The Arts and Crafts of Literacy: Islamic Manuscript Cultures in Sub-Saharan Africa (Studies in Manuscript Cultures)

During the last two decades, the (re-)discovery of thousands of manuscripts in different regions of sub-Saharan Africa has questioned the long-standing approach of Africa as a continent only characterized by orality and legitimately assigned to the continent the status of a civilization of written literacy. However, most of the existing studies mainly aim at serving literary and historical purposes, and focus only on the textual dimension of the manuscripts. This book advances on the contrary a holistic approach to the study of these manuscripts and gather contributions on the different dimensions of the manuscript, i.e. the materials, the technologies, the practices and the communities involved in the production, commercialization, circulation, preservation and consumption. The originality of this book is found in its methodological approach as well as its comparative geographic focus, presenting studies on a continental scale, including regions formerly neglected by existing scholarship, provides a unique opportunity to expand our still scanty knowledge of the different manuscript cultures that the African continent has developed and that often can still be considered as living traditions. Most Studies Of Manuscripts In Different Regions Of Sub-saharan Africa Mainly Aim At Serving Literary And Historical Purposes, And Focus On The Textual Dimension. This Book Advances On The Contrary A Holistic Approach. The Contributions Cover The Different Dimensions Of The Manuscript, I.e. Materials, Technologies, Practices And The Communities Involved In The Production, Commercialization, Circulation, Preservation And Consumption. Introduction : African History And Islamic Manuscript Cultures / Mauro Nobili -- New Strategies In Using Watermarks To Date Sub-saharan Islamic Manuscripts / Michaelle Biddle -- Fī Lawḥin Maḥfūẓ : Towards A Phenomenological Analysis Of The Quranic Tablet / Andrea Brigaglia -- Islamic Education And Ample Space Layout In West African Islamic Manuscripts / Dmitry Bondarev -- A Preliminary Appraisal Of Marginalia In West African Manuscripts From The Mamma Haidara Memorial Library Collection (timbuktu) / Susana Molins Lliteras -- Writing In Africa : The Kilwa Chronicle And Other Sixteenth-century Portuguese Testimonies / Adrien Delmas -- Bamana Texts In Arabic Characters : Some Leaves From Mali / Tal Tamari -- Arabic And Swahili Documents From The Pre-colonial Congo And The Eic (congo Free State, 1885–1908) : Who Were The Scribes? / Xavier Luffin -- Moodibbo Bello Aamadu Mohammadu And The Daada Maaje, A Handbook In An Indigenous Fulfulde Script / Mohamadou Halirou -- Elements Of A ‘timbuktu Manual Of Style’ / Mahmoud Mohamed Dédéou And Shamil Jeppie -- Seven Gravestones At The Muslim Tana Baru Cemetery In Cape Town : A Descriptive Note / Alessandro Gori -- Kaʼana Umar’s ‘cci Quran’ : The Making Of A Bornuan Manuscript In The Twenty-first Century / Maimadu Barma Mutai And Andrea Brigaglia. Edited By Andrea Brigaglia And Mauro Nobili. The Articles In This Volume Were Originally Presented At The Conference The Arts And Crafts Of Literacy: Manuscript Cultures In Muslim Sub-saharan Africa, Held At The University Of Cape Town, 5-6 September 2013--page Vii. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.

During the last two decades, the (re-)discovery of thousands of manuscripts in different regions of sub-Saharan Africa has questioned the long-standing approach of Africa as a continent only characterized by orality and legitimately assigned to the continent the status of a civilization of written literacy.

However, most of the existing studies mainly aim at serving literary and historical purposes, and focus only on the textual dimension of the manuscripts. This book advances on the contrary a holistic approach to the study of these manuscripts and gather contributions on the different dimensions of the manuscript, i.e. the materials, the technologies, the practices and the communities involved in the production, commercialization, circulation, preservation and consumption.

The originality of this book is found in its methodological approach as well as its comparative geographic focus, presenting studies on a continental scale, including regions formerly neglected by existing scholarship, provides a unique opportunity to expand our still scanty knowledge of the different manuscript cultures that the African continent has developed and that often can still be considered as living traditions.

During the last two decades, the (re- )discovery of thousands of manuscripts in different regions of sub-Saharan Africa has questioned the long-standing approach of Africa as a continent only characterized by orality and legitimately assigned to the continent the status of a civilization of written literacy. However, most of the existing studies mainly aim at serving literary and historical purposes, and focus only on the textual dimension of the manuscripts. This book advances on the contrary a holistic approach to the study of these manuscripts and gather contributions on the different dimensions of the manuscript, i.e. the materials, the technologies, the practices and the communities involved in the production, commercialization, circulation, preservation and consumption. The originality of this book is found in its methodological approach as well as its comparative geographic focus, presenting studies on a continental scale, including regions formerly neglected by existing scholarship, provides a unique opportunity to expand our still scanty knowledge of the different manuscript cultures that the African continent has developed and that often can still be considered as living traditions