Siku ya Uruhu – Miaka Hamsini

Siku ya Uruhu – Miaka Hamsini

December 9, 2011 marks a very special day here – the 50th anniversary of Tanzania’s independence!

JBFC celebrated this holiday with my two favorite things—good food and dancing! With an American spin on a Tanzanian celebration, we had a good ol’ fashioned cookout with hot dogs and Wonderbread-esque bread slices for buns. Mama Maggie spent the whole day frying up “chips,” which everyone enjoyed tremendously. We went through two bottles of ketchup…a true sign of a good night.

After enjoying our feast on the patio at Dad’s house, we moved the festivities to the dining hall. The “choir,” meaning ALL our girls, performed several songs with accompaning dances. After studying their moves, I may have joined in for the last one…a song about peace.

In honor of today’s celebration, here are the lyrics (and translation) to Tanzania’s National Anthem. We are all very happy to live in a nation of peace.

Mungu ibariki Afrika
Wabariki Viongozi wake
Hekima Umoja na Amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.

Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.

Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na Umoja
Wake kwa Waume na Watoto
Mungu Ibariki,
Tanzania na watu wake.

Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.

English Translation

God Bless Africa.
Bless its leaders.
Let Wisdom Unity and
Peace be the shield of
Africa and its people.

Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless the children of Africa.

God Bless Tanzania.
Grant eternal Freedom and Unity
To its sons and daughters.
God Bless Tanzania and its People.

Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless the children of Tanzania.