English Lyrics & Various African Languages Lyrics For Solly Mahlangu's South African Gospel Song "Wa Hamba Nathi"

Gospel SA, April 18, 2014
-snip-
Statistics for this YouTube video as of July 10, 2022 at 10:04 AM ET 

total # of views- 22,002,805
total # of comments - 5,828 

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents English lyrics and lyrics in various African languages for Solly Mahlangu's South African Gospel song "Wa Hamba Nathi". A French translation for "Wa Hamba Nathi" is also given in this post. [Excerpt 3, comment #3.]  

These lyrics of "Wa Hamba Nathi" that are presented in this pancocojams post are from various online lyric websites and from other websited, including the discussion thread for a 2012 pancocojams post about this song http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/solly-mahlangu-wahamba-nathi-siyabonga.html. (The earliest YouTube example of Solly Mahlangu's "Wa Hamba Nathi" that I found is from 2010.) 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Pastor Solly Mahlangu for writing and performing this song. Thanks also to Joyous Celebration and South African Gospel singer Kgotso who also performed this song in this video (He's the man in white in the audience who Solly Mahlangu sung with toward the end of this video). Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE 
In the YouTube video that is embedded in this post, the song "Wa Hamba Nathi" begins in isiZulu. 

Here's a comment exchange about the languages used in Joyous Celebration led by Solly Mahlangu's rendition of "Wa Hamba Nathi"
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNO5Z8eY3Gk 
Dr.Isabella Daniel, 2021
"What language"

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Reply
Allison, 2022
"They keep repeating the same lyrics in various different languages. He announces the language before each version."

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Please share the translation/s that you know about this song by adding a comment in this pancocojams post's discussion thread below. Thanks! 

DISCLAIMER
This content quotes translations that I found online and I don't know if these translations are correct. Additions and corrections are very welcome.

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OFFICIAL LYRICS FOR WA HAMBA NATHI
From https://africangospellyrics.com/2011/11/14/siyabonga-jesu-lyrics-by-solly-mahlangu/

(Sung in Zulu, isiNdebele then in Sotho)

[“Siyabonga Jesu” sung in different dialects* here.]

Wahamba nathi, oh wahamba nathi (You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga (Oh you walked with us, we thank you) x2

Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga ngonyama yezulu (we thank you Jesus,  Lion of heaven)
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga (we thank you Jesus, we thank you) x2

Wakhamba nathi, oh wakhamba nathi(You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wakhamba nathi, Siyathokoza (Oh you walked with us, we thank you) x2

Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza kakaramba (we thank you Jesus, mighty God)
Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza (We thank you Jesus, we thank you) x2

Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona (You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka(Oh you walked with us, we thank you) x2

Leha nka tsamaya kgohlong ya moriti wa lefu(though I walk through the valley of death)
Jesu hobane o na le nna (Jesus you are always with me)

watsama yande runa, re a boka (You walked with us, we thank you)
Riya wakabatata wabafuma, (Through thick and thin,)

Jehova hobane o na le nna (Jehova you are always with me)
oh watsama yande runa, re a boka (Oh You walked with us, we thank you)

Re a boka jesu, re a boka tlatlamathjolo, (We thank you Jesus,  Lion of heaven)
Re a boka jesu, re ya boka (we thank you Jesus, we thank you) x2

Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga ngonyama yezulu (We thank you Jesus, Lion of heaven)
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga (we thank you Jesus, we thank you) x2
-snip-
*In my opinion, the word "dialects" that is used in that note should be replaced with the word "languages" 

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ONLINE REPRINT - "WA HAMBA NATHI" IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES
From https://africangospellyrics.com/in-all-languages/siyabonga-jesu-i-thank-you-jesus/

(All languages except for English are listed alphabetically)

English:
You walked with us, Oh you walked with us
Oh you walked with us, We thank you.
We thank you Jesus, we thank you Lion of Heaven
We thank you Jesus, we thank you

Akan/Twi(Ghana):
Wo ne y3n nam, oh wo ne y3n nam
Oh wo ne y3n nam, y3 da wo ase
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’se Osoro Gyata
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’ase

Kamba (Kenya)
Waendie naitu, Oh waendie naitu
Oh waendie naitu, ni muvea
Ni muvea Yesu, ni muvea Munyambu wa Ituni
Ni muvea Yesu, ni muvea

Luganda (Uganda):
Wagenda nafe, Oh wagenda nafe
Oh wagenda nafe, tukwebaza.
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza Mpologoma ye Gulu
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza

Shona(Zimbabwe):
WoFamba Nesu, WoFamba Nesu
WoFamba Nesu, Tinotenda
Tinotenda Jesu, Tinotenda Shumba Yedenga
Tinotenda Jesu, Tinotenda

Sotho(South Africa/ Lesotho):
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Re a boka jesu, re a boka tlatlamathjolo
Re a boka jesu, re ya boka

Swahili(East and Central Africa):
Watembea nasi, oh watembea nasi,
Oh watembea nasi, twashukuru
Twashukuru yesu, twashukuru Simba wa Yuda
Twashukuru Yesu, twashukuru

Tsivenda(South Africa):
Vha tshimbila na rine, oh vha tshimbila na rine
Oh vha tshimbila na rine, ria livhuwa.
Ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa Khosi ya Mahosi
ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa

Zulu(South Africa):
Wahamba nathi, Oh wahamba nathi
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga Ngonyama Yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga

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"WA HAMBA NATHI" LANGUAGE COMMENTS FROM OTHER ONLINE WEBSITES AND FROM SEVERAL YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREADS  
These comments may repeat translations or differ from other translations that are quoted in this post. 

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

Excerpt #1
From http://africangospellyrics.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/siyabonga-jesu-lyrics-by-solly-mahlangu/#commentsAfrican Gospel Lyrics
1. Siya, Feb 26, 2012
"I stand to be corrected but according to my knowledge Solly is rendering the song in three different Languages WAHAMBA is a zulu word meaning(You walked) and WAKHAMBA is a ndebele word bearing the same meaning. SIYABONGA means (We thank you) and SIYATHOKOZA meaning(We are grateful/We are pleased)… Then an outstanding xhosa verse which goes:

Enkosi yesu (Thank you Jesus)
Enkosi Gweletshetshe (????
Enkosi Koga lezulu (????
Siyabulela (We thank you)

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2. Delight, Sep 09, 2012
"thank u Pstr SOLLY for a wondrfull show we had in Zimbabwe we sng it in shona- Wafamba nesu(u walked with) wafamba nesu ooh wafamba nesu, tinotenda(thank u) Tinotenda shumba yajudha (we think u the lion of judda)"

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3. Akosua, Oct 19, 2012
"Love this song…In Twi (Akan – Ghana), we’ll sing…
Wone yen Nantew, ooh wone yen Nantew, ooh wone yen Nantew, yeda w’ase..."

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Excerpt #2
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/solly-mahlangu-wahamba-nathi-siyabonga.html [comments]
1. Unknown, Decembe 17, 2013 at 4:38 AM
"In KINYARWANDA (Rwanda) Rhyming with Music Rhythm: This song is very nice and spiritually significant. Hereafter is shown the procedure of how to sing it in Kinyarwanda;

Wabanye natwe, oh Wabanye natwe (You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wabanye natwe, uhimbazwe (Oh you walked with us, we thank you)
Wabanye natwe, oh Wabanye natwe (You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wabanye natwe, uhimbazwe (Oh you walked with us, we thank you)

uhimbazwe Yesu, uhimbazwe mwami w'Abami (We thank you Jesus, we thank you Lion of heaven)
uhimbazwe Yesu, uhimbazwe (we thank you Jesus, we thank you)
uhimbazwe Yesu, uhimbazwe mwami w'Abami (We thank you Jesus, we thank you Lion of heaven)
uhimbazwe Yesu, uhimbazwe (we thank you Jesus, we thank you)

Thanks to Pastor Solly Mahlangu for composing and performing this song."

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2. Unknown December 24, 2012 9:39 AM
"Wow can't just stop singing the song in nigerian languages.....in yoruba we sing :

Eyin le ba'wa rin ha (You walked with us
Eyin le ba'wa rin ha (You walked with us
Eyin le ba'wa rin adupe lowo Re (You walked with us we thank You
Adupe lowo Re Jesu (we thank You Jesus
Adupe lowo Re Oba aiyeraye (we thank You The Everlasting King
Adupe lowo Re Jesu (we thank You Jesus
Adupe lowo Re (we thank You

In Igbo language we sing:
Gi duru anyin eh (You walked with us
Gi duru anyin eh (You walked with us
Gi duru anyin anyin ne kele Gi (You walked with us we thank You
Anyin ne kele Gi Jesus (we thank You Jesus
Anyin ne kele Gi Nw'Aturu we gburu (we thank You the Lamb that was slain
Anyin ne kele Gi Jesus (we thank You Jesus
Anyin ne kele Gi (we thank You

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3. Anonymous, June 1, 2014 at 8:04 AM
"THIS SONG IS A BLESSING AND A TRUE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT.... PST. SALLY AND YOUR GROUP WELCOME TO KENYA

JUSPER_ NAIROBI, KENYA

IN KAMBA MY NATIVE LANGUAGE THE VERSES WOULD BE:-

Ni uendanitye naitu ii, ni uendanitye naitu ii,
( you have walked with us oh, you have walked with us oh)
Ni uendanitye naitu ii, twi tunga muvea.
( you have walked with us, we thank you)"

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EXCERPT #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guiPmwwwXPU Solly Mahlangu | Siyabonga Jesu(Wa Hamba Nathi) published by Gospel SA, April 18, 2014

1. musule veron, 2017
"HOW WE DO IT IN WESTERN KENYA

Ochendire Ninafwe, Ooh Ochendire Ninafwe
Oh Ochendire Ninafwe, Khukwitsomia
Ochendire Ninafwe, Ooh Ochendire Ninafwe
Oh Ochendire Ninafwe, Khukhwitsomia

Khukhwitsomia Yesu, Khukhwitsomia Omwami wa Vami
Khukhwitsomia Yesu, KhuKhwitsomia. X2"
-snip-
I don't know which language this is.

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2. emmy kay, 2017
"here is in swahili

umekuwa nasi,
ooh umekuwa nasi
tawshukuru

twashukuru Yesu,twashukuru simba wa Yudah,twashukuru Yesu,twashukuru.

umetembea nasi ,ooh umetembea nasi ,twashukuru

............continues"

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3. Patrick Birasa, 2018

"French:

Tu as marché avec nous, Oh, tu a marché avec nous
Oh tu as marché avec nous, nous te remercions
Nous te remerçions Jesus, nous te remerçions le lion de Juda ( du Ciel).

Kinyarwanda:

Wagendanye Natwe, Oh, wagendanye natwe
Oh wagendanye natwe, turagushimira
Turagushimira Yesu, Turagushimira Ntare ya Yuda ( Yo mu ijuru)

Luganda (Uganda):

Wagenda nafe, Oh wagenda nafe
Oh wagenda nafe, tukwebaza.
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza Mpologoma ye Gulu
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza"

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4. Abayomi Opadele, 2018
"I'm Nigerian and I LOVE this song.

 In Yoruba (Nigeria)

O ba wa rin, Oh o ba wa rin
Oh o ba wa rin, adupe oluwa
Adupe o Jesu, adupe o kinihun eya judah
Adupe o Jesus, Adupe oluwa

**
5. Ntombie Atandwa, 2018
"Enkosi yesu; enkosi ngweletshetshe; enkosi yesu; siyabulela😍#proud xhosa"

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6. OLOMUNYAK NAIRUKO, 2018
"Maasai version

riamarieki ooh riamarieki pokikataa"

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7. Juliette JUVIDA, 2019
"Ewé (Togo): O lé zon koudo mi, Oh O lé zon koudo mi

Oh O lé zon koudo mi, Mi dakpé na wo.
Mi dakpé na wo Yésu, Mi dakpé na wo Dzipo bé dzanta
Mi dakpé na wo Yésu, Mi dakpé na wo"

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