The artist, who is widely loved in the East African region where Swahili is commonly spoken, decided to translate some of his Kinyarwanda songs after gaining many fans through his Swahili compositions. By doing so, he seeks to allow his newer Swahili-speaking audience to also connect with the messages in his earlier songs.
Swahili Lyrics
Mbali ninayatupa hayo yote yakushirakiyo
Maana Mii Ni Mwenyezi Mungu,
Usinzie nakufunika Tena
Mimi Niko Naweza kukutunza
kwa Neno la Kinywani mwangu
Na utayalalia haya Maneno
Kisha na mkono wangu
utakandamiza malengo ya wabaya
Maana Mimi Niko
Nitakulinda kwa gongo la Upendo wangu
Uwe hai, natamka, uwe hai.
Chorus:
Uwe hai, eweee Uwe hai Uwe hai, eweee
Uwe hai Wee mifupa ilio kauka ,
Ewe uwe hai Wee mifupa mikavu ewe uwe hai
Akanitazama kwa utele wa upendo wake,
Eti uwe hai Akanitazama,
kwa utele wa Rehema Zake,
Eti uwe hai.
Bridge:
Uko na alama ya damu yake mpenzi
We ni wangu mi wako ooh
Hayo ninayasema.
English Translation:
I will cast away all those burdens
For I am the Almighty God; I neither slumber nor sleep, I will cover you.
Moreover, I am present, and I am able to keep you
By the Word of My mouth.
You will rest on these Words,
And with My hand,
I will crush the plans of the wicked.
For I Am.
I will protect you with the staff of My Love.
Be alive—I declare it—be alive.
Chorus:
Be alive, oh, be alive.
Be alive, oh, be alive.
You dry bones, oh, be alive!
You withered bones, oh, be alive!
He looked at me with the fullness of His Love,
And said, "Be alive."
He looked at me, with the fullness of His Mercy,
And said, "Be alive."
You bear the mark of His precious blood.
You are mine, and I am yours—oh!
This I declare.
This song reflects profound faith and trust in God’s love and promises. It draws from the imagery in Ezekiel 37 (the valley of dry bones), where God breathes life into lifeless bones, symbolizing hope and restoration. It emphasizes divine protection, mercy, and the power of God’s word to transform and sustain life.
Other songs he has translated from Kinyarwanda into Swahili include Kaa Nami (Tugumane), Malengo ya Mungu (Nzi Ibyo Nibwira), and Amenisamehe (Yankuyeho Urubanza), among others. He plans to continue this project in the future.
Orginal Lyrics in Kinyarwanda
Israel Mbonyi – Baho
Israel Mbonyi - Baho LYRICS
Kure niyo njugunye
Ibyo byose byakurega
Kuko nd’uwiteka imana
Usinzire ndagufubitse
Kandi nitwa ndiho
Mbasha kugutungisha
Ijambo ryo mukanwa kanjye
Kandi uzisegura, aya magambo
Ndetse ukuboko kwanye
Kuzaremerere imigambi y’ababi
Kuko nitwa ndiho
Mbasha kugutungisha
Inkoni y’urukundo ngukunda
Genda ubeho
Ndabivuze genda ubeho (Baho baho)
Yewe genda ubeho (Baho baho)
Yewe genda ubeho
We magufa yumagaye
Umva yewe genda ubeho
Yo (we magufa yumagaye)
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genga ubeho
Aranyitegereza imbabazi ziramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
We magufa yumagaye
Umva yewe genda ubeho
Yo ( we magufa yumagaye)
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genga ubeho
Aranyitegereza imbabazi ziramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
We magufa yumagaye
Umva yewe genda ubeho
Yo (we magufa yumagaye)
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genga ubeho
Aranyitegereza imbabazi ziramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Ufite ikimenyetso cy’amaraso y’umukunzi
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze
Uri uwanjye ndi uwawe
Ibyo ninjye ubivuze

Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
Baho baho, Yewe genda ubeho
We magufa yumagaye
Umva yewe genda ubeho
Yo ( we magufa yumagaye)
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genga ubeho
Aranyitegereza imbabazi ziramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
Yeeee, aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho
aranyigereza urukundo ruramusanga
Ati genda ubeho

Uwe Hai