Lyrics
Part 1: Ke Dumetse (Sotho)
E, ke dumetse
(Yes, I have believed / surrendered)
Nthole, Morena
(Find me, Lord)
Nhlatswe, nhlakodisise
(Wash me, purify me completely)
Ke be motle le'na
(That I may also be pure / beautiful)
Ke se ke utlwile
(Now I have heard)
Jesu, ha o mpitsa
(Jesus, when You called me)
O mpona ke lahlehile
(Seeing me wandering / lost)
O re, wa mpholosa
(You say You will save me)
Nkapese ka matla
(Cover me with strength)
Wena ka sebele
(You, truly)
Ntlholele sebe ka mehla
(Defeat my sin always)
O nketse mohale
(Make me an overcomer)
Part 2: Igama LeNkosi Liyinqaba (Zulu)
Abakhulekay' egameni leNkosi
(Those who pray in / call upon the Name of the Lord)
Bayakusindiswa
(Will be saved)
Uyasho umbhalo
(So says the Scripture)
Igama leNkosi liyiyo inqaba
(The Name of the Lord is a refuge / strong tower)
Ophephela khona uyakusindiswa
(Whoever flees to it will be saved / safe)
Libongwe ngabantu
(Let it be praised by people)
Libongw' iingelosi
(And let it be praised by angels)
Alikho igama elihle njengalo
(There is no other name as beautiful as His)
Inkosi iyazi esikudingayo
(The Lord knows what we need)
Part 3: Thapelo Tsa Rona (Sotho)
Thapelo tsa rona
(Our prayers)
Di tla nyolohela
(Will rise up)
Di tla nyolohela
(Will rise up)
Hodimo ho Ntate
(To the Father above)
Re bine Hosanna
(Let us sing Hosanna)
Hosanna hodimo
(Hosanna in the highest)
Hodimo ho Ntate
(To the Father above)
Part 4: Ebusheni Bami (Zulu)
Yek' ubuhle bokumazi ebusheni bam'
(Oh, the beauty of knowing Him in my youth)
Ukumthand' uJesu, uMsindisi
(To love Jesus, the Savior)
Nxa ngimdala, kudlulile konke okuhle kwam'
(When I am old, and all my best years have passed)
Umi nami enguMthokozisi
(He stands with me as my Comforter / Giver of joy)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“South African Hymns Medley” by Halal Afrika joins four short pieces in Sotho and Zulu, each with an English gloss. The first, “Ke Dumetse,” is a prayer of surrender asking the Lord to find, wash, and strengthen the singer and to defeat sin. The second, “Igama LeNkosi Liyinqaba,” states that the name of the Lord is a refuge and that whoever flees to it will be saved, which is close to Proverbs 18:10 and Romans 10:13.
The third, “Thapelo Tsa Rona,” pictures prayers rising to the Father and the singing of Hosanna in the highest, an image close to Psalm 141:2 and Matthew 21:9. The fourth, “Ebusheni Bami,” remembers the beauty of knowing Jesus in youth and says that He stays with the singer in old age as comforter, in line with Ecclesiastes 12:1 and Isaiah 46:4.
Together the pieces move from repentance to trust, prayer, and lifelong companionship with Christ. The medley’s message is the nearness and sufficiency of the Savior at every stage of life.
Related Scripture
- Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD as a strong tower
- Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
- Isaiah 46:4 God carrying His people into old age