Lyrics
Intro
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Yesu rafiki mwema
Verse 1
Hapana rafiki aliye mwema kama yesu
Hapana rafiki aliye mwema kama yesu
Hapana rafiki aliye mwema kama yeye ye yesu
Hapana rafiki aliye mwema kama yesu
yesu ni rafiki wa kweli tena ni mwaminifu bwana
ni wa haki siku sote
Verse 2
yesu ni rafiki wa kweli tena ni mwaminifu bwana
ni wa haki siku sote
huyu ni yesu
yeye anatupenda, anatujali,anatuponya ni mwaminifu
ni wa haki
Verse 3
uu uu
Ee ee
nimetambua kuwa sina rafiki mwengine kama yesu
aa aa
na ata angekuwepo hangefikia uamaninifu wako
oo oo
umenichagua mimi nisiyestahili aa
umeniheshimisha umeniketisha na wakuu waone
kwako napata vyote amani tele furaha ya milele
hakuna rafiki kama yesu oo yeye ye
Pre-Chorus
kwako napata vyote amani tele furaha ya milele
hakuna rafiki kama yesu oo yeye ye
Chorus
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
sina mwengine
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
rafiki mwema
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
sina mwengine
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Verse 4
sijaona rafiki kama yesu
maishani mwangu
yeye ni mpenzi wa kweli
yeye ni rafiki wa kweli
ananipenda bila gharama
ananijali bila gharama
ananikumbatia
ananifariji daima
yeye ni rafiki wa kweli
yeye ni baba wa wababa
yeye ni baba wa wachane
yeye ni mume
yeye ni baba anaweza
anaokoa,anafariji,anaponya
Chorus
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
sina mwengine
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
sina mwengine
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Verse 5
nakushukuru mungu sababu ya upendo wako
ulinipenda sana nikiwa bado adui wako
na nilikuwa bado sishiki neno lako
na ukanipenda kutoa uhai wako
Adhabu ya mauti yangu ilikuwa juu yako
tena kupata mateso mengi na masumbuko
Najua huzuni nyingi uyauaye sikitiko
Kisa na maana nifanyike mwana wako Yesu
Umenipa neema, Umenipa uzima
Umenitenda wema sina hata la kusema
Maombi we wajibu we tabibu wa karibu
Hujawai kuniwacha kwenye shida wala taabu...
Chorus
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Ee Yesu
ninakupenda oo Yesu
ee Yesu
wa kutosheleza
ee Yesu
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Rafiki Mwema is a Swahili song that celebrates Jesus as a faithful friend. The opening repeats "Yesu rafiki mwema," meaning "Jesus, good friend," and the verses insist that there is no friend as good as Jesus, who is true, faithful, righteous, loving, caring and healing.
The song then turns personal with the admission that no other friend could match His faithfulness, and with gratitude for being chosen though unworthy. A rhythmic spoken-style section names Him as a friend who loves and cares without cost, embraces and comforts, and is also called Father and one who saves, comforts and heals. The final section thanks God for loving the singer while still an enemy and for taking the penalty of death, which matches Romans 5:8 and Isaiah 53:5. Friendship language also fits John 15:13-15 and Proverbs 18:24. The repeated "Ee Yesu, ninakupenda" gives the song a tender, devotional center suited to extended worship.
Related Scripture
- John 15:13-15 Jesus calls His followers friends and speaks of laying down His life.
- Romans 5:8 Christ died for sinners while they were still sinners.
- Proverbs 18:24 A friend is described as sticking closer than a brother.