African Gospel Lyrics

(Sung in Swahili)

Najifika jersey (I put on my poet’s clothing)
Wazia kudondoa (To drop some advice)
Kama Ayubu wa Uzi (Like Job of Uz)
Kwa wal’otiwa doa (For those with stains)
Umeshakatwa mizizi (You have been cut to the roots)
Kizi’ kilala ‘dongoni (The stump lies on the ground)

Refrain:
Lipo tumaini (But there is hope)
Kwa mti ul’okatwa (For the tree that is cut)
Maana ukikatwa (For although it is cut)
Utachipuka tena (It will sprout again)

Wamekupa kisogo (They have turned their backs on you)
Wa karibu wendani (Your closest friends)
Kote ni zogozogo (All around you is gossip)
Kunguni kitandani (Your marriage is broken)
Ni mambo ya kupiga konde (Be courageous)
Macho kazia mbinguni (And fix your eyes to heavens)

(Refrain)

Jasho lichuruza (You worked hard)
Kakubariki Jalali (And God blessed you)
Lo ikakwaruza (But the enemy attacked you)
Likapotea mali (And you lost it all)
Umebaki fukara (You have become destitute)
Wala kwa majalala (You eat from rubbish pits)

(Refrain)

Repeat: Sema (Say it!)
Aaa, Lije gharika (Though the floods come)
Aaa, Liwake jua (Though the sun shines)
Aaa, Ije dhoruba (Though the storm comes)
Aaa, Tutasimamama siye (We shall stand firm)

Repeat: Nyuma (Back)
Aaa, Haturejei (We shall not turn)
Aaa, Tumeshahama (We have already left)

Aaa (mbele) (Forwards)
Twaenda mbele (mbele) (We move forwards)

Bridge:
Tumeregarega sisi, gaturudi nyuma (We do not turn back)
Mbele tu (We only move forwards)
Raha kwa Yesu! (Joy in the Lord)
Cheza, cheza, cheza! (Dance!)
Kwa Yesu kuna tumaini (In Jesus there is hope)
Watoto wa pwani mpo? (Children of the coast, are you in the house?)
Tuko sisi hapa, tunacheza tu (We are here, we are dancing)

Tuinue tenzi (Let us raise our psalms)
Nyimbo za rohoni (The spiritual songs)
Kwake mwenyezi (To the almighty)
Kaja na imani (For He came with peace)
Kwa dalili ya maji (And with the sign of water)
Miche itachomoza (New sprouts shall emerge)

(Refrain)