Five Examples Of The KiSwahili song "Baba Yetu" ("The Lord's Prayer)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Updated: November 17, 2019: title change & unavailable video replaced

This pancocojams post provides information about the religious song "Baba Yetu". Song lyrics and five videos of that song are also included in this post.

"Baba Yetu" is a KiSwahili (Swahili) adaptation of "The Lord's Prayer ("Our Father Who Art In Heaven") that is found in Matthew 6:9-13 of the Bible.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Christopher Tin, the composer of this song from Bible verses. Thanks also to all those who are featured in the videos that are embedded is this post and all those who are quoted in this post. And thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yetu
"Baba Yetu" is a song by composer Christopher Tin. It was composed in 2005 when video game designer Soren Johnson, Tin's former roommate at Stanford, asked him to compose the theme song for Civilization IV.[1] It was sung by Ron Ragin[2] and the Stanford Talisman.[3] For its re-release in Tin's debut album Calling All Dawns, it was sung by Ron Ragin and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

In 2007, "Baba Yetu" was released by Alfred Music Publishing,[4] and in 2011 it was rearranged by Tin for an SATB a cappella choir with optional percussion accompaniment.[5]...

Awards and Achievements
On December 5, 2010, it was reported that "Baba Yetu" was nominated for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in the 'Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)' category, making it the first video game theme nominated for a Grammy Award.[7] On February 13, 2011, it was announced as the winner of its category, making it the first piece of music composed for a video game to win a Grammy Award.[8] At the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards, "Baba Yetu" was the winner in the 'Song Used in Film/TV/Multimedia' and 'World Beat Song' categories,[9] and at the 2006 Game Audio Network Guild (GANG) Awards in 2006 it won Tin two awards.[10]"...

Lyrics
The lyrics of "Baba Yetu" (which means "Our Father") are a Swahili language-translation of the Lord’s Prayer.

Swahili - "Baba Yetu"
Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu amina!
Baba yetu yetu uliye
M jina lako e litukuzwe.
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji, utusamehe

Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele!
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni.
(Amina)


English

Our Father, who art
in Heaven. Amen!
Our Father,
Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread,
Forgive us of
our trespasses,
As we forgive others
Who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one forever.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
(Amen)
-snip-
The KiSwahili lyrics that are given above are a condensed version of those lyrics. The lyrics as they are actually sung are given in the subtitles to the video given as Example #3 and in a comment from the discussion thread for the video given as Example #5 below.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu (Official Music Video)



Christopher Tin, Uploaded on Oct 29, 2009

"Baba Yetu", the hit theme to Civilization IV - composed by Christopher Tin and featured on the Grammy-winning album 'Calling All Dawns'. First video game piece to ever win a Grammy award, for "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)". Performed by the Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

To purchase albums or sheet music, or for more information, visit www.christophertin.com.

Premiered at Carnegie Hall on October 19th, 2009. Featuring footage from the Civilization series, courtesy of Firaxis and 2K Games. Directed by Brooke Hanson (www.brookephanson.com).
-snip-
Here's information about the Civilization video game:
"Sid Meier's Civilization is a turn-based "4X"-type strategy video game created by Sid Meier and Bruce Shelley for MicroProse in 1991.[3][4] The game's objective is to "Build an empire to stand the test of time": it begins in 4000 BC and the players attempt to expand and develop their empires through the ages from the ancient era until modern and near-future times. It is also known simply as Civilization, Civilization I, or abbreviated to Civ or Civ I."...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_(video_game)

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Example #2: Baba Yetu - Gospel Choir in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania



AfricanSolarRise Uploaded on Feb 16, 2011

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Example #3: Baba Yetu - Stellenbosch University Choir



Stellenbosch University Choir, Dec 24, 2018
-snip-
Christopher Tin, arranged by André van der Merwe
-snip-
Updated November 17, 2019- This replaces a video that is no longer available

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Example #4: 'Baba Yetu' in Africa (The Lord's Prayer in Swahili) Members from BYU Men's Chorus (Christopher Tin)



BYU Men's Chorus Published on Mar 22, 2016
-snip-
"BYU" = Brigham Young University (Utah)

The soloist is Dan Hall.

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Example #5: Baba Yetu (The Lord's Prayer in Swahili)-Alex Boyé, BYU Men's Chorus & Philharmonic; Christopher Tin



Alex Boye Published on Mar 22, 2016
-snip-
Alex Boyé was born in the UK and is of Nigerian descent. He's now a United State citizen and is a Mormon convert who lives in Utah

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