KIJITI
As I said, Siti was also a politician. Her songs talked of oppresive landlords, unfair, labor practices and other injustices. It's amazing how her songs could invoke protest in people. One of the songs is Kijiti. It's still performed today by her protègè Bi Kidude.
Under the 1920's colonial government the rich paid their way out of getting punished for crimes. Also, women weren't treated fairly and crimes like rape were often blamed on the victim...sounds all too familiar!
KIJITI, is a tale about injustice in then Zanzibar. A woman visiting from Dar es Salaam, was raped and murdered. She was visiting friends in the Ng'ambo* (a then African neighborbood) area. It was also the area where Siti lived. She met her death at the hands of one Kijiti, who managed to escape justice. The two female witnesses were imprisoned.
Lyrics:
(English translation from a paper by Prof. Laura Fair)
Everyone look, look what Kijiti has done
He took a guest and played foliti with her
He took her to the bush and brought her back a corpse.
We left home, we did not ask for permission
Our alcohol in the bag, we took it with us
The dance is in Chukwani, death in Sharifmsa.
Kijiti said to me, "Come on girl, let's go!"
Oh, if only I had known I would have refused, I wouldn't have gone
Kijiti you are killing me for a single shot of booze.
The judge was mad in his chair where he sat
And said, "You bloody fools!" to the witnesses of Kijiti
We put you in jail Sumaili and K the daughter of Subeiti.
These things are amazing everytime we look at them
Kijiti killed someone and in her stomach was a baby
Kijiti crossed the river, the witnesses have drowned.
Kijiti I warn you, don't go to Dar es Salaam
You will meet an old man and he has worn a razor just for you
People are swearing about you, may God give you elephantiasis.
Ng'ambo, Zanzibar 1905
Click below for more Historic photos from Zanzibar:
* The old unplanned Ng'ambo areas in Zanzibar are found at the eastern part of the creek road and were developed between 1840 - 1923.
