Help to translate Mahdi Flag (1897)

Jim McDougall · 1st January 2023, 08:59 PM

Peter, thank you SO much for these thorough accounts of these campaigns which really add dimension on this fascinating flag!

Ah yes!! BUNYORO!!! its amazing how small this African world and its history becomes as we learn more

and as always, it is the weapons, and items related to these peoples are what compels us to keep going, and learning.

ShakaAmaZulu · 12th June 2023, 08:33 AM

Thanks to my friend, translation is done in french & english !

Texte central (Central text):

Nabī allah / prophete de Dieu / Prophet of God
Yā allah yā allah / O Dieu O Dieu / O God O God
lā al-wajl la-ka / ne crains rien / Don’t fear anything
Kalb abyaḍ / chien (sic) blanc / White dog
Taghallaba / que [Dieu nous] donne la victoireThat / [God] gives us victory

Marge gauche (Left margin):

Allah yuÂ‘āfī-ka / Dieu te garde en bonne sante / God keeps you healthy
Allah yuhannīÂ’-ka / Dieu te felicite / God congratulate you

Marge droite (Right margin):

[--] allah / [--] Dieu / [--] God
Lā yajī-ka sharr / aucun mal ne t’atteindra / No harm will reach you
Allah yarwī-nā wajha-k bi-khayr / Dieu t’assure le bien / God assures you of good

Just one word [--] is missing.

Next work is to restore the flag

12th June 2023, 08:33 AM	#2
ShakaAmaZulu Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Paris, France Posts: 15	Translation done ! Thanks to my friend, translation is done in french & english ! Texte central (Central text): Nabī allah / prophete de Dieu / Prophet of God Yā allah yā allah / O Dieu O Dieu / O God O God lā al-wajl la-ka / ne crains rien / Don’t fear anything Kalb abyaḍ / chien (sic) blanc / White dog Taghallaba / que [Dieu nous] donne la victoireThat / [God] gives us victory Marge gauche (Left margin): Allah yuÂ‘āfī-ka / Dieu te garde en bonne sante / God keeps you healthy Allah yuhannīÂ’-ka / Dieu te felicite / God congratulate you Marge droite (Right margin): [--] allah / [--] Dieu / [--] God Lā yajī-ka sharr / aucun mal ne t’atteindra / No harm will reach you Allah yarwī-nā wajha-k bi-khayr / Dieu t’assure le bien / God assures you of good Just one word [--] is missing. Next work is to restore the flag

1st January 2023, 08:59 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,454	Peter, thank you SO much for these thorough accounts of these campaigns which really add dimension on this fascinating flag! Ah yes!! BUNYORO!!! its amazing how small this African world and its history becomes as we learn more and as always, it is the weapons, and items related to these peoples are what compels us to keep going, and learning.