Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a video of the Kenyan Gospel song "Kwata Kawaya" ("Rejoice In The Lord")* by Kamba (Kenyan) singer Mbuvi. The Kikamba lyrics for this song and their English translations are also given in this post.
This post also includes selected comments from that video's discussion thread, information about Mbuvi, and information about the Kamba culture of Kenya.**
*This English translation of the song's title is my guess from the English lyrics and English summary & comments that I read.
**Thanks to a commenter on that video's discussion thread for mentioning the Kikamba language. The words on the first screen of that video indicated that the video was filmed in Machakos County, Kenya. That information led me to the Wikipedia page on the Kamba people that is found below.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks Mbuvi and thanks to all those who are associated with this video. 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 MBUVI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbuvi
“Mbuvi is a Kenyan award-winning contemporary gospel singer, comedian, Philanthropist and TV presenter.[1] Born Victor Mbuvi, he drew his love for music from his childhood and inspiration from his mother who died in 1999, a year before Mbuvi launched his music career. Mbuvi joined a group called His Image, who performed a cappella and various renditions of other artistes’ works.[2] We even modernised a Luo gospel folk song Niwara Nono. In 2001, he briefly teamed up with music producer R Kay and a friend to form Injili Group, which recorded Nisamehe - his first ever hit song.[3]"...
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE KAMBA CULTURE OF KENYA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamba_people#Kikamba_music
"The Kamba or Akamba people are a Bantu ethnic group - or tribe - who live in the semi-arid formerly Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya. This land is called Ukambani which constitutes of Makueni County, Kitui County and Machakos County.
Sources vary on whether they are the third, fourth or the fifth largest ethnic group in Kenya. They make up to 11 percent of Kenya's population.[2] They speak the Bantu Kikamba language as a mother tongue. The Kamba are predominantly based in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni Counties of Kenya.[3] The total population of the Kamba stands at approximately 4.1 million. The Kamba are also called Akamba or Wakamba.[4]
Origin
The Kamba are of Bantu origin.[5] They the closely related in language and culture Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Meru, and are concentrated in the lowerlands of South-Eastern from he vicinity of Mount Kenya to the Coast. The exact place that the Kamba's ancestors migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion from Central Africa is uncertain...
Language
The Kamba speak the Kamba language (also known as Kikamba) as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Interesting, Kikamba has no letters 'r', 'h' and 'q' in its alphabet[8]...
Kikamba music
The Akamba people's love of music and dance is evidenced in their spectacular performances at many events in their daily lives or on occasions of regional and national importance. In their dances they display agility and athletic skills as they perform acrobatics and body movements. The Akamba dance techniques and style resemble those of the Batutsi of Rwanda-Burundi and the Aembu of Kenya"...
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: KWATA KAWAYA - Mbuvi
Mbuvi Mbuvi Tv, Uploaded on Jan 27, 2011
This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!!! Kwata Kawaya!!! Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice! Philipians 4:4
-snip-
The words "Machakos County, Kenya" and "Teens for Christ" were embedded on the screen at the beginning of this video.
Here are three selected comments from that video's discussion thread.
Johnstone Katuku, 2011
"Those mad people hating on the song, you have no idea what God wants. When David danced until his clothes were off, his wife was very unhappy with hime and found it childish. It is only after knowing story that you begin to understand why they did crazy stuff in the name of God. Nothing wrong with the song imho."
**
Frankensteinxx7- Home of the lions, 2012
"i'm In USA.my friend,who does not understand kikamba,finds it funny"
**
Erick Maloba, 2014
"Rejoice in the Lord with all Godly instruments your hands can get to. . Rejoice, sing and dance to the Lord"
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NOTES REGARDING THE LYRICS AND THEIR ENGLISH TRANSCRIPTIONS WHICH ARE GIVEN BELOW.
The Kikamba lyrics found below are quoted from https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_show_lyrics/6762203. The English translation of those lyrics combine the translation that is found on that site and the English lyrics for this song that given as text in the video which is embedded in this post. I've written the Kikamba words and their English translation separately for greater reading clarity.
Some of the lead singer's lines were given in bold font in that video's transcription. I think that this was to indicate the call and response pattern of those lines and the line that followed them. I added that font to the English transcription that is found below. I also added instructions or explanations in brackets for some of the lines in the English transcription.
All of these Kikamba words were given in upper case letters on that website . I changed this to the forms that are found below.
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LYRICS: KWATA KAWAYA [Kikamba words]
(by Mbuvi)
Ni Ivinda Iseo, Ivinda Ya Utanu,
(It's a good day, a happy day)
Ivinda Ya Muyo, Ivinda Yiathime,
(A joyous day, A blessed day)
Ivinda Ya Nguma, Ivinda Niyo Yii
(A great/grand day, This is the day)
Ivinda Yaile, Ivinda Ya Vata
(A worthy day, an important day)
Kunangai Moko...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Sunga Vanini...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Niw'e Matambya...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Uai Mbu...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X4)
Iveti Mwiaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Aume Mwiaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Boys are you blessed?
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Eetu Miwaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Kwonthe Ni Kuseo...
Kwonthe
Kwonthe Ni...
Kwonthe, Kwonthe (X4)
Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X4)
Asi Iwe
Ai Nivo Vau
Ia Ta Ingi Indii
Auuu
Kunai ithembe
Usyai Muui
Syiva Talumbeta
Keva Kala Ka Mbes
Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X8)
Mukilye Mwiai, Mukilye mwiai we.
We na kila kyonthe winakyo vau musyi Nukilye.
Mukilye vyu, Mukilye vyu, Mukilye vyu,
Niwe Uvosyo Waku Mwanake Mwanake
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LYRICS: KWATA KAWAYA ("Rejoice In The Lord") [English translations]
(by Mbuvi)
It’s a good day - a happy day.
a joyous day, a blessed day.
A great day. This is the day.
a worthy day, an important day.
Clap your hands...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Let me see you dance...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Stomp your feet...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Everybody scream...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Play the guitar...
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines 4 times]
Ladies are your blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Gentlemen, are you blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Boys, are your blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Girls, are you blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
There’s joy where? [Alternative translation: "Where is there joy?"]
Everywhere. Everywhere.
[Repeat these lines 4 times]
Play the guitar....
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines four times]
Asi my friend
Ai this is it.
Ila like no other day.
Auuuu! [scream]
Roll the drums. [Alternative phrasing: "Beat the drums."]
Whistle louder now.
Blow out the trumpets. [Alternative phrasing: "Sound the trumpets".]
Let’s hear the bass now. ["Bass" probably refers to the bass guitar.]
Play the guitar....
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines eight times.]
It’s a good day - a happy day.
a joyous day, a blessed day.
A great day. This is the day.
a worthy day, an important day.
[Repeat this verse several times]
[Towards the end the lead sings the words below while others in the background sing the verse that begins with the words "It's a good day"]
Let's praise His name. Let's praise the Lord on high.
Lift the name of the Lord most high.
You and your household
Praise and lift Him up.
He is your healer and refuge, child of God.
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