Soninke Ajami manuscripts

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The study investigates the 'procurement of writing materials' (p. 320) used in the production of Soninke Ajami manuscripts. The corpus consists of digital images of manuscripts identified in various public and private libraries across Europe and West Africa (p. 320). The research focuses on the transition of spoken instruction into written interlinear and marginal glosses, which involved specific transitional steps in the scribal process (p. 320).

Evidence

"The examination of material aspects of manuscripts, as well as their paracontent, revealed the origin of most manuscripts between the late 18th and early 20th centuries in various locations across Greater Senegambia."

Remarks

The examination of material aspects and paracontent allowed the author to reconstruct the historical and cultural background of the manuscripts (p. 320). The study identified three distinct scholarly networks involved in these materials: 1) The Soninke of traditional provinces (northwest Mali and east Senegal); 2) The Jakhanke centered around Touba, Futa Jallon (Guinea); and 3) The Mandinka-speaking areas of The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and south Senegal (p. 320). Specific manuscripts identified as part of this corpus include BnF Arabe 5657, BnF Arabe 5461, BL MS Or. 6473, JRL MS 780[825], MQB MS AF14722(87), TAS1, and TCD MS 3499 (p. 319).