Scholar Voices: Omar

Indian Ocean: Cradle of Globalization
Scholar Voices
Alwiya Omar

Alwiya Omar. . .

Studying Swahili Focus Questions:

What is the origin of the word 'Swahili'?
What language varieties make up the Swahili language?
Historically, what groups of people came to the East African Coast?
What influence did each group have on the region?
How has Arabic influenced the number system in Kiswahili?
How is time told in Kiswahili? Any connection with biblical times?
Mwaka Kogwa, the Zanzibar New Year: any similarities with the Iranian New year Neiruz?
How is the popular cloth 'kanga' linked with the Portuguese? How is the kanga used for indirect communication?
Education: what are the Traditional, Western, and Islamic influences?
Food: what similarities are there with Indian cuisine and Indonesian produce?

Online resources:

Swahili culture with a link to festivals (Zanzibar New Year and Bull fighting)
Swahili profile from the UCLA language materials project
Swahili origins by James De Vere with examples of Swahili cuisine, arts and craft, dance and music
Kanga writings by Hassan Ali
Kanga history by Odemari S. Mbuya

Alwiya Omar

Professor of Dravidian Linguistics and Culture

University of Indiana

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