English translations in brackets

Bongo thinas (2x)
Zunguka zunguzuka neni
(Turn around with me)

Verse 1
E: Kuja nami tuungane tuache kuzozana
(come with me let’s join hands and stop being divided)
O: Ngatiende tiende mberi
(Lets move moving forward)
E: Wajua Upendo hauna mfano hauna adui kaka
(Love has no equal or enemies)
O: Takabatana savatema
(United as Blacks)

It’s pole pole going slow
But still we’re keeping time
We’re facing forward looking up
Forgetting what’s behind

E: Twende Afrika heyo!
(Let’s go Africa heyo!)

Chorus
Tuende Tuende
(Let’s go, let’s go)
Kuja nami
(Come with me)
Tuende Tuende
(Let’s go, let’s go)
Upande upande
(Side to side)
We ongoza nikufuate
(You lead I will follow)

Tiende Tiende
(Let’s go, let’s go)
Mberi mberi
(Forward)
Tiende Tiende
(Let’s go, let’s go)
Kwete Shure
(Never Backwards)
Zunguka zunguzuka neni
(Turn around with me)

Verse 2
Zvinoda rudo kubatana Kuti tibudirire
(We need love to unite so we can succeed)
Twahitaji upendo ili tusonge mbele
(We need love in order to move forward)
Kutambura kwedu Zvichida hatina rudo
(Our suffering Maybe we have no love)
Ukosefu wa upendo waleta dhiki
(Lack of love brings hardship)
There’s more to Mama Africa
Than poverty and war
I wish we had a fighting chance
To show off who we are

Repeat Chorus 2x

Hook
Bongo thinas
(Head trouble)
Bongo thinas
Hatidi
(I don’t need it)
Bongo thinas 2x
Sitaki
(I don’t need it)

Verse 3

Ukiumizwa hata mimi ninasikia uchungu
(When you are wounded I feel your pain)
‘kiangaishwa ninalia ukilia dada
(I cry when you cry)
Chinokubanda misodzi yangu inobuda
Paunosuwa moyo wangu unorwadza
You hear the music miles around
The drumbeats never end
The voices raised for Africa
Nkosi Sikeleli
Twende basi Afrika

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Hook

© Eric Wainaina