Lyrics
Verse 1
Nikitazama nilikotoka, hapa nilipo ninapokwenda
Ninagundua
Ngekuwa ni nguvu zangu
Ningeshachoka nisingeweza
Sio kweli kwamba tu ku-hustle na kupambana ndio vimenitoa
Juhudi haizidi kudra
Siwezi sema babu hakujituma
Pre-Chorus
Niliitwa ndugu lawama
Mfano wa waliokwama
Mtu asiye na maana
Wa kuchekwa kudharauliwa
Ila Mungu ana maguvu Bwana, leo nikipita wanaitana
Sa ngoja nami niwaite, niwape siri ukweli ni kwamba
Chorus
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Verse 2
Yani kama meli isiyo na nahodha
Kama bunge lisilo na hoja
Mi ni debe tupu bila ya Mola
Msidanganyike nje mnavyoniona
Sina mzizi, wala mlozi
Nina mtetezi tena yu hai
Ye ndo siri ya mi kunawiri
Bila ye mi chali na sifurukuti
Pre-Chorus (Repeat)
Niliitwa ndugu lawama
Mfano wa waliokwama
Mtu asiye na maana
Wa kuchekwa kudharauliwa
Ila Mungu ana maguvu Bwana, leo nikipita wanaitana
Sa ngoja nami niwaite, niwape siri ukweli ni kwamba
Chorus (Repeat)
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Hamna kitu yani zero bila
Bila Mungu mimi (Bila, bila, bila)
Sina ujanja yani zero bila
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Bila Bila,” which means “Without, without,” by Joel Lwaga is a Swahili song that credits God for everything the singer has become. The first verse looks at where the singer came from and says that if it had depended on his own strength, he would have grown tired and failed. It adds that hustling and fighting did not bring him out, since effort does not exceed what God allows.
The pre-chorus recalls being called a blame-bearer and a person of no worth, laughed at and despised, and then the change when God’s power turned the story around. The chorus is a plain confession, “Bila Mungu mimi, hamna kitu yani zero,” without God I am nothing. The second verse uses images such as a ship without a captain and an empty tin, and says the secret of his flourishing is a living defender.
The theme is close to John 15:5, where Jesus says apart from Him nothing can be done, 1 Corinthians 15:10, and Psalm 127:1. The song’s message is humility and dependence on God.
Related Scripture
- John 15:5 Apart from Christ nothing can be done
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 By the grace of God I am what I am
- Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain