Lyrics
Verse 1
Uliyoyatenda kwangu ni mengi
You have done a lot for me
Shuhuda Zako hazielezeki
Your testimonies are indescribable
Umefanya hili, Umefanya lile, Umenipa jina
You've done this, You've done that, You've given me a name
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Verse 1 (Repeat)
Uliyoyatenda kwangu ni mengi
You have done a lot for me
Shuhuda Zako hazielezeki
Your testimonies are indescribable
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile Umenipa jina
You have done this You have done that You have given me a name
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Chorus
Niseme nini, siwezi kueleza
What can I say, I can't explain
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Umefanya mengi, siwezi kueleza
You have done so much, I cannot explain
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Verse 2 (x2)
Nikulipe nini, kwa yote Umetenda
What should I pay you, for all you have done?
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Verse 3 (x2)
Baraka Zako hazihesabiki
Your blessings are incalculable
Wema Wako hauzoeleki
Your goodness is not common
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile Umenipa jina
You have done this You have done that You have given me a name
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Chorus (Repeat x2)
Niseme nini, siwezi kueleza
What can I say, I can't explain
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Bridge (x2)
Niseme nini, siwezi kueleza
What can I say, I can't explain
Bali ninakushukuru
But I thank you
Bridge 2 (x6)
Bali ninakushukuru
But I thank you
Outro (x4)
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Refrain (x14)
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile Umenipa jina
You have done this You have done that You have given me a name
Baba ninakushukuru
Father I thank you
Bridge 3
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile
You've done this, you've done that
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile
You've done this, you've done that
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile Utafanya na lile
You have done this You have done that You will do that
Bado ninakuamini
I still believe in you
Umefanya hili Ulifanya lile Utafanya lile
You did this You did that You will do that
Bado ninakuamini
I still believe in you
Umefanya na hili Ulifanya lile Utafanya na lile
You have done this You have done that You will do that
Bado ninakuamini
I still believe in you
Outro 2
Matendo Yako kwangu ni mengi
Your deeds for me are many
Shuhuda Zako hazielezeki
Your testimonies are indescribable
Umefanya hili Umefanya lile
You've done this, you've done that
Umefanya hili na lile Hukuchoka Ukafanya na lile
You've done this and that, you never got tired of doing that
Baraka zako hazihesabiki
Your blessings are incalculable
Wema wako hauzoeleki
Your kindness is rare
Umefanya lile Umefanya
You have done what you have done
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Niseme Nini” by Dr Ipyana is a Swahili thanksgiving song whose title means “What should I say?” The lyric shows Swahili lines paired with English translation, and its key idea is that God’s deeds are too many to explain. The singer says, “Uliyoyatenda kwangu ni mengi,” You have done a lot for me, and that His testimonies and blessings cannot be told or counted.
The repeated phrase “Umefanya hili, umefanya lile, umenipa jina,” You have done this, you have done that, you have given me a name, lists no specific gifts but suggests many. The question “Nikulipe nini?” asks what the singer could repay, and the answer comes in thanks: “Baba ninakushukuru.” Near the end the song looks forward too, with “Utafanya na lile” and “Bado ninakuamini,” I still believe in You.
The lines are close to Psalm 116:12, which asks what to render to the Lord for His benefits, and to Psalm 40:5 and Psalm 139:17-18, which speak of blessings too many to count.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 116:12 “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits?”
- Psalm 40:5 God’s wonders are more than can be numbered
- Psalm 139:17-18 God’s thoughts are more in number than the sand