Lyrics
Verse 1
Mfalme Belshazzar maandiko yanamsimulia
Alilewa madaraka akamkosea Mungu
Alipopata ufalme alichanganyikiwa
Mpaka akathubutu kutumia vikombe vya hekalu.
Pre-Chorus
Mfalme Belshazzar
Alishangaa kuona mkono unaandika ukutani
Na anayeandika alikuwa haonekani
Verse 2
Maneno yaliyo jitokeza ukutani yalikuwa haya
Mene Mene Tekeli na Peresin
Maana yake ufalme wako umepimwa kwa mizani
Nao umeonekana umepungua
Ufalme wako wamegawanywa wabedi na wajemi Belshazzar Belshazzar
Belshazzar alidhani amefika akaanza kudharau watu kumbe safari bado
Mfalme Belshazzar alidhani amefika, akaanza kumdharau Mungu kumbe safari bado Inaendelea
Safari bado, Maisha ni s safari baaado.safari bado... inaendelea
Chorus
Bado safari bado, Bado
Maisha ni safari ndefu ndungu safari bado
Bado safari bado Ndugu yangu
Usianze kudharau watu ndugu safari bado
Bado safari bado
Endelea kumheshimu Mungu ndungu safari bado inaeendelea, safari bado
Verse 3
Ukipigiwa simu haupokei unaiangalia tu
Unadhani umefika kumbe safari bado
Ukipita na gari yako matope unaturushia
Unadhani umefika kumbe safari bado
Umejifungua salama usifute namba za wakunga
Ndugu yangu nakukumbusha kwamba safari bado
Chorus (Repeat)
Bado safari baaado
Endelea kuheshimu watu ndungu safari bado
Baadoo safari baaado
Usiache kumwabudu Mungu ndugu safari bado. inaeendelea
Chorus (Repeat)
Bado safari bado, Bado
Maisha ni safari ndefu ndungu safari bado
Bado safari bado Ndugu yangu
Usianze kudharau watu ndugu safari bado
Bado safari bado
Endelea kumheshimu Mungu ndungu safari bado inaeendelea, safari bado.
Verse 4
Umesoma sawa lakini kumbuka walio kusomesha
Usiwasahau maana safari bado
Una pesa nyingi sawa lakini kumbuka ulikotoka
Usidharau watu ndungu safari bado
Bado safari bado
Endelea kuheshimu watu ndungu safari bado
Bridge
Bado safari bado
Maisha ni safari ndefu ndungu safari bado Inaendelea
Safari bado heiyee
Chorus (Repeat)
Bado safari bado, Bado
Maisha ni safari ndefu ndungu safari bado
Bado safari bado Ndugu yangu
Usianze kudharau watu ndugu safari bado
Bado safari bado
Endelea kumheshimu Mungu ndungu safari bado inaeendelea, safari bado
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Safari Bado,” meaning “the road is not over yet,” is a Swahili song that begins with the story of King Belshazzar. The lyric recalls how he grew drunk on power, used the vessels of the temple, and was startled to see a hand writing on the wall: “Mene Mene Tekeli na Peresin,” which the song explains as a kingdom weighed on the scales and found lacking. Belshazzar thought he had arrived, the song says, and began to despise people and God.
The verses then turn to everyday warnings in the same pattern. Someone who ignores phone calls, splashes mud from a car, or has money and education is told not to look down on others, to remember those who taught them, and not to stop honoring God, because life is a long road. Each warning ends on the refrain “safari bado.”
The story is told in Daniel 5, and the warning about pride is close to Proverbs 16:18. The song’s message is humility before God and respect for people.
Related Scripture
- Daniel 5:25-28 The writing on the wall: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin
- Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction
- James 4:6 God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble