A Familiar Tune

I heard a familiar tune in the car yesterday. Jonas didn’t believe me that there are English lyrics, but I finally convinced him by singing them over the Swahili version.

Today, we tracked down the one hymnal on campus so I could copy out the words and memorize them. Want to try singing along? Swahili is very phonetic, so you should give it a try. The only trick is pronouncing every vowel separately. For example, the two AA’s at the end of “nashangaa” each represent their own syllable.

The next song I want to learn is the one about Jesus being a “muzungu.” I’ll work out a translation for you one of these days!

Bwana Mungu, Nashangaa – How Great Thou Art

Verse One

Bwana Mungu, nashangaa kabisa

Nikifikiri jinsi vilivyo

Nyota, ngurumo, vitu vyote pia

Viumbwavyo kwa uwezo wako.

Chorus

Roho yangu na ikuimbie

Jinsi Wewe ulivyo Mkuu

Roho yangu na ikuimbie

Jinsi Wewe ulivyo Mkuu

Verse Two

Nikitembea pote duniani,

Ndege huimba, nawasikia,

Milima hupendeza macho sana

Upepo nao nafurahia

Verse Three

Nikikumbuka vile Wewe Mungu

Ulivyom-peleka Mwanao

Afe azichukue dhambi zetu

Kuyatambua ni vigumu mno.

Verse Four

Yesu Mwokozi utakaporudi

Kunichukua kwenda mbinguni

Nitaimba sifa zako milele

Wote wajue jinsi ulivyo.