Suʾda (Arabic: سودا), also known as Sa'ada (fl. eleventh century), was a legendary Berber princess who is an important character in the oral epic Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah.
Suʾda appears as an important character in the Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah, an epic poem that describes the march of Arab tribes westward. Her father, known as al-Zanatı Khalıfa, held her in esteem, and unusually, had adopted part of her name as his own: Abu Suʾda al Yafrani al Zanatai.[1] He was a Berber general from the Zenata tribe, who fought for the ruler of the Zenata Kingdom Ifranid of Tlemcen[2] It is probable they lived in the region of modern-day Tunisia.[3] Whilst little is known about her early life, she features as an important character in the Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah.[1] One episode of the epic tells how Su'da fell in love with an Arab, but her father refuses to allow her to marry him, so as revenge, Su'da promises to help the Arab enemies of her Berber father.[4] Another version tells how she falls in love with one of her father's prisoners, but the only way she can have him moved to her custody is if she blinds him.[5]
In another episode in the story, she predicts the death of her own father al-Zanatı Khalıfa.[6][3] Su'da's dream predicted that he would die in battle and, according to the epic, he rode out to battle knowing that he would die.[6] In this final battle, al-Zanati Khalifa is beaten by the Arab prince Diyab.[4] After the death of her father, there are several versions of what happened to Su'da. In a North African version of the story, both Su'da and her father are treated sympathetically and Su'da is still respected even after her betrayal of her Berber relatives becomes known.[1]
In the Egyptian version, Su'da is captured and in mourning when Diyab proposes marriage to her. So smitten is he that he forgets his other intention in the storyline - that he was going to free his friend Mar'i who was a prisoner of the Berbers, so Su'da could marry him. She refuses Diyab and he is outraged; since she is his captive he "ordered his servants to increase the burden of labours".[1] According to some versions of the epic Su'da writes a letter to a hero of the Berbers Al-Hasan, who fights Diyab and frees her.[4] In other versions two Arab generals al-Hassan and Abu Zayd vow to rescue her after hearing about her situation - their action would divided the Arab force. A battle subsequently takes place between Arabs and Berbers, which is a draw. Usually, the victor would have married Su'da, but because of the draw, it is decided that whoever wins a horse race will marry Su'da. Diyab wins the horse race, but Su'da continues to reject him by claiming that they are "kin". Diyab is angered by her continuous refusal and stabs her. The wound causes her to die and her life ends in Qayrawan. After her death, Mar'i decided he loved her after all and his grief drives him to insanity. Diyab is imprisoned for her murder but escapes.[1]
Historiographyedit
Since the Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah is an oral poem, there is no singular version of either the poem or the stories within it.[3] They vary from region to region and change and reflect according to the periods in which they are recalled.[7] One of the interesting aspects of the epic is its treatment of women and according to Allen James Fromherz, "women such as Su'da were portrayed as even more noble than the Arab heroes themselves". Comparisons have been drawn between Su'da and the character of Dido from The Aeneid.[1]
Legacyedit
In 2008 the Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah epic, which includes versions of the life of Su'da, was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefj, fromherz allen (2012), Akyeampong, Emmanuel K; Gates, Henry Louis (eds.), "Suʾda", Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001, ISBN978-0-19-538207-5, retrieved 2021-01-15
^Berque, Jacques (1972). "Du nouveau sur les Banî Hilâl?". Studia Islamica (36): 99–111. doi:10.2307/1595452. ISSN 0585-5292. JSTOR 1595452.
^ abcSlyomovics, Susan (2019), "The Arab Oral Epic of the Bani Hilal Tribe: Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah", A Companion to World Literature, American Cancer Society, pp. 1–15, doi:10.1002/9781118635193.ctwl0138, ISBN978-1-118-63519-3, S2CID 211643644, retrieved 2021-02-03
^ abcFromherz, Allen James (2016-03-16). Near West: Medieval North Africa, Latin Europe and the Mediterranean in the Second Axial Age. Edinburgh University Press. p. 104. ISBN978-1-4744-1007-6.
^Galley, Micheline; Gage, Jennifer Curtiss (1998-03-01). "Following the Traces of the Sons of Hilal". Diogenes. 46 (181): 129–149. doi:10.1177/039219219804618110. ISSN 0392-1921. S2CID 143908739.
^ abReynolds, Dwight (2006), Richards, D. S.; Allen, Roger (eds.), "Sīrat Banī Hilāl", Arabic Literature in the Post-Classical Period, The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 307–318, doi:10.1017/chol9780521771603.016, ISBN978-0-521-77160-3, S2CID 191878919, retrieved 2021-02-02
^"The Great Migration of the Bani Hilal - AramcoWorld". www.aramcoworld.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
suʾda, arabic, سودا, also, known, eleventh, century, legendary, berber, princess, important, character, oral, epic, sirah, hilaliyyah, sirah, hilaliyyah, characterin, universe, informationsignificant, othersdiyab, inationalityberber, contents, biography, histo. Suʾda Arabic سودا also known as Sa ada fl eleventh century was a legendary Berber princess who is an important character in the oral epic Al Sirah al Hilaliyyah Su daAl Sirah al Hilaliyyah characterIn universe informationSignificant othersDiyab Mar iNationalityBerber Contents 1 Biography 2 Historiography 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesBiography editSuʾda appears as an important character in the Al Sirah al Hilaliyyah an epic poem that describes the march of Arab tribes westward Her father known as al Zanati Khalifa held her in esteem and unusually had adopted part of her name as his own Abu Suʾda al Yafrani al Zanatai 1 He was a Berber general from the Zenata tribe who fought for the ruler of the Zenata Kingdom Ifranid of Tlemcen 2 It is probable they lived in the region of modern day Tunisia 3 Whilst little is known about her early life she features as an important character in the Al Sirah al Hilaliyyah 1 One episode of the epic tells how Su da fell in love with an Arab but her father refuses to allow her to marry him so as revenge Su da promises to help the Arab enemies of her Berber father 4 Another version tells how she falls in love with one of her father s prisoners but the only way she can have him moved to her custody is if she blinds him 5 In another episode in the story she predicts the death of her own father al Zanati Khalifa 6 3 Su da s dream predicted that he would die in battle and according to the epic he rode out to battle knowing that he would die 6 In this final battle al Zanati Khalifa is beaten by the Arab prince Diyab 4 After the death of her father there are several versions of what happened to Su da In a North African version of the story both Su da and her father are treated sympathetically and Su da is still respected even after her betrayal of her Berber relatives becomes known 1 In the Egyptian version Su da is captured and in mourning when Diyab proposes marriage to her So smitten is he that he forgets his other intention in the storyline that he was going to free his friend Mar i who was a prisoner of the Berbers so Su da could marry him She refuses Diyab and he is outraged since she is his captive he ordered his servants to increase the burden of labours 1 According to some versions of the epic Su da writes a letter to a hero of the Berbers Al Hasan who fights Diyab and frees her 4 In other versions two Arab generals al Hassan and Abu Zayd vow to rescue her after hearing about her situation their action would divided the Arab force A battle subsequently takes place between Arabs and Berbers which is a draw Usually the victor would have married Su da but because of the draw it is decided that whoever wins a horse race will marry Su da Diyab wins the horse race but Su da continues to reject him by claiming that they are kin Diyab is angered by her continuous refusal and stabs her The wound causes her to die and her life ends in Qayrawan After her death Mar i decided he loved her after all and his grief drives him to insanity Diyab is imprisoned for her murder but escapes 1 Historiography editSince the Al Sirah al Hilaliyyah is an oral poem there is no singular version of either the poem or the stories within it 3 They vary from region to region and change and reflect according to the periods in which they are recalled 7 One of the interesting aspects of the epic is its treatment of women and according to Allen James Fromherz women such as Su da were portrayed as even more noble than the Arab heroes themselves Comparisons have been drawn between Su da and the character of Dido from The Aeneid 1 Legacy editIn 2008 the Al Sirah Al Hilaliyyah epic which includes versions of the life of Su da was added to UNESCO s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list 8 References edit a b c d e f j fromherz allen 2012 Akyeampong Emmanuel K Gates Henry Louis eds Suʾda Dictionary of African Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acref 9780195382075 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 538207 5 retrieved 2021 01 15 Berque Jacques 1972 Du nouveau sur les Bani Hilal Studia Islamica 36 99 111 doi 10 2307 1595452 ISSN 0585 5292 JSTOR 1595452 a b c Slyomovics Susan 2019 The Arab Oral Epic of the Bani Hilal Tribe Al Sirah al Hilaliyyah A Companion to World Literature American Cancer Society pp 1 15 doi 10 1002 9781118635193 ctwl0138 ISBN 978 1 118 63519 3 S2CID 211643644 retrieved 2021 02 03 a b c Fromherz Allen James 2016 03 16 Near West Medieval North Africa Latin Europe and the Mediterranean in the Second Axial Age Edinburgh University Press p 104 ISBN 978 1 4744 1007 6 Galley Micheline Gage Jennifer Curtiss 1998 03 01 Following the Traces of the Sons of Hilal Diogenes 46 181 129 149 doi 10 1177 039219219804618110 ISSN 0392 1921 S2CID 143908739 a b Reynolds Dwight 2006 Richards D S Allen Roger eds Sirat Bani Hilal Arabic Literature in the Post Classical Period The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 307 318 doi 10 1017 chol9780521771603 016 ISBN 978 0 521 77160 3 S2CID 191878919 retrieved 2021 02 02 The Great Migration of the Bani Hilal AramcoWorld www aramcoworld com Retrieved 2021 02 03 UNESCO Al Sirah Al Hilaliyyah epic ich unesco org Retrieved 2021 01 30 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Su 27da amp oldid 1163901844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
