Lyrics
Verse 1
Hata nikiwa sina chakula
Isinifanye kusahau
Ulinilisha nikasaza
Hata nikiwa sina mavazi
Isinifanye nifukuru
Na kusahau umeniweka hai
Ona wapo marafiki
Wanakosa kula na kuvaa
Hawalalamiki, wanakushukuru tu
Mimi eh, nilikupa nini Baba
Cha kunipa kibali
Kwa siku zilizofurahisha?
Verse 2
Taabu kidogo zisinifanye nikusahau
Umeshatenda mengi – nikiwa hapa
Shida itapita, bado kidogo
Ikiwa nitachoka niiunue
Chorus
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kumbuka wema wako
Verse 3
Hata kwenye bonde hili la mauti
Nakumbuka nilikuita,
Na wewe ukaitika Baba
Kutegemea akili zangu, na mawazo yangu
Kutanifanya niendelee
niendelee kulalamika
Kuna kipindi najisahau
na kujivunia mafanikio
Wengine naona takataka
Nikumbushe mi ni mtu tu
na dunia tunapita
Uhai wangu si faida bila wewe
Verse 4
Mungu wewe ni mkuu
kuliko vile nakutazama Baba
Unisamehe, unisamehe
Kuna nyakati nadhani
hii dunia labda ni ya ushindani
Natumia akili zangu za ndani
Ila bado nashindwa kuendelea
Nikimbushe nisidhani
Wakifanikiwa tuna upinzani
Nifundishe kuwaombea amani
Na utatenda kwa wakati
Bridge
Na ikiwa Kama nikisahau
Unikumbushe mi mtoto wako
Chorus
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kukumbuka wema
Nipe kumbuka wema wako
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Nipe is a Swahili prayer that asks God for the grace to remember His goodness. The opening verse says that even without food or clothing the singer does not want to forget that God has kept him or her alive, and that friends who lack the same things still give thanks without complaining. The refrain repeats the request "Nipe kukumbuka wema," a plea to be given a remembering heart.
Later verses speak of the valley of death, when God was called and answered, and admit moments of self-reliance, pride in success and forgetting that life is passing. The song asks forgiveness, asks to be reminded of being only a child, and asks to be taught to pray for peace for those who prosper. The themes follow Psalm 103:2 on forgetting none of His benefits, Psalm 23:4 on the valley of the shadow of death, and Deuteronomy 8:11-17 on forgetting God in prosperity. The repeated refrain gives the song a humble, thankful tone.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 103:2 The psalmist urges the soul to bless the Lord and forget none of His benefits.
- Psalm 23:4 The psalmist fears no evil in the valley of the shadow of death because God is present.
- Deuteronomy 8:11-17 The people are warned not to forget the Lord when they prosper.