Tanzanian Singer Nandy - "Kivuruge" (information, video, lyrics, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Tanzanian singer and showcases one video of her hit song

Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are also included in this post. Explanatory notes are given after some of these comments.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Nandy for her music. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT NANDY
From http://www.coca-cola.co.ke/cokestudio/home/artists/season05/nandy/
"NANDY

MEET THE AFRICAN PRINCESS
25-year-old Nandy is one of the fastest rising female artistes from Tanzania. Known for her hit songs “One Day” and “Nagusagusa”, Nandy is a talented vocalist who earned a second place spot at the Tecno Own the Stage (2015/2016) music contest held in Nigeria. She makes her debut on Coke Studio Africa 2017 paired with Betty G from Ethiopia.

THE JOURNEY
Nandy started her music career in 2010 when she got to record her first three singles. She later joined one of Tanzania’s leading bands, B Band, performing alongside Banana Zorro for a couple of years. Her break into the limelight came after the Tecno competition, a show that earned her crucial recognition beyond Tanzania. The songstress then joined Tanzanian record label THT MEDIA and released her hit single “Bye” (My Ex).

MUSIC MEETS FASHION

[...]

Away from music, Nandy is also a fashionista and has an African attire store known as Nandi African Prints.

HER LIFE STORY
Nandy was born as Faustina Charles Mfinaga in 1992 to Maria and Charles Mfinaga in Moshi, northern Tanzania. She attended Julius Kambarage Nyerere Primary School and later joined Lomwe High School."...
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from an article about the Tecno Own The Stage that is mentioned above:
From http://allafrica.com/stories/201602120881.html
Tanzania: Heartbreak for Tanzania's Nandy in Lagos by Paul Owere12 FEBRUARY 2016
"It was heartbreak for Tanzania's Nandy over the weekend after Nigeria's Shaapera Makepeace emerged winner of the first edition of Tecno Own the Stage.

Tecno Own the Stage is a karaoke contest which featured 15 contestants from Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Shaapera, who was crowned at the grand finale of the contest in Lagos last Sunday defeated three other finalists; Nandy from Tanzania, Pascal and Sikin from Kenya to claim the coveted prize of $25,000 plus a recording deal."...
-snip-
Nandy's nickname is "the African Princess".

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Nandy - Kivuruge (Official Video)



The African Princess, Published on Dec 19, 2017

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LYRICS- "KIVURUGE" (Original Swahili lyrics)
(as sung by Nandy)*

From http://lyricstranslate.com/en/nandy-kivuruge-lyrics.html#ixzz5ACAiW8hC

"Ulienipa maumivu me kama nyang'au
Na tena maumivu dawa ninywe vidonge
Kwa marafiki mashosti ukanidharau
Ukanitia uvivu stress niwe mnyonge
Oh oho ulie nipa maumivu me kama nyang'au
Na tena maumivu dawa ninywe vidonge, hmm
Kwa marafiki mashosti ukanidharau
Ukanitia uvivu stress niwe mnyonge

Leo sina thamani ndo maana
Unawafata milupo oh baba
Leo sina thamani eeeh ndo maana
Unawafata milupo oh baba, we niache

Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (niache niende salama)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (we niache)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (niache niende salama)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (aaah ooh)

Mara ugomvi unakurupua unanitukana mimi
Hata zawadi nikikuretea ausemi asante
Tena na share hata bila kujua wewe uridhiki kwa nini
Kuna wakati nilijisumbua mwenzangu usiwaze
Kwangu moyo we unauchanganya a
Umekuwa kivuruge unavuruga sana baba we
Kitugani kwako mi sijafanya, eeeh
Ama kuna mtu mnapendana sana

Leo sina thamani ndo maana
Unawafata ma sister duu ooh baba
Leo sina thamani eeh ndo maana
Unawafata ma sister duu ooh baba, we niache

Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (niache)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (nitapona kidogo kidogo)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona (nitapona mimi)
Nitapona mdogo mdogo nitapona
Aiyoyoiyoooh"

Source: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/nandy-kivuruge-lyrics.html
-snip-
*I'm not sure who composed this song. If you know this information, please share it in the comment section below. Thanks!

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LYRICS- KIVURUGE (English translation)
(as sung by Nandy)

"Turn off
You have given me pain like a scab
And again pain pain and other tablets
For budgets friends do not condemn
You made me shy stress and become a wretched man
Oh oh, you've hurt me like a hawk!
And again pain pain with other tablets, hmm
For budgets friends do not condemn
You made me shy stress and become a wretched man
Today I do not value it worth it
You take them pipes oh father
Today I do not value eeeh i mean
You take them piles oh baba, we'll stop
I will survive the youngest I will recover (let me go safely)
I will survive the youngest I will recover (we leave)
I will survive the youngest I will recover (let me go safely)
I will survive the little girl I will recover (aaah ooh)
Once you quarrel you curse me
Even the gift I am writing to thank you thank you
Also share and do not even know what you are for
There was a time when I was worried about my friend
To our heart you mix a
You have been a turmoil that hurts our father
What you think of me I have not done, eeeh
There is someone you love very much
Today I do not value it worth it
You take my sister duu ooh baba
Today I do not value yes i mean
You take my sister duu ooh baba, we'll stop
I will survive the little girl I will recover (stop)
I will recover a little girl I will recover (I will recover a little bit)
I will recover a little girl I will recover (I will recover)
I will survive the little girl I will recover
Aiyoyoiyoohoh"


From http://lyricstranslate.com/en/nandy-kivuruge-lyrics.html#ixzz5ACBIoP3X Submitted by ulissescoroa on Fri, 19/12/2017
-snip-
These English translations are given "as is" without any attempt to change them into American English. As a result, some of the words and phrases make no sense in American English.

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SELECTED COMMENTS
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.

I'm interested in learning and sharing the meanings for several Swahili words that are found in some of the comments in this discussion thread.

I'm also interested in documenting the use of vernacular words and spelling in these comments as well as documenting the nationality of the non-Tanzanian commenters in this video's discussion thread. Additions and corrections are welcome for these notes.

Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only. All of these comments are from 2018.
1. Olena Brückmann
Nzuri sana😥😘😘😘
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "nzuri" = "good"
Google translation from Swahili to English for "sana" = "very"

**
2. Michael Kisingi
"whenever i watch the video tears comes out, great song nandy its a true representation of a dejected one, great video, everything is cool with regard to the message. thumbs up!! . all the way from Kasai Congo."

**
3. Juma Hemmed
"ngoma kali"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "ngoma"= song
Google translation from Swahili to English for "ngoma"= severe

However, https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/swahili-word-e7e971e55af10f713238780785ec5e63720509f0.html gives these meanings for the Swahili word "kali" = "acute, severe, terrific, sharper. mild. scorching, strict, veiled."

As a result of those choices, in this context, it's likely that "ngoma kali" means "terrific song".
-snip-
Here's another translation for "ngoma" from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ngoma
"ngoma
NOUN
(in East Africa) a dance; a night of dancing and music.

‘traditional ngoma, incorporating music, dance, and drama’
count noun ‘she was walking out one evening to an ngoma’
More example sentences"

Origin
Kiswahili, literally ‘drum, dance, music’.

**
4. KAYZOR SING
"Big up Nandy nice song. You got my attention. All way from USA"
-snip-
Here's a definition for "Big up" from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=big%20up
"(noun) origin - jamaican 1980s. singular and plural.
1. An expression of support or encouragement.
2. An expression of remembrance.

origin - "Up" is an english term used to mean elevation. Therefore the term "big up" literally means to elevate highly or to a superlative degree.
"I want to big up everyone who has shown me support over the years."
"Big up on that excellent performance"
by neochin June 17, 2004


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REPLY
5. Lucy Honore
"SULTAN KHALFAN upo state gani"
Google translation from Swahili to English for "upo state gani"= "what the state is" [What state are you from?]

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REPLY
6. KAYZOR SING
"Lucy Honore Texas"

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REPLY
7. Lucy Honore
"Ooooh
Minnesota"

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REPLY
8. Azizi Powell
"If I might join in this exchange- , I also love Nandy's voice and this video. I'm also from the USA- Pennsylvania and just happened upon this song while looking for contemporary East African music.

One love!"

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9. Famz Noor
"So nice song Nandy.. I think hii ina maana ya kwamba " Once a woman says NO means NO MORE for you boy" Bless you Nandy. Keep it up!!"
-SNIP-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "hii ina maana ya kwamba" = "this means that"
-snip-
"Keep it up" is a phrase that is frequently found in comments on YouTube discussion threads for a contemporary African music video (for all regions excluding North Africa). I believe that "Keep it up" has the same meaning as the American saying "Keep up the good work".

**
10. Baby Oscar
"NYC song mum"
-snip-
"NYC" = a frequently used spelling for the word "nice" (in YouTube discussion threads for contemporary African music (for all regions except North Africa). I'm not sure where this vernacular spelling originated or if it is used in the United States by people who aren't directly from Africa.

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11. Willis Brown
"I don’t understand the language but the sister has the voice and the beat is wow. Anybody cares to translate? Thanks!"

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REPLY
12. Ungwa Nyota
"She sing that he cheat on her nd she's almost to letting him go , he disrespectful her ,,, she try do to her best but she don't have value on him maybe he get the hoe that's why he do all of that ,,, she done with she will letting him go nd she will get better"

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REPLY
13. Willis Brown
"Ungwa Nyota thanks a lot!"

**
14. Ali g mohammed
"nc song sizz"
-snip-
"nc" is probably a variant spelling for "nice". [Read the note for #10 above.]

"sizz" is probably a variant spelling for the word "sis" (meaning "sister"). I've noticed the custom of substituting "z" for "s" in some other comments in some YouTube discussion threads for contemporary East African music- for instance, notice this letter substitution in #43, #68, and #71 below. I'm not sure if this custom is [also] found in other African nations [besides Tanzania?] or if it is also found in the United States (among people who aren't directly from Tanzania and/or other African nations.

**
15. DMEND TV/MUSIC/MOVIE
"Ngoma tamuu"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "ngoma" = song
Google translation from Swahili to English for "tamuu" ("tamu") = sweet
-snip-
Adding a "u" or a series of "u"s to the end of this word probably intensifies the word, giving the meaning "very sweet".

**
16. Point Blank 254
"Love this song so much, next time try quality video. This is supposed to b international"
-snip-
"254" is the telephone country code for Kenya.

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REPLY
17. Azizi Powell
"Point Blank 254, I'm African American and don't understand Swahili, regarding your comment that "This [video] is supposed to b international": I liked the video in part because I liked seeing what I assumed is one type of typical scene in some Tanzanian urban areas. Some of the comments here confirmed what the song was about but I gathered what the song was about from the video. I agree that there were some glitches, but overall, I found the video to be artistically pleasing (in its colors and composition) and therefore, in my opinion, to be a quality video.

What I hope for in YouTube videos where the performers don't sing in English is a statement about what language is being used and what country the video is from, an explanation in English in the video's summary, and the lyrics given in that language & an English translation in the summary and/or in the video's discussion thread. Unlike some contemporary Swahili music videos that I've come across on YouTube, I found a lot of these in this discussion thread.

I also like learning some basic Swahili words from the comments (like dada, nzuri, sana, ngoma, napenda, hongera, & kali)- after looking them up online."

**
18. Blanz44 Tcherno
"Just heard this song, I am liking it... Shout out from #BURUNDI".
-snip-
"Shout out" is an African American Vernacular English word that means "a public acknowledgement, or and/or a public expression of thanks to someone.

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19. Quavo Huncho
"all the way from Los Angeles am in love with dis song
keep it up dear"

**
20. emmanuel twizeye
"Keep up it's 🔥 🔥🔥"
-snip-
The flame emojis symbolize the word "fire" whose vernacular meaning is "very good". In that context, "Fire" is part of the superlative family of African American vernacular adjectives that includes "hot", "smoking", "dynamite", "the bomb" and "lit".

**
21. Harun Tez
"Tamuuuu😊😍"
-snip-
Read the note for #15 above.

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22. Dalu Jr
"Kazi Nzuri 👏"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "kazi" = work
Google translation from Swahili to English for "nzuri"= good

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23. Brian Simiyu
"So deep!
_snip-
In African American Vernacular English, "deep" means something that has a lot of meaning.

**
24. Sumaya Issa
"Listening to this song is different from watching it, watching it makes u even more sad by watching all the actions as well as listening, I teared up watching it, it's so touching and beautiful at the same time. Keep up the great job Nandy💖💖💖💖💖💖"

**
25. David John
"yo fire mamie 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌"
-snip-
Read the note for #20 regarding the vernacular meaning of the word "fire".

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26. Bibi Juma
"Keept up my dear 😚😚"

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27. Wijdaan Wayua
"I Love it when musicians sing from heart...I love this song i love the video the enviroment and all that acting goes well with the sad message in the song...Much love from the +254"

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28. Nelly Miduka
"Nyce Nandi"
-snip-
Read the note for #14 above.

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29. Aaroni mazika
"Nzuri sana nandy"

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30. Caroline Samson
"Hongera cster"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "hongera" = congratulations
-snip-
I've also seen this word spelled "ongera".
-snip-
"cster" is probably a variant spelling of the English word "sister", with the "c" substituting for the letter "s". I've seen this variant spelling in a few other comments in this discussion thread. I haven't noticed that spelling elsewhere.

**
31. Jerry Titus
"Nzuriiiiiiiiii!sana nady"
-snip-
Adding another "i" or a series of "i"s to the end of the word "nzuri" intensifies the meaning "good" to "very good" or very very good.

**
32. Tony Airo
"I love this tooooo much"
-snip-
"Too much" here probably means "very much". However, in standard American English, "too much" usually is considered a negative. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-positive-uses-of-too-much-or-too.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "The Positive Use Of "Too Much" Or "Too + An Adjective" In West African Pidgin English"

**
33. tony nsale
"new talent here watch out..love the vibes"
-snip-
"Vibes" is an African American originated clip of "vibrations". In the context of this comment, "vibes" means the way that song makes the commenter feel.

**
34. DJ Redbone
"This is my favorite song of 2017.
Much love from Kenya 🇰🇪"
-snip-
The ending words "Much love" (and "one Love") are of Jamaican origin.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-redbone-yellowbone-and-browning.html for a pancocojams post entitled "What "Redbone", "Yellowbone", and "Browning" Mean"

**
35. Denny Hope
"I just liked it so sweet and emotional too keep it up Nandy"

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36. Official Hammy
"my best Female artist of the year
#Nandy
#Africanprincess
#Kivuruge"

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37. Rebeca John
"very nice nandy keep it up"

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38. MESSENGER BOY
"yeah you are real an African princess"

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39. Carol Njunge
"I love love loove your songs Nandi.😙😚
Kivuruge is on point .vocals video everything is just perfect.
You going places girl.😍"
-snip-
"On point" is an African American Vernacular English term that means that something is done perfectly; with no mistakes

**
40. daisy love
"I don’t understand what she is saying but I love this song
Love from Nigeria 🇳🇬"

**
41. yustino mbwaner
"Ngoma kali"

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42. beriee benson
"I discovered her through yemi alade page,her voice can kill I have watched the video over 100 times, please you and yemi should do something together love from Nigeria"
-snip-
Yemi Alade is a popular Nigerian Afrobeats singer.

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43. Simon Mayala
"itz gud song
Keep it up🙌🙌"

**
44. Nimrod Taabu
"Anyone suffers a heartbreak,it doesnt have to be the rich and flashy...this one is dope"
-snip-
The African American Vernacular English meaning of "dope" is "very good"; excellent.

**
45. Sarah Mshana
"Much love my Tz sisy....Love from Toronto babes"
-snip-
"Tz" here means "Tanzania".

"Sisy" means "sissy" (sister)

Toronto= Toronto, Canada

**
46. maurice Algorithm
"men stop doing these to women.so sad"

**
47. salma hajara
"Wow lot's of love from +256 n +968"
-snip-
"256" country (telephone) code = Uganda

"n" = and

"968" country (telephone) code = Oman

**
48.Eddy Meshack
"This song is soooo dope."

**
49. mbelege mwamotto
"Hongera Dada👌"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "dada" = sister

**
50. Fresh Prince
"Love from Finlande 🔥🔥🔥"

**
51. elijah nyakunndi
"Sometimes, decisions have to be made so that you can move on with your life without any "vivuruge""
-snip-
Does "vivuruge" also means "regrets?".

**
52. Wa Iga Dhab
"I love this music from Somaliland"

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53. TheRobdobdob
"@Nandy you better stay natural on your videos. Great song. Nice Afro beat excellent rhyme pattern."
-snip-
stay natural on [in] your video probably means "Don't change and become fake and pretentious."

"Nice Afro beat" probably means "[a] nice African beat". [In the United States "afro" refers to a natural hairstyle for Black people.

**
54. Fatmah OMAR UG
"No i like this song sana.. lakini video haija tokea vizuri.. infact it needed a mordern setting sababu many of the couples actually suffering are the mordern ones because the guys think are rich and have it all... Please Nandy think about it dear. But still kivuruge Number 1 i love this song alot, inspires me to walk out of my toxic relationship."
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English = I like this song a lot but the video didn't come off well. ...no doubt many of the couples actually suffering are the modern ones."...

**
55. 0481797312 Bonnere
"Mashallah I'm here just on voice from Australia +61 gonga like kama wamkubali nandy A.K.A Africa Queen"
-snip-
Here's a definition for "mashallah" from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mashallah
""Mashallah" or "Mash'Allah" is an Arabic phrase used to show appreciation for a person or happening. It shows respect, and also reminds that everything is achieved by the will of God. The closest English translation is "God willed it." It is used to show joy and praise, and is evoked upon hearing good news.

The phrase has found its way into the language of non-Arabs, including Turks and peoples of the Balkans, including some who are not of the Islamic faith.
A: I just got an A+ on my exam.
B: "Mashallah!"
#mash'allah#arabic#islam#mashallah#god
by Nick Spontini November 21, 2007"

Google translation from Swahili to English "kama wamkubali" = as they have agreed

One standard way of saying this in American English is "as they all say" Nandy is known as (aka) "the African Queen".

**
56. Happness Gaspary
"Umeipenda xana"

**
57. Alliy Mkobe
"Big up Nandy"

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58. Mary Gathoni
"Nice Song Nandy....i really like the song..all the best in the music industry..young star"

**
59. B.I The king
"All the way from America me loving this song it’s a hit 💪💪"

**
60. Didaz Nureisa
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

**
61. MAKAKA WILLYS
"Very soothing voice, a nice melody to have as background for a whole day and night. BIG love from Nairobi, Kenya"

**
62. Mary Waithera
"The song is soo gud nyc one"

**
63. Lumiere Mbilizi
"Girl you're fire, You're a true Princess. Video kali sana"

**
64. George Ogbonna
"This lady is indeed the queen of Africa, since I saw her at afrima I have not stopped playing her song and promoting her music, here in America also I play her songs Everytime,her voice is just so angelic,@nandy you are awesome"

**
65. I love Jesus
"Nandy my current princess! Love your voice na KIZOMBA in your songs. Lit lit litttt👌👌👌👌👌👌💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖"
-snip-
"Kizomba" is a contemporary Angola dance and "na" is a Nigerian Pidgin English word which can mean "is". Is "na" also a word in Swahili or in Tanzanian/Kenyan Pidgin languages?

**
66. JoJOY ME
"U coming up very strong...Nandy gives us more of that"
-snip-
"U coming up" = [a comparable way of saying this in vernacular American English is "You are moving up" [in your career]; i.e. "You are becoming successful".

**
67.shem otina
"I don't know how I got here but i ain't leaving, this song is litttttt... A big tune. Ngoma tulivu, video safi na realistic
-snip-
From https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/swahili-word-3ff473b82a780c86b314b0bd6e6d517e159d074b.html "English words for the Swahili word shwari/-tulivu
calm / -tulivu restful"
-snip-
Does Ngoma tulivu mean a soothing or sweet sounding dance (party) song?

I'm not sure what "safi na" means

**
68. Faiha Mohammed
"cant stop listening to thiz song...nzuuuuuurrrrrrr sanaaaa"
-snip-
Read my comment after #14 for the new? custom [in Tanzania, and/or in Kenya and other East African countries?] of substituting "z" for the letter "s".

nzuuuuuurrrrrrr sanaaaa" = very very good

**
69. Adianie Meno
"Love from Cameroon dear I don’t really understand it above from Asante but I can feel in my heart keep it up u deserve more view"
-snip-
The swahili word "asante" translates to "thank you" in English.

**
70. Omar Khamis
"Big Up Sis ! 🇦🇪All Da Way From Dubai"

**
71. Careen Erneus
"tz xo dope lyrics dr coz it carries a lot of meaning"
-snip-
"tz"= Tanzania
"xo"= x replacing “s”? = so
"dope"= very good
dr= ?
"coz"= because
-snip-
If substituting a "z" for "s" is really a vernacular custom in Tanzania, was that custom influenced by the abbreviation "tz" for Tanzania?

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