Lyrics
Verse 1
Imba we uliye tasa (Sing, you who have been barren)
Panua nafasi kwa hema (Enlarge the place of your tent)
Tandaza, tandaza pazia (Stretch out your tent curtains wide)
Wazawa watamiliki taifa (Your descendants will inherit nations)
Pre-Chorus
Solo: Naimba kwa furaha aah (I sing with joy, ah)
Response: Hatanifunika tena (Never again will He cover me with the flood)
Solo: Naimba kwa furaha aah (I sing with joy, ah)
Response: Hatanikasirikia tena (No more will He hide His face from me in anger)
Chorus
Iyelele tushangilie (Iyelele, let us rejoice)
Wema wake wadumu milele (His goodness endures forever)
Iyelele tushangilie (Iyelele, let us rejoice)
Hallelujah sifa kwake eeh (Hallelujah, all the praise belongs to Him)
Verse 2
Usiogope, hutaaibika (Do not be afraid, you will not be disgraced)
Usifadhaike, hutadharauliwa (Do not be anxious, you will not be put to shame)
Utasahau aibu ya ujana (You will forget the shame of your youth)
Anarejesha ulichopoteza (He is restoring everything you lost)
Pre-Chorus
Solo: Naimba kwa furaha aah (I sing with joy, ah)
Response: Hatanifunika tena (Never again will He cover me with the flood)
Solo: Naimba kwa furaha aah (I sing with joy, ah)
Response: Hatanikasirikia tena (No more will He hide His face from me in anger)
Chorus
Iyelele tushangilie (Iyelele, let us rejoice)
Wema wake wadumu milele (His goodness endures forever)
Iyelele tushangilie (Iyelele, let us rejoice)
Hallelujah sifa kwake eeh (Hallelujah, all the praise belongs to Him)
Bridge
Shangilia wema wake Mungu Baba (Rejoice in the goodness of God the Father)
Shangilia wema wake Mungu Baba (Rejoice in the goodness of God the Father)
Shangilia wema wake Mungu Baba (Rejoice in the goodness of God the Father)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Wema Wake Wadumu” by Eve Nyasha Ngoloma is a Swahili praise song drawn from Isaiah 54. The first verse says, “Sing, you who have been barren, enlarge the place of your tent, stretch out your tent curtains,” and promises that descendants will inherit nations. The pre-chorus is a call and response about joy and about God no longer covering the singer with the flood or hiding His face in anger.
The chorus, with the call “Iyelele, let us rejoice,” says “Wema wake wadumu milele,” meaning His goodness endures forever. The second verse tells the listener not to fear or be anxious, since there will be no disgrace, the shame of youth will be forgotten and He restores what was lost. The bridge repeats a call to rejoice in the goodness of God the Father.
The themes are close to Isaiah 54:1-4, Isaiah 54:9 and Joel 2:25, on enlarged tents, a promise after the flood and restored years.
Related Scripture
- Isaiah 54:1-4 Sing, O barren one; enlarge the place of your tent
- Isaiah 54:9 Like the waters of Noah, I will not be angry with you
- Joel 2:25 I will restore to you the years the locust has eaten