Lyrics
Imigongo
Imigongo
Don’t let them tell you that you are done
Imigongo
Imigongo
God makes a masterpiece out of dung
Don’t let these trials get you down
Or let the world say you are doomed
Imigongo
They’ll try to put you in the ground
Even if they do it’s time to bloom
Well imigongo it is black and white
Like the darkness and light
Not the colors of our skin
But the struggle we a fight
Black and white
Like the day into night
Yes everywhere we go we have to
Shine our light
It is black and white
Could a gray or crimson
Reminding me that we’re on a mission
To erase the gray from out of our lives
With the crimson blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
Mwandimasula ku nsinga za Satana
(You have freed me from the bondage of sin)
Ndinali ndani popanda Yehova
(Who would I have been without you Oh Lord?)
Ngati dongo mmanja mwa oumba
(Like clay in the hands of the potter)
Mwandiumba kukhala okongola
(You have molded me to be so beautiful)
Ndayera kuposa matalala ine
(And you washed me whiter than snow)
Ndipakamwa pako ukavomereza
(If you confess your sins with your mouth)
Machimo ako mbuye azafafaniza
(He will completely wipe away your sins)
Yeah, imigongo
Imigongo
Imigongo
Don’t let them tell you that you are done
Imigongo
Imigongo
God makes a masterpiece out of dung
Wanditulutsa (You have pulled me up)
Wandisambitsa (You have washed me)
Wandiyeretsa (You have cleansed me)
Imigongo (REPEAT)
Traveling from Malawi to Uganda
I came upon this man in Rwanda
I see these symbols on the walls
Everywhere that we go-o-o
He looked at me and smiled
In his Kinyarwanda style
He said, “That is called imigongo.”
Iyiii Imana ntabwo ihindinduka
Uko yari ejo nanubu niko iri
Mumisozi mubibaya imanayacu niyamahoro o-o-oh
Ikirura ku icyavu ikicazanya
Nibikomangoma Imana yacu
The stone the mason neglected now is
The Head Cornerstone like imigongo
Iyiii Imana ntabwo ihindinduka
(Our God never changes)
Uko yari ejo nanubu niko iri
(He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever)
Mumisozi mubibaya imanayacu niyamahoro o-o-oh
(In the hills and valleys our God is a God of peace)
Ikirura ku icyavu ikicazanya
(He raises us up from the ashes/dung)
Nibikomangoma Imana yacu
(God makes me sit with the princes)
The stone the mason neglected now is
The Head Cornerstone like imigongo
Well it is black and white
Like the darkness and light
Not the colors of our skin
But the struggle we a fight
Black and white
Like the day into night
Yes everywhere we go we have to
Shine our light
It is black and white
Could a gray or crimson
Reminding me that we’re on a mission
To erase the gray from out of our lives
With the crimson blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
Imigongo
Imigongo
Don’t let them tell you that you are doomed
Imigongo
Imigongo
Even if you’re buried it’s time to bloom
Olay nana ayo
Oh oh imigongo
Olay nana ayo-oh oh
Oh oh imigongo (REPEAT)
Imigongo
Imigongo
Don’t let them tell you that you are through
Imigongo
Imigongo
God makes a masterpiece out of poo
Wanditulutsa (You have pulled me up)
Wandisambitsa (You have washed me)
Wandiyeretsa (You have cleansed me)
Imigongo (REPEAT)
(Feat. Faith Mussa and Rata Jah)
Written by Mark Mohr and Justin Nalimu