Danjori,
-snip-
This video replaces one that was originally embedded but is no longer available.
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Revision - April 16, 2024
This pancocojams post presents information about the KiSwahili word "harambee" (pronounciation hah-RAHM-bay) and showcases a video of Kenyan singer Daudi Kabaka singing "Harambee Harambee". The KiSwahili lyrics for that song and English translation are also included in this post along with selected comments from the discussion thread of another YouTube video of this song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, sociological, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks also Daudi Kabakato for recording this song and thanks to the publishers of this song on YouTube, and the transcribers of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "HARAMBEE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communal_work#Harambee
"Harambee (Swahili: [haˈrambe]) is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g. fundraising or development activities. Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.
Harambee events may range from informal affairs lasting a few hours, in which invitations are spread by word of mouth, to formal, multi-day events advertised in newspapers. These events have long been important in parts of East Africa, as ways to build and maintain communities.
Following Kenya's independence in 1963, the first Prime Minister, and later first President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta adopted "Harambee" as a concept of pulling the country together to build a new nation. He encouraged communities to work together to raise funds for all sorts of local projects, pledging that the government would provide their startup costs. Under this system, wealthy individuals wishing to get into politics could donate large amounts of money to local harambee drives, thereby gaining legitimacy; however, such practices were never institutionalised during Kenyatta's presidency."...
-snip-
Another example of the word "harambee" being used in Kenya is that the Kenyan national soccer team is colloquially known as the "Harambee Stars".
I recall "Harambee!" being used in 1967 and 1968 as a rallying call for members of CFUN, the Committee For Unified Newark in Newark, New Jersey the afrocentric organization that I belonged to. My recollection is that when we chanted "Harambee!" we would pantomime the gesture of pulling hard on a rope (as done in the tug of war game).
Since at least the late 1970s, it has become relatively commong for the KiSwahili word "harambee" to be used as a name for African American community organizations and art festivals. The word "harambee" is also used in the names of a number of primary or secondary schools that have predominately Black American students.
****
LYRICS VIDEO FOR FOR "HARAMBEE HARAMBEE"
Here's the Google translate for those lyrics (from KiSwahili to English)
[retrieved on April 16, 2024:
-snip-
"Unity" or "work for unity" may be the best English translations for the Swahili word "harambee". However, in my limited experience in the United States with Kiswahili, "harambee" was always translated as "all pull together".
It's interesting that Google translate gives the word "synergy" as a definition for that word. Here's a definition for from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synergy:
"the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism."
-snip-
Betty Achieng, a commenter in 2013 on the discussion thread for the YouTube video of "Harambee Harambee" that was no longer available in 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n8ZvhiGMm8) wrote this about that song:
"In Unity, let us sing together, so that we build our government (country). Many said Kenya would experience turmoil, but Kenyans, let's be wise. Let's pull together in unity so that we are led in a secure environment. Kenyans, we have no favorites, we love all races."
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A DISCUSSION THREAD OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS VIDEO
These selected comments are from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n8ZvhiGMm8 *
Harambee, Harambee - Daudi Kabaka
bwanakeino Uploaded on Jan 17, 2008
*This video is no longer available.
These comments are given in relative order based on their posting date with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order.
kiboko52, 2010
"It seems that you cannot go back but the songs of yesterday echo painfully and bring back many memories. The red soil, the Ngong Hills, the Rift Valley, the light in Mombasa, and the rhythm of the wananchi. These are sacred memories that remind and bind us Kenyans wherever we live.
Oh for the simpler days of yesteryear."
**
daveshiwani, 2010
"Fellow kenyans we have to embrace this song by all means if we have to stay in harmony not only inkenya but also with our neighbours"
**
Mayoka Zemuba, 2012
"These were the golden days of Kenya. Harambeee."
**
hotello2009, 2012
"I heard it first 35 years ago, the song was from Fadhili ....quelli erano tempi..."
-snip-
That comment suggest that Fadhili William was the composer of the song "Harambee Harambee". Here's information about "Fadhili" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fadhili_William
"Fadhili William Mdawida (most often referred to simply as Fadhili William) (November 11, 1938 – February 11, 2001), was a Kenyan musician/composer who is most famous for his song "Malaika" which he recorded with his band 'The Jambo Boys' around 1963.[1]"...
**
Jecinta Gregory, 2013
"The days I was woken up in the morning by this song meant it was a public holiday in the Moi era. Now Kenya is full of politicians who are preaching tribalism instead of working in togetherness. Kenya imekuwa matata sasa! Ubaguzi umezidi!"
-snip-
Google translate for KiSwahili to English: Kenya has trouble now! Discrimination intensified!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest Revision - April 16, 2024
This pancocojams post presents information about the KiSwahili word "harambee" (pronounciation hah-RAHM-bay) and showcases a video of Kenyan singer Daudi Kabaka singing "Harambee Harambee". The KiSwahili lyrics for that song and English translation are also included in this post along with selected comments from the discussion thread of another YouTube video of this song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, sociological, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks also Daudi Kabakato for recording this song and thanks to the publishers of this song on YouTube, and the transcribers of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "HARAMBEE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communal_work#Harambee
"Harambee (Swahili: [haˈrambe]) is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g. fundraising or development activities. Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.
Harambee events may range from informal affairs lasting a few hours, in which invitations are spread by word of mouth, to formal, multi-day events advertised in newspapers. These events have long been important in parts of East Africa, as ways to build and maintain communities.
Following Kenya's independence in 1963, the first Prime Minister, and later first President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta adopted "Harambee" as a concept of pulling the country together to build a new nation. He encouraged communities to work together to raise funds for all sorts of local projects, pledging that the government would provide their startup costs. Under this system, wealthy individuals wishing to get into politics could donate large amounts of money to local harambee drives, thereby gaining legitimacy; however, such practices were never institutionalised during Kenyatta's presidency."...
-snip-
Another example of the word "harambee" being used in Kenya is that the Kenyan national soccer team is colloquially known as the "Harambee Stars".
I recall "Harambee!" being used in 1967 and 1968 as a rallying call for members of CFUN, the Committee For Unified Newark in Newark, New Jersey the afrocentric organization that I belonged to. My recollection is that when we chanted "Harambee!" we would pantomime the gesture of pulling hard on a rope (as done in the tug of war game).
Since at least the late 1970s, it has become relatively commong for the KiSwahili word "harambee" to be used as a name for African American community organizations and art festivals. The word "harambee" is also used in the names of a number of primary or secondary schools that have predominately Black American students.
****
LYRICS VIDEO FOR FOR "HARAMBEE HARAMBEE"
Daudi Kabaka -Harambee Harambee - (Lyrics video)
Quantumb music, May 31, 2023 #swahilimusic #musiclyrics #lyricvideo
this is a swahili song sang to bring Kenyans together
Harambee , Harambee
Tuimbe pamoja
Harambee , Harambee
Tuimbe pamoja
Harambee , Harambee
Tuimbe pamoja
Tujenge Serikali
Wengi walisema
Kenya itakuwa matataa
Wengi walisema
Kenya itakuwa matataa
Wengi walisema
Kenya itakuwa matataa
Watu wote wastaarabu
Wananchi Harambee
tuvute pamoja
Wananchi Harambee
tuvute pamoja
Wananchi Harambee
tuvute pamoja
Muongoze na usalama
Watu Kenya hatuna
ubaguzi
Watu Kenya hatuna
ubaguzi
Watu Kenya hatuna
ubaguzi
kila rangi tunaipenda
Here's the Google translate for those lyrics (from KiSwahili to English)
[retrieved on April 16, 2024:
Synergy, Synergy
Let's sing together
Synergy, Synergy
Let's sing together
Synergy, Synergy
Let's sing together
Let's build a government
Many said
Kenya will be troubled
Many said
Kenya will be troubled
Many said
Kenya will be troubled
All civilized people
Harambee Citizens
let's pull together
Harambee Citizens
let's pull together
Harambee Citizens
let's pull together
Guide him to safety
We don't have people in Kenya
discrimination
We don't have people in Kenya
discrimination
We don't have people in Kenya
discrimination
we love every color
-snip-
"Unity" or "work for unity" may be the best English translations for the Swahili word "harambee". However, in my limited experience in the United States with Kiswahili, "harambee" was always translated as "all pull together".
It's interesting that Google translate gives the word "synergy" as a definition for that word. Here's a definition for from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synergy:
"the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.; synergism."
-snip-
Betty Achieng, a commenter in 2013 on the discussion thread for the YouTube video of "Harambee Harambee" that was no longer available in 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n8ZvhiGMm8) wrote this about that song:
"In Unity, let us sing together, so that we build our government (country). Many said Kenya would experience turmoil, but Kenyans, let's be wise. Let's pull together in unity so that we are led in a secure environment. Kenyans, we have no favorites, we love all races."
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A DISCUSSION THREAD OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS VIDEO
These selected comments are from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n8ZvhiGMm8 *
Harambee, Harambee - Daudi Kabaka
bwanakeino Uploaded on Jan 17, 2008
*This video is no longer available.
These comments are given in relative order based on their posting date with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order.
kiboko52, 2010
"It seems that you cannot go back but the songs of yesterday echo painfully and bring back many memories. The red soil, the Ngong Hills, the Rift Valley, the light in Mombasa, and the rhythm of the wananchi. These are sacred memories that remind and bind us Kenyans wherever we live.
Oh for the simpler days of yesteryear."
**
daveshiwani, 2010
"Fellow kenyans we have to embrace this song by all means if we have to stay in harmony not only inkenya but also with our neighbours"
**
Mayoka Zemuba, 2012
"These were the golden days of Kenya. Harambeee."
**
hotello2009, 2012
"I heard it first 35 years ago, the song was from Fadhili ....quelli erano tempi..."
-snip-
That comment suggest that Fadhili William was the composer of the song "Harambee Harambee". Here's information about "Fadhili" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fadhili_William
"Fadhili William Mdawida (most often referred to simply as Fadhili William) (November 11, 1938 – February 11, 2001), was a Kenyan musician/composer who is most famous for his song "Malaika" which he recorded with his band 'The Jambo Boys' around 1963.[1]"...
**
Jecinta Gregory, 2013
"The days I was woken up in the morning by this song meant it was a public holiday in the Moi era. Now Kenya is full of politicians who are preaching tribalism instead of working in togetherness. Kenya imekuwa matata sasa! Ubaguzi umezidi!"
-snip-
Google translate for KiSwahili to English: Kenya has trouble now! Discrimination intensified!
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Actually the origin of the word Har Ambe comes from the time Indian laborers were building the railways - and when pulling together they would loudly shout Har Ambe - meaning "Great Indian God Ambe give us strenght"... AMBE is an Indian Godess that gives streght. Just like the word Juggernaut- comes from the massive chariot ofLord Jaggan Nath
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that information, Anonymous.
DeleteI read that explanation online, but didn't know if that was actually were the word "harambee" came from.
I should have included that origin. I'm glad that you posted it.
I love this song! I first learned it as a young performer in an "Up with People" cast that traveled across upper New York State. We performed this song in many cities along the route of the old Erie Canal in the summer of 1968. The story about the tragic killing of the rare gorilla named Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo in May 2016 jogged my memory of this song, and I went searching for the song in iTunes. I tried everything and kept coming up short, until I located your blogspot and was so glad to find that my memory had not betrayed me. I was disappointed to find that none of the many professional “Up with People” albums had recorded the song – but I was also gratified to realize that someone in our local “Up with People” cast had possessed the depth of background and understanding to include “Harambee, Harambee” in our repertoire, especially since it represented not only a very upbeat piece of world music, but also a struggle that had taken place very recently in Kenya, which connected very aptly to the civil rights movement taking place at that time in our own country. Thanks again for the lyrics and the recording and the history of the song!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Bucarelli, Erie, PA
Greetings, Elizabeth Bucarelli.
DeleteI"m glad you found this blog.
Thanks for sharing your memories of the "Up With People" concerts.
For those who weren't aware of the tragic killing of the gorilla Harambe, here's a Wikipedia article about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Harambe.
I just read your comments to Harambee. I live in Switzerland and was part of up with people 1968 - and I had the opportunity to meet the Gruppe ‚up with People kenja‘. I don’t know how many times I sang the Song ‚Harambee‘ on Stage. To day I have been talking with a friend - she is a very known Gospel singer - about African music - so I told her my experience with this music and with the song Harambee - I also rememberd the words. So I was looking in the Internet - and I recognized this Page. Thank you.
DeleteSylvia
Greetings, Sylvia.
DeleteThanks for sharing your memories about this song. Are you saying that you were part of a group in Switzerland and sang this song on stage in that nation or did you move to Switzerland later on from an African nation?
Regardless, I am glad to meet you over the internet. Best wishes and keep on keeping on!
Azizi
I meant to also thank you for another reason. As a result of your comment, I learned that the video I had embedded in this post was no longer available. So I added another video.
DeleteAshe!
That video was also deleted and another video of that song was added on April 16, 2024.
DeleteHELP!!!! I am yet to see a satisfactory translation for MUONGOZE NA USALAMA.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Anonymous. I only understand English and don't even know what language those words you asked about are in. Hopefully, you will find someone to help you.
Delete