Nimekuita uambie watu ushuhuda wangu
Miaka tisa nimekaa jela
Nilifungwa kwa kosa la kusingiziwa
Namshukuru Mungu nimetoka
Usiku ule nilikamatwa kama mchezo
Na mke wangu na mtoto mdogo
Nikadhani labda walikuwa wanatania
Labda ilikuwa siku ya wajinga
Hakuna mtu alielewa ukweli wa ushahidi wangu
Wala sikuwa na wakumweleza akanielewa
Mazingira ya kesi, ushahidi, sheria za kazi
Siri ni ban, mpaka mke wangu kaniambia
Kama umefanya kiri kosa tujue moja
Nikumbuke, kumbuka haki yangu, sikufanya ubaya
Nikumbuke, nikumbuke, sikufanya ubaya
Nikumbuke, namna walivyonishtaki kwa hila na wivu
Nikumbuke, bwana unikumbuke nililia
Hey, kumbuka bwana haki yangu
Hey, wakumbuke, walivyo kufanikiwa jela
Uwakumbuke, Mungu wakumbuke washa mshumaa ndani ya nyumba
Mkumbuke mtoto mchanga asiye na hatia
Uwakumbuke, kama ningekuwepo angekonda
Kumbuka Adam, aliyebaki, alikufanya kushtuka kwa ajili yako
Nilidhani Mungu kalisahau faili langu
Nikadhani kwamba nitaaibika
Sikuwa tena na tumaini lililobaki
Haki yangu ilikuwa tumaini pekee
Waweza elewa shahidi wangu alikuwa Mungu
Labda na wale walioua
Mwisho wa siku Mungu alinitetea
Na waliofanya kosa kunikana
Haki yangu ikasitana kama mtende na mwelezi
Pale banoni, walinichimba wakuning'oa sababu ya Mungu
Waliinamisha wakunivunja, walinitikisa sikupukutika
Walinichuma ili niishe
Wewe bwana ulinitetea na haki yangu
Nikumbuke, kumbuka maadui walivyonizunguka
Nikumbuke, kumbuka ushahidi wa maneno yao
Nikumbuke, kumbuka walivyonichafua jina langu
Nikumbuke, kumbuka walivyoniona
Mi ni mhalifu, hey ukalisafishe jina langu
Hey bwana, uwakumbuke! Uwakumbuke Ukarehemu makosa yao
Uwakumbuke! Japo walifanya ubaya bwana na uwasamehe
Uwakumbuke! Nilienda jela nikiwa bado sikujui
Uwakumbuke! Nimetoka nimeokoka nimekujua
Nikumbuke! Bwana unikumbuke usinisahau
Natengeza fadhili zako, niimbe Mungu baba
Nimefurahi, niimbe Mungu bwana
Nimefurahi, niimbe Mungu bwana
Nimefurahi, niimbe Mungu bwana
Nimefurahi, niimbe Mungu bwana
Unikumbuke
Unikumbuke Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Released on January 28, 2022, Ambwene Mwasongwe's song "Unikumbuke" offers a deeply personal and moving narrative of tribulation and divine intervention. The lyrics recount a painful experience of wrongful imprisonment for nine years, stemming from being falsely accused. The singer describes the sudden and bewildering arrest, likening it to a game or a trick, which occurred while he was with his wife and young child. He conveys the isolation and lack of understanding he faced, even from his spouse, who urged him to confess to something he did not do.
Central to the song is a fervent plea to God, repeatedly crying out "Nikumbuke," meaning "Remember me." This cry is not merely for physical release but for divine remembrance of his innocence and the injustice he suffered. He asks God to remember his righteousness, the malicious intent and envy behind the false accusations, and his desperate tears shed while in prison. This heartfelt appeal highlights a complete reliance on a higher power for vindication when human systems and support fail.
The lyrics touch upon the despair felt during the long period of incarceration, feeling as though God had perhaps forgotten his plight and that he was doomed to shame. His hope dwindled, with his only remaining solace being the certainty of his own innocence – "Haki yangu ilikuwa tumaini pekee." He identifies God as his primary witness and ultimately, his defender. Despite the actions of those who wronged him, including those who may have testified against him, God's intervention brought about his release.
The song uses powerful imagery to describe the attempts to break his spirit and faith while in the metaphorical "banoni" (prison or difficult situation). He speaks of being dug into, shaken, broken, and plucked at, likening himself to a resilient plant that refused to wither despite the efforts to destroy him. This resilience is attributed solely to God's protection and defense of his righteousness, allowing him to stand firm.
Beyond seeking vindication for himself, the song also includes pleas concerning others involved. He asks God to remember those who succeeded by putting him in jail and to remember his young, innocent child who would have suffered in his absence. He also reflects on Adam, perhaps a fellow inmate or figure who was significant during his time inside. Strikingly, the song shifts to a plea for God to remember and show mercy to his accusers and those who wronged him, asking for their forgiveness. This reflects a profound transformation, as he reveals that he entered prison without knowing God but emerged having found faith and come to know Him, a powerful testimony to the redemptive nature of suffering. The song concludes with an overflow of gratitude and joy, repeating his happiness and singing praises to God the Father for His grace and deliverance. This journey from despair to joy, from wrongful suffering to spiritual salvation, forms the inspirational core of "Unikumbuke."
