Best Swahili Poems
Kakangu kaka fisi
Kila time wala misi
Ulalapo uamka kesi
Kwani wewe mesi?
Wasema wapiga tizi
Tizi tizi na ni kizi
Halafu hauna wasi
Wazi unakaza fizi
I am....
An Ashanti warrior A Bantu dancer
I am a Yoruba royal clothed in my Asooke
Dancing Adowa and kpalogo to tunes from wulomei and masekela
I am proud Masai
Standing around manyattas,
Jumping to melodies from the olaranyani
Eunoto is here and today I dance in front my peers in transition into a senior warrior
Oh how sweet the African rhythms
Imprudently lifting and soul soothing
Sisala sebrew on Akan drums
Highlife explorations unending on opus 1.
I am an Ewe woman
From the lineage of Nerfetiti
And a great great ....grand daughter of Nandi
My Gèle will never fall off
My Dashiki will never fade out
I am a Fulani herdsman
Wandering the Sahel plains of Africa
Along with a fellow Malinke brother
Who speaks fluent igbo and today we revisit our roots in Nok
I’m from Gao
320 km east-southeast of Timbuktu.
A descendant of Sonni Ali ,
Reciting the epic of Sundiata with intertwining soothing kora melodies from Kandia Kouyate
Oh how dazzling the African landscape
And glorious it's Heritage
Such rekindling and Homeric folklores
And a boundless diverse cultures
I am the African dream
mother's only son my father’s only daughter
I'm the incantations of royal fetish and message behind the talking drum
I am the African noble
Free from identity torment
I know of my glorious past and my colourful future
My city will bleed no more
Never again will i be a wanderer
I know my culture
And my alluring language
Ah how powerful the African names
Araba Termytorphe and Ifedayo chant in unity
Diallo Sissoko and Achiaa bestow serenity
Mbali and Lamisi elegantly wore their kente
Tonight we dance to tunes from the kete
For Yaa Asantewaa never gave up the fight
So we lift our hearts with emancipated minds
To reach new heights ! O’ Nana Nyame,
May you forever guide us with your light .
English verse>
gimme sum mutual praise
gimme sum mutual praise
gimme sum mutual praise
All them there people's of the world;
Coastal dwellers praising; All day long, all the day long;
Rejoicing, and repenting of their wrongs.
Everybody on the islands;
Everywhere on the coastal Regions on the seas, lakes, oceans, everywhere;
Sahil praise;
Sawahil praise;
Boundary dwellers
capture to the heavens bound;
Islanders playing bongo-drums and tambores
Imani-faith
Kusudi sabatu purpose, purpose
Rejoicing, and repenting of their wrongs.
Everybody on the islands;
Everywhere on the coastal Regions on the seas, lakes, oceans, everywhere;
Sahil praise;
Sawahil praise;
Boundary dwellers
capture to the heavens bound;
People dancing, praising and praying all day this is their Swahili praise;
Swahili verse>
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
jumla Gimme kuheshimiana sifa
Kwao kuna watu wote wa dunia;
Wakazi wa pwani kumsifu; Mchana kutwa, mchana kutwa;
Kufurahi, na kutubu makosa yao.
Kila mtu katika visiwa;
Kila mahali katika mikoa ya pwani ya bahari, maziwa, bahari, kila mahali;
Sahil sifa;
Sawahil sifa;
Wakazi wa mpaka
kukamata mbingu amefungwa;
Wakaazi wa visiwani kucheza bongo-ngoma na tambores
Imani-imani
Amejenga sabatu lengo, lengo
Kufurahi, na kutubu makosa yao.
Kila mtu katika visiwa;
Kila mahali katika mikoa ya pwani ya bahari, maziwa, bahari, kila mahali;
Sahil sifa;
Sawahil sifa;
Wakazi wa mpaka
kukamata mbingu amefungwa;
Watu kucheza, kumsifu na kuomba siku zote hii ni sifa yao ya Kiswahili;
09/22/17
written by James Edward Lee Sr.
from anthology "Swahili Praise"
written by James Edward Lee Sr.
Ameituliza nafsi yangu
Mkuu wa yote duniani
Iwapo nitapoteza njia
Najua penzi lake 'tanipata
Anivite kwake, aniite wake
Origin of the name Swahili
Or " Kiswahili" ,
One person said , " Iswa ile"
Another person said," Iswa iyi "
Swahili is one of the Bantu
Languages
Like isiZulu , Kifuliru,
Kinyindu, Kikuyu
Xhosa, Chewa, Kivira ,
Kinyarwanda Lingala ,
Tchiluba, Kimakuwa,
Kibemba, Kimasanza
Isivenda, Luganda, Kiluya
Kirundi, Kishi, Kibwari
Kinyamwezi, Isiswathi
Isindebele, Kibembe
Sotho, Kikongo,
Kimongo, Chiyawo
...... so on.
Swahili has little influence
Of Arabic due to Islam in Africa ...
Which does not stand
for its origin
As some people spoke
here
and there
To underestimate
Swahili in the World.
Arabic
And
Swahili have
Different strictrures
And
Grammar
Which prove their big difference
No matter few arabic vocabularies
Are in Swahili,
Same as
In Urdu,
Hindi ,
Persian,
And
So on.
I have never heard
Some people who quoted
About Persian to be originated
From Arabic because of few
Arabic vocabularies
Which are in Persian.
Swahili is Bantu language,
With strictures and grammar
As the above Bantu languages.
June 10th 2023
By Alfonso Warally Ngengethe
Mussabwa Chris
Note:
Iswa: it is a flying insect
which majority
bantu people eat.
"Iyi , ili, " means This...
"Ile, hile" means That...
Iswa hile"ile" means that flying insect,
Iswa hiyi " iyi" means this flying insect.
That is where the name Swahili found its origin.
Swahili people are called
" Baswahili or Waswahili "
Which can stand for Swahili speakers
also.
Authentic Swahili is of DRCongo ,
because it has 1% influence of Arabic as
Muslims don't reach 2 % of the populations.
Mungu
amenisamehe katika dhambi zangu muda
wote
Mungu wangu Mungu wangu
amenisamehe
amenisamehe Wewe imani yangu kuwa
mbali Bado na bado anakusanya matumaini yangu,
ndoto yangu Mungu
amenisamehe Katika dhambi zangu muda wote
Mungu wangu, Mungu wangu Yeye
amenisamehe
amenisamehe katika
dhambi zangu katika
dhambi zangu
nimejazwa neema
Rehema uso
Mungu
amenisamehe
Mungu amenisamehe
Mungu Mungu amenisamehe
3/10/21
written words by James E Lee Sr. 2021©
-- Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You --swahili
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Hakuna mtu anayeweza kuwa bora zaidi kuliko wewe;
Hakuna mtu anayeweza kupamba uzuri wako;
Milele, hivyo kukumbatia;
Na kama upendo kwamba baada yako;
Tafuta Baba
Tafuta Baba
Baba kumpa moja
M imi ndimi huyo;
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Ku Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
kupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Kukupenda wewe Loving you Loving You
Na ikiwa ningeweza kuwa kama unataka;
Nami nitakuwa zaidi ya unahitaji;
Kila kudumu, hivyo kukubali kama mimi kukumbatia wewe
Kukupenda wewe
Kukupenda wewe
Pamoja kama sisi wawili ..
Tafuta Baba, (wote pamoja)
Wewe na mimi kwa upendo
Wewe na mimi wenzi wa roho (wote pamoja)
Kutafuta Baba
Kuwa milele, hivyo kukubali sisi mbili
Milele kukumbatia sisi kufanya
08/29/18
Written by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2018
From anthology “A LOVE FOR YOU”
Lord you yet love me
And I am so glad you do
Ninatubu kwa dhambi zangu
Zot. Bwana wewe bado upendo mimi
Sassssa mimi majuto nillipoteza
Mengi ya haki
Kwa sababu nilikuwa funga juu
Katika dhambi zaangu
Na mimi alikuwa kufurahia kwao
Wakati wote
Tamaa na harufu, vizuri
Sasa mimi inafanyika ya wokovu
Ainipatia
Bwana wewe bado upendo
Mimi
Baba Mungu bado upendo
Mimi wewe bado upendo mimi
Baba Mungu bado upendo
Mimi, wewe upendo kwangu
Na kwa mara moja na kwa wote
Nimekuwa kukombolewa nafsi
Yangu, Oh, Oh, Mungu na nina furaha ulifanya
Bwana wewe bado upendo mimi
Na nina furaha kufanya
And I am so glad you do
Lord you yet love me
Bwana wewe bado upendo mimi
Lord you yet love me
And I am so glad you do
1/25/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.©2019
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata mengi ya kutoa.
Kwa Mataifa haya ambayo hayajaunganishwa.
Ambao watu wengi husemwa vibaya.
Nilipata haki ya kusikilizwa.
Mimi ni chini ya Malaika.
Na mimi ni zaidi ya ndege tu.
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata
nimepata
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata mengi ya kutoa.
Kwa haya
nimepata
nimepata
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata
nimepata
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata mengi ya kutoa.
Kwa Mataifa haya ambayo hayajaunganishwa.
Ambao watu wengi husemwa vibaya.
Nilipata haki ya kusikilizwa.
Mimi ni chini ya Malaika.
Na mimi ni zaidi ya ndege tu.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata
nimepata
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Nilipata mengi ya kutoa.
Kwa haya
nimepata
nimepata
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
Mimi ni mweusi, na nimepata
nimepata
Nilipata haki ya kuishi.
I'm BLACK, and I've got.
I got a right to live.
7/13/20
written words by James Edward Lee Sr.© 2020
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda;
Mtu huyu huko na suti ya kijivu cha flannel;
Yeye huko juu na takataka ya kuzungumza kwa kinywa hizNi jivin kufikiriNi yeye ni mzuri sana;
Na kumchukua dada huyo huko, yeah man i mean yea yeye ni mzuri na mzuri;
Lakini yeye daima anafadhili baadhi ya ndugu fedha na talkin nothN wakati wote
Kidogo giza mpendwa wa Afrika Upendo Mtoto
Talkin bout, talkin bout unajua nini
Ahunda
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda,
Talkin bout 'Ahunda;
Lakini hey, Bobby kuchukua dude huyo amesimama karibu;
Wakati talkin bout Ahunda kila mtu hana tu kusikia sauti;
Hatua mbaya, aibu majadiliano mwenye maumivu;
Ana mpango bora zaidi Amani na kuokoa Ardhi ...
Yeye ni mdogo kuliko wote na yeye ni mrefu sana;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Sasa kukimbia kuwaambia kwamba anajua wapi;
Alizaliwa Marekani mama yake alikuwa Mfrika;
Talkin bout Ahunda, talkin bout Ahunda;
Talkin bout Ahunda, talkin bout Ahunda;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Hivi karibuni kuwa Mtawala wa kabila lake la asili wakati atakuwa mtu
Talkin bout, talkin bout Ahunda
Sema sasa ndugu kuangalia kwamba paka hii ina uhakika ni safi;
Talkin bout Ahunda;
Anatembea kama mazungumzo kama paka ya kibinadamu;
Yeye ni Mama mbaya sana aliyewahi kuona;
……
In someone's bad days with trouble
one can't do much in her struggle
but some support, let’s be humble;
if need be give her a cuddle.
Needed at that instant with care
is to hear her story to share
her sorrow with kindness, be fair
but without suggestion, don't scare.
Patience hearing and a touch to
shoulder will go a long way to
provide comfort, greatest gift to
offer at time of distress too.
She won't remember what words you
told but she would reminisce, you
heard woes, gave needed support too
with fondness, when she's feeling blue.
~X~X~X~
SINNER ONE I COMES BEFORE YOU LORD-
Nina kuja mbele yako
Ninakuja mbele yako
Haipendwi
Ninakuja mbele yako
Mwenye ddhambi
O, Bwana Baba Mungu
O, Bwana Baba Mungu
SINNER ONE I COMES BEFORE YOU LORD-
fikia ndani kabisa ndani yangu (ndani yetu)
Ninafuta kutoka kwangu
Nirekebishe
Nibadillishe upya
Nipe upya
Nikamilishe
SINNER ONE I COMES BEFORE YOU LORD-
Ninakuja kabla huhanimaliza
Hallelujah
8/11/21
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2021 ©
Yahweh Gave-Bwana Alitoa—pt 1
Yahweh give
A hun da, Yahweh praise;
Giving Father all the praise
A hun da, Yahweh gives;
God gives me any and everything, I ask and pray for
Yahweh gives
Only if in Him we worship and adore Him, giving in effort present praise;
Yahweh gives
He gave me life,
He gives us life;
Alleluia
Flowers in the spring He gives;
Summer and autumns and feeds us with His love
Alleluia, Yahweh gives, Yahweh gave
Gave me chances to do what’s right;
Led my heart and eyes into the light;
Hold on tight to the promises delight;
Alleluia
Flowers in spring He does give;
Eternal life if we do His bidding, Yahweh, Yahweh gives..
My God gives me everything in sight;
No need for lanterns in heaven, He’s the eternal light;
Keeps the sparrows in flight;
God gives me any and everything, I ask…
Flowers in the spring He gives;
Summer and autumns and feeds us with His love
Alleluia, Yahweh gives, Yahweh gave
Gave me chances to do what’s right;
Led my heart and eyes into the light;
Hold on tight to the promises delight;
Alleluia, Yahweh gives, gave, gives, Yahweh love, Yahweh gave/gives love, Yahweh gave
11/17/10
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. & arranged music by Jonathan Kabore©2010
For Kabore Praise Music
From Anthology “Johnthan Kabore, Kabore Praise”