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This page does not represent the work or necessarily the opinions of Christopher Sunami. These works may be under copyright. If so, all rights are retained by the original author. Reprinted here from sources on the web. Will be removed on request from the copyright holder.
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Hero For Christ
Amina
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).
NEW! Hear this song being sung in Swahili by Peter Otiato (more at bottom of page).
Amina 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
Poems by Shaaban Bin Robert, sung by Peter Otiato: