Dobrý sen se neprozrazuje / Ndoto njema haihadithiwi (100 svahilských přísloví) – Mikeš Pavel (2025)

The book presents 100 Swahili proverbs in their original Swahili wording and in Czech translation. It brings us age-old wisdom from East African sailors, traders, farmers, fishermen, and hunters. Swahili is the most significant language in Africa south of the Sahara. It is spoken by up to 200 million people in Kenya, Tanzania including Zanzibar, Uganda, eastern Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, northern Zambia, and along the coast of Mozambique. Due to its extensive practical use, it is one of the most studied languages in Africa. Swahili culture is an interesting synthesis of African and Middle Eastern cultures. The Swahili people have a millennia-old maritime history and have traded with countries around the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Mediterranean since ancient times. As a result, Swahili contains words from the languages of the Middle East, Persian Gulf, India, and Madagascar.
The book is organized so that each Swahili proverb is presented in the original Swahili text followed immediately by its Czech translation. If a proverb requires further clarification, it is supplemented with a brief explanation. The book is adorned with 50 colorful illustrations by David Ledvinka. In the afterword, translator Pavel Mikeš introduces readers to the spread and history of Swahili, as well as the basics of pronunciation and grammar. The book...