A flowery title

The Arabic title Qiṣṣati Yūsufu (‘The Story of Joseph’) in black ink is highlighted by its placement inside a leaf and flower motif in green and red ink. The title, as well as the poem, must be read from right to left, and vowels are superscript or subscript.

The floral motif, most likely featuring acanthus leaves, was a very peculiar calligraphic ornament that framed many other title-pieces or covers of works, for instance, the frontispiece of the well-known Al-Inkishafi ‘The Soul’s Awakening’. The motif is also rendered on wooden doors that the craftsman Kijuma used to carve on Lamu island, where the poem was composed.(see the images above)Read and see more on Muhamadi Kijuma multiple talents and works in Abou Egl 1983, 288 and Miehe &Vierke 2010)