausa and Nigerian literature at the University of Cologne and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Uta Reuster-Jahn was Lecturer in Swahili at the Asien-Afrika-Institut, University of Hamburg.
Raimund Kastenholz is a retired Professor of African Philology at the Department of Anthropology and African Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Lutz Diegner is Lecturer in Swahili Language and Literature at the Department of Asian and African Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin.
