Lyrics
Verse 1
Anayefaa sifa na Utukufu
[He who deserves praise and glory]
Aliyevikwa na Utakatifu
[He who is covered in Holiness]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Amejawa na Ukarimu
[He is full of generosity]
Tena Ye ni Tabibu
[He also is a healer]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Mwenye fadhili na Rehema
[The kind and merciful one]
Baraka na Neema
[Blessings and grace]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Chemi chemi ya Wema
[Fountain of goodness]
Mlinzi wangu mwema
[My protector]
Chorus
Asifiwe Leo
[Praise Him today]
Asifiwe Sasa
[Praise Him now]
Asifiwe Hapa
[Praise Him Here]
Asifiwe
[Praise Him]
Verse 2
Atutiaye Nguvu
[He who strengthens us]
Ashikiliaye Mbingu
[He upholds then heavens]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Atulishaye Mbivu
[Feeds us with ripened fruit]
Katia mvua kwa Mawingu
[He puts rain in the clouds]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Rafiki wa karibu
[A Close friend]
Nguvu zake Mdhaifu
[Strength for the weakened]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Tegemeo Letu
[We depend on him]
Mungu Wa miungu
[God of gods]
Ndiye Mungu Wetu
[That's our God]
Chorus
Bridge
Milima yaruka kama ndama
[The hills skip like calfs]
Kwa uwepo wako
[At your presence]
Anga zaitangaza
[The heavens declare]
Kazi ya mikono yako
[The work of your hands]
Haulinganishwi
[You’re incomparable]
Haufananishwi
[Like no other]
Wewe wa pekee
[You are in a class by yourself]
Kwa zeze na Vinubi
[With the lyre and harp]
Kwa shangwe na nderemo
[With shouts and celebration]
Kwa vigelegele vigelegele vigelegele
[Ululations ululations ululations]
Kwa Kuimba Na kucheza
[With singing and dancing]
Tumshangilie Yesu
[Let’s celebrate Jesus]
Wapi vigelegele vigelegele vigelegele
[Where are the ululations ululations ululations]
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Asifiwe Leo is a Swahili praise song, with English translations beside each line, that calls everyone to praise God today. The title means "Let Him be praised today." The first verse describes the One who deserves praise and glory and is clothed in holiness, full of generosity, a healer, kind and merciful, a fountain of goodness and a good protector, and answers each description with "That's our God."
The second verse says that He gives strength, upholds the heavens, feeds with ripe fruit, puts rain in the clouds, and is a close friend and the God of gods. The bridge pictures the hills skipping like calves at His presence, the heavens declaring the work of His hands, and praise with lyre, harp, shouts, singing and dancing. The themes follow Psalm 114:4, Psalm 19:1 and Psalm 150:3-5. The call-and-response structure and joyful ululation give the song an energetic, celebratory tone.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 114:4 The mountains skip like rams and the hills like lambs.
- Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God.
- Psalm 150:3-5 The psalm calls for praise with trumpet, lyre, harp, dancing and cymbals.