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Amina:

Lyrics

by Chris Sunami

This is a poem in Swahili by the most famous Swahili-language poet, Shaaban bin Roberts (Shaaban Robert). The translation is original (by Christopher Sunami, 2007).

Amina umejitenga, kufa umetangulia
Kama ua umefunga, baada ya kuchanua
Nakuombea mwanga, Peponi kukubaliwa
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana wa kufungua

Amina, you have removed yourself, gone first into death
Like a flower you have closed, after you had blossomed
I will beg in a clear voice for Heaven to accept you
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

Nilitaka unyanyuke, kwa kukuombea dua
Sikupenda ushindike, maradhi kukuchukua
Ila kwa rehema yake, Mungu amekuchagua
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana wa kufungua

I ask for you this prayer that upwards you will rise
I didn't want you to be defeated by the sickness that took you
Yet in His mercy, God has chosen you
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

Majonzi hayeneneki, kila nikukumbukia
Nawaza kile na hiki, naona kama ruia
Mauti siyasadiki, kuwa mwisho wa dunia
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana wa kufungua

My grief is unspeakable, each time I remember you
I am lost in my thoughts, I see like in a dream
I don't believe that death is the end of the world
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

Nasaidiki haziozi, roho hazitapotea
Twafuata wokozi, kwa mauti kutujia
Nawe, wangu mpenzi, Peponi utaingia
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana wa kufungua

I don't believe they decay, souls cannot be lost
We follow our salvation, since death will come for us
And you my beloved, will surely enter Heaven
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

Jambo moja nakumbuka, sahihi ninalijua
Kuwa sasa umefikia, ta'bu isikosumbua
Kwayo nimefurahika, nyuma nilikobakia
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana kufungua

One thing I remember, correctly I know it
Now that you have arrived, problems can no longer trouble you
By means of this thought, I am able to be happy
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

Ninamaliza kutunga, kwa kukuombea dua
Vumbi tena likiunga, roho likirudishiwa
Mauti yakijitenga, mapenzi yatarejea
Mapenzi tuliyofunga, hapana wa kunfungua

I complete my composition with the words of this prayer
When the dust has settled, may your soul be received
Death will remove itself, and love will be returned
The love we bound together, nothing can loosen

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