ZIKR ARCHIVE






A CURATION OF THE SOUNDS AND LYRICS OF SWAHILI-URDU ZIKRS
FROM DHAMALS IN JAMNAGAR, BHAVNAGAR AND ADMEDABAD




Documented by: Hameeda Makwa Siddi, Farooq Magwa Siddi, Soumali Roy, and Sayan Dey, 8th - 14 September 2022.

























It is important to note that the Swahili words that are found in the zikrs are not identical to standard Swahili words. Though the first generation of Siddis in Gujarat could converse in the standard Swahili language, with the passage of time the Swahili language got mixed up with Gujarati, Kathiawadi and other local languages of Gujarat, and gave birth to Swahili Creole. So, the Swahili words that are found in the following ‘zikrs’ are creolized forms of standard Swahili. The meaning of the Swahili Creole words in the following ‘zikrs’ have been interpreted in consultation with various Siddi community members in Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar. The following interpretations are not the ultimate ones and they keep varying across the different Siddi communities in Gujarat on the basis of their respective spiritual and geographical contexts.







































             



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     





















                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       






















































 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                     








                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   



In this ‘zikr’, the Swahili Creole words that have been used are ‘saalmini’ (means to ‘hello to all’), ‘miskini’ (means ‘poor’), ‘Malungo’ (referred to the one-string instrument called Malunga), ‘Seem’ (a term referred to the people of Swahili origin), and ‘Dungo’ (means ‘to come’). In this ‘zikr’ a poor girl is singing with a Malunga and sharing that her mother is sick. But, she will not beg and does not want to receive any donation for the treatment for her mother. She will earn money through singing and playing Malunga for her mother’s treatment. She also believes that her honest ways of earning will allow her to seek blessings from Allah. Though she and her mother are Swahili and they have come from the far away lands of eastern Africa, Allah will keep blessing them as long as she keeps singing the name of Allah and play Malunga.



























In this ‘zikr’ the Swahili Creole words that have been used are ‘Goma’ [name of a form of musical performance where one-sided hand drums (also known as Goma) are played and songs are sung. This musical practice is widely prevalent across different parts of eastern, northeastern and southern Africa] and ‘tiri’ (means ‘brightness’). In this ‘zikr’, praises are being sung in the memories of Siddi Gori Shah, Siddi Baba Habas Khan, and Siddi Mai Misra (all spiritual leaders of the Siddi community). The ‘zikr’ says that the moment praises are sung in the names of these spiritual leaders the world brightens up with light and energy.