Heavenly Kingdom Kids - "I Will Dance" (Nigerian (Igbo) Children's Gospel Song with English lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of a Nigerian (Igbo) Children's Gospel song entitled "I Will Dance" that is performed by Heavenly Kingdom Kids.

English lyrics for this song that were given as sub-titles in that video are also included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Heavenly Kingdom Kids for their performance of this song. Thanks also to the song's composer and to the producer of this video and its publisher on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO- African children dance, I Will Dance.DAT



Udoezi Cynthia, Uploaded on Feb 24, 2012

African children dance
-snip-
Selected comments from that video's discussion thread:
JoStylin, 2014
"Are these Eastern Nigerian Igbo kids? The music sounds so familiar to me, I don't speak my language but I recognise the musical style, sounds very Igbo. I thank God for Youtube, so I can see all these beautiful videos. Such a blessing."

**
dr oqi, 2015
"Yes, the kids are speaking Igbo"

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LYRICS - I WILL DANCE
(Heavenly Kingdom Kids)

I will dance, sing, jump, clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus.
I will dance, sing, jump, clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus.
Come on dance, sing, jump clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus.
Come on dance, sing, jump, clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus.

Koko clap your hands now
Turn around Hey Heyi Hey Hey*
Clap your hands
Crown Him, crown Him the king
The king of all people.
The king of all people.
H-E-K-K** Oooh!
You have shown us that You are good
H-E-K-K Oooh!

We will lift Halleluya.
Carry Halleluya unto King Jesus
Come on, come on, come on.
We will lift Halleluya.
Carry Halleluya unto King Jesus
We will lift Halleluya.
Carry Halleluya unto King Jesus

You have gone and done it
Higher, Higher
Lift Halleluya
Let’s lift the Lord higher
Let’s lift Him higher.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
Let’s lift the Lord higher.

I will lift Him up.
Higher. Higher. Higher
Higher. Higher. Higher
I’m gonna lift You up
Higher. Higher. Higher
Higher. Higher. Higher
I will lift You up.
Higher . Higher. Higher.

Kai Walayi…*** for sure, for sure
Mujee-Let’s go.
Gbaya agba. Dance it well.
That’s how it is.
Mama that’s how we dance it.
I said it’s happening.
Gbaya agba. Dance it well.

Lift your hands.
Lift your legs.
Lift your head.
Turn around.
I will dance.

I will dance, sing, jump, clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus
Come on let us dance now.
I will dance, sing, jump, clap, turn around
Turn around for Jesus
Clap your hands now.
Tap your feet.
Turn around Hey Hey Hey Hey*

Koko clap your hands now
Clap your hands
Tap your feet.
Turn around Hey Hey Hey Hey*
Crown Him
Crown Him. Crown Him the king.
The King of all people.
Crown Him. Crown Him the king.
The King of all people.
Let’s crown Him
Crown Him. Crown Him the king.
The King of all people.
Crown Him. Crown Him the king.
The King of all people

H-E-K-K Oooh!
Lord, You have shown us that You are glorious.
The good God.
You have shown us that You are good.
H-E-K-K Oooh!
Lord, You have shown us that You are glorious
The good God.

[repeat]
We will lift Halleluya
Carry Halleluya unto King Jesus.
Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
We will lift Halleluya
Carry Halleluya unto King Jesus.
You have done it.
Higher.
Lift Halleluya.
Higher.
Let’s lift the Lord higher.
Let’s lift Him up.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
Let’s lift the Lord higher.

I will lift Him up.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
Let’s lift the Lord higher.
Higher. Higher. Higher.
I will lift Him up higher.
I’m gonna lift Him up

Kai Walayi… for sure, for sure
Mujee-Let’s go.
Gbaya agba. Dance it well.
That’s how it is.
Mama that’s how we dance it.
I said it’s happening.
Gbaya agba. Dance it well.
-snip-
I transcribed these lyrics from the sub-titles that were given in that video. Additions and corrections are welcome.
*”Hey” is spelled “Hei” in the subtitle.

**"H-E-K-K" may just be an approximation of a sound that has no meaning.

***I think that the non-English words in the section beginning with "Kai Walayi" are in the Igbo language and the English words are their translations.

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Heavenly Kingdom Kids - "Nagwode" & SuperKids - "Nagode Allah"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features videos of two Nigerian children's groups singing a song praising God. The song by Heavenly Kingdom Kids is entitled "Nagwode". The song by SuperKids is entitled "Nagode Allah". According to a commenter on the discussion thread of the
featured Heavenly Kingdom Kids video "They're singing nagwode allah, which means thank you God in the Hausa language(thank you- nagwode) and Allah. They are Christians from the igbo tribe of eastern Nigeria. In Nigeria, we sing and praise God in different languages regardless of where you come from." [Hilly Thomas, August 2014].

I think that "Nagode" is another way to spell the Hausa language word "Nagwode". The SuperKids group is also Christian.

Although these two songs have a similar title and both refer to God using the Hausa word "Allah" (which comes from Arabic)*, the songs have different lyrics and tunes.

*Most Hausa people are Muslims.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Heavenly Kingdom Kids and SuperKids for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION SOUGHT ABOUT THESE GROUPS
I'd like to add more information about both of these groups, such as when the groups started, the names of the members of each group,
and their current ages of these singers.

Please share any information that you know about these groups.
Thanks! 

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: Nagwode - Heavenly Kingdom Kids



CHORDSvision Page, Published on Mar 20, 2013
-snip-
I believe that the main language for this song is Igbo. However, the lyrics that are transposed on the video screen are
primarily given in English.

Here are the introduction, the chorus, and the verses of that song.Additions and corrections are welcome.

LYRICS: NAGWODE [Thank You]
[as sung by Heavenly Kingdom Kids]

Introduction:
Lead singer: Praise the Lord!
The rest of the group - [Hallelujah!]
The Lord is good.
[All the time].
Thank you ooo [oh]

Chorus:
Thank you Lord Jesus, thank You.
Thank You, thank you, thank You.
For what You have done for me.
That's why I am saying thank You.

Muche Nagwode Allah.
Thank you Lord Jesus, thank You.
For what You have done for me.
That's why I am saying thank You.

[Repeat the chorus several times with the lead & group parts]

[Spoken:]
Praise the Lord for He is good.
For His mercies endureth forever.
For what You have done for us, Jesus.
That's why we say, "Come and receive Glory".
We are saying "Thank You Sir, You've done well.
Receive all praise in Jesus' name, Amen.

[Sung]
Lead singer - Thanks, You've done well.
Group - [My King, You've done well.]
Thank You.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You.
For what You have done for me.
That's why I'm saying "Thank You."

Chorus [repeated several times]

[spoken]
Lead - Praise the Lord!
Group - Halleluya!
Lead - Our Lord is good.
Group - All the time.
Lead - All the time
Group - Our Lord is good.
Lead - Thank You, Jesus, for what You have done.
Lead -Children.
Group- Yes, Aunty.
Lead - Do you like this?
Group - I like that.
Lead - Do you like this?

[repeat those last two lines several times]

Chorus [repeat several times with the lead & group parts]
-snip-
The words "Thank You Sir' and "Thanks, You've done well" aren't how most American English speakers would phrase those sentiments. However, Psalms 126-3 says "God has done great things". Those wordd mean the same thing as those lyrics from the song "Nagwode".

Also, "The Lord is good/ All the time" that is given as a call and response lines is very similar to the call & response saying among African American Christians. The first part of that saying is "God is good". People respond to those words by immediately saying "All the time".

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Example #2: The Superkids - Nagode Allah

thesuperkids, Published on Feb 21, 2014
-snip-
A summary of another one of this group's videos indicates that the lead singer Adaeze is seven years old (2014).

Here's my transcription of this song:
(Additions and corrections are welcome.)

LYRICS: NAGODE ALLAH
(as sung by SuperKids)

Chorus:
Nagode Allah (Thank you, God]
Forever You are my number one.
Allah [God]
Nagode Yesu (Thank you, Jesus]
Forever You are my number one.
Yesu [Jesus]

[Repeat the chorus a number of times.]

Thank you, Father.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Holy Spirit.
You are my teacher.
You are my writer.
You are the voice that sings my songs.

Chorus

Yes, I like butterflies
Colors like rainbows
Shining like super stars

[repeat]

Thank you.

[Instrumental]

Bless my daddy.
Bless my mommy.
Bless the friends all over the world.

Bless my teachers.
Bless my preachers.
Bless my friends all over this town.

Chorus

Thank you Jesus for caring for me.
Thank you Jesus for blessing my mommy and my daddy.
Thank you Lord Jesus for blessing my brothers and my sisters.
Thank you for all my friends all over the world.
Lord, please bless us.
Nagode [Thank you] Jesus.
Jesus Lord, You're my number one!

Nagode Allah (Thank you, God]
Forever You are my number one.
Allah [God]
Nagode Yesu (Thank you, Jesus]
Forever You are my number one.
Yesu [Jesus]

Nagode Allah [Thank you, God]
Forever You are my number one.
Allah [God]
Nagode Yesu [Thank you, Jesus]
Forever You are my number one.
Yesu [Jesus]

Allah [God], Thank You
Yesu [Jesus], thank You.
Allah [God], thank You.

[repeat]
-snip-
* These lyrics are from the introduction, chorus, and verses of this song that are transposed on the video screen. The chorus is repeated throughout the song.

Other videos of The SuperKids give the group name as "Adaeze and the Superkids". Adaeze is the lead singer of the SuperKids group.
"Adaeze" is an Igbo female name that means "princess".

The official website of that group [http://www.superkidsmusic.com/index.htm] lists "Adaeze" as the lead singer, provides her full name and her parents' full names. These are Igbo language names. Also, a commenter on the discussion thread of
another video of this group indicates that the subtitles for that song are in the Igbo language. Given all of that information, I believe that the members of the SuperKids group are Igbos from Eastern Nigeria.

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Seven Examples Of Mambo Sawa Sawa (Videos & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents seven videos of the Swahili Gospel song "Mamba Sawa Sawa". Lyrics to some versions of this song are also included in this post.

Updated September 27, 2014

The content of this post is presented for spiritual, informational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED VIDEOS & LYRICS
(These videos are presented in no particular order.)

Example #1: Songbirds - Mambo Sawa Sawa (OFFICIAL VIDEO)



Joashstilltheman,Uploaded on Jan 24, 2010

Title track by Songbirds (Ruth Wamuyu et al) from their album MAMBO SAWA SAWA
-snip-
Several comments that are found on this video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx01ItBclGI, indicate that "Mambo Sawa Sawa" is an old song. One commenter wrote that he remembers this song from the 1990s & another person wrote that he remember this song from when he was very little. Still another person wrote that the original person who sung this song was "a Zairian".

Here's an excerpt of a newspaper article about this version's lead vocalist Ruth Wamuyu:
http://www.ajabuafrica.com/Gospel%20Artist-Ruth%20Wamuyu.html Story and pics By Harrison Maina; AjabuAfrica.com,07/10/2008
Lowell, MA
"[photograph notation]
Ecstastic Kenyans go chini Kwa chini (low for low) as they dance to the rythmic Gospel tunes by Ruth Wamuyu, who is visiting the US"
[photograph notation]
"Ruth Wamuyu, a popular Kenyan Gospel Musician who is cureently on a US tour, entertains Christians during a Live Praise event held at the CCF Church in Lowell , MA

A passionately popular Gospel artist, Evangelist Ruth Wamuyu, of the Mambo Sawa Sawa ( Kiswahili for ‘Things are already better’) hit song, attracted hundreds of fans to a fun-cum-spirit filled Sunday event at the CCF Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA."
-snip-
The English lyrics sung in this version are:
Things already better
Things already better
things already better
When the Lord is on the throne
Things already better now.
-snip-
The English translation for the Swahili word "mambo" is "things". In the "Mambo Sawa Sawa" songs, the word "better" appears to usually be the English translation for the Swahili phrase "sawa sawa".

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Example #2: James Okon - Mambo Sawa Sawa



Dan Zeeno, Published on Dec 18, 2012
-snip-
Here's my basic transcription of this version of "Mambo Sawa Sawa":

Mambo Sawa Sawa
Mambo Sawa Sawa
Yesu Akiwa Enzini
Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa

(repeat several times)

May be tough
May be rough
May be bad
But I hold on to God’s promises.
From His word I’m saved from any man
I believe.
I receive.

Mambo sawa sawa etc.

Things already better
Things already better
For the Lord is on the throne
Things already better
Things already better
Things already better

I am going higher
I am going higher
For the Lord is on the throne
I am going higher
I am going higher
I am going higher

May be tough etc.

Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa
Things already better
Things already better
Things already better

I am going higher
I am going higher
I am going higher

Lift Jesus higher
(Mambo)
Lift Jesus higher
(Mambo)

[More call & response with the words mambo and sawa; the song ends with "Mambo sawa sawa".
-snip-
This basic transcription is by Azizi Powell from the above video. Disclaimer: I don't speak any Swahili. Additions & corrections are very welcome.

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Example #4: Kijitonyama Upendo Group Mambo Sawa Sawa Official Video



Africha Entertainment, Published on Apr 26, 2014

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Example #5: Bethany Children's choir from Tanzania sing 'Mambo sawa sawa'



unapendo,Published on Oct 20, 2012

The Bethany Family Choir (from Tanzania) visiting the UK and singing at St Leonard's Church, Padiham on Friday 19th October 2012. The 11 children + teacher and 3 Bethany students make up the choir and are visiting various schools, colleges, churches and other organisations on their 7 week visit Oct - Dec 2012. For more information: www.bethanyonline.org

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Example #6: Watoto Children's Choir | Mambo Sawa



WatotoUS's channel,Uploaded on Jan 5, 2010

Watoto Children's Choir gives an energetic performance of "Mambo Sawa" which means "Life is Good" -- Recorded Live at Springs Church in Canada

Mambo Sawa By Kamsa (Official HDVideo)



Maxton Videos, Published on Jul 28, 2014
- Kenyan Gospel -

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ADDENDUM
Here's another version of the "Mambo Sama Sama" song's lyrics:
From http://www.destinyafrica.org/assets/lyrics/Things%20already%20better.pdf

Things already better
Mambo Sawa Sawa
Mambo Sawa Sawa
Yesu Akiwa Enzini
Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa
Mambo sawa sawa

Things already better
Things already better
When the lord is on my side
Things already better
Things already better
Things already better

Pepele Pepele (Pepele)
Pepele Na Yesu Nangayi ( pepele)

Balabala Yesu Nakopesa Emotema
Langanyoso kolatikala pepelewo ( Pepele)
Balabala Yesu Nakopesa Emotema
Langanyoso kolatikala pepelewo ( Pepele)

Oh labala yesu wee-pepelewo- pepele
Sikumesiyo wee- pepelewo pepele

Yelele, Yelele yelele yelele
(yesu mukama, Ya tuwadde obulamu, Yesu masiya)

BONUS VIDEO: Sawa Sawa



ericwainainavideos, Uploaded on Jul 22, 2011
-snip-
From this video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH1Ji9NiBtQ
it appears that this inspirational song is almost 13 years old.

Notice that in the beginning of this video, the vocalist says "Everything is alright", everything is okay". These are English translations for the Swahili words "sawa sawa".

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EDITORIAL NOTE:
The word "mambo" in the Swahili Gospel songs "Mambo Sawa Sawa" & the Gospel song "Sawa Sawa" doesn't have the same origin & meaning as the music/dance "mambo". That word "mambo" comes from the Kikongo language and means "conversation with the gods". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mambo_(music).

Also, the phrase "sawa sawa" in the "Mambo Sawa Sawa" songs (which may also be found as "Mambo Sawa") does not have the same origin & meaning as the Igbo phrase "sawa sawa" in the Nigerian song "Sawale", or in its recent sexually explicit version "Nwa Baby". In those songs "sawa sawa" refers to the act of walking the streets. http://www.nairaland.com/589179/what-nwa-baby-ashawo-song.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of this song, and to the vocalists, musicians, and church members who sung this song. Thanks also to the journalist who was quoted in this post, the quoted transcriber of a version of this song's lyrics, and the uploaders of these featured videos.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.