![Siyabonga Jesu (Wahamba Nathi) [Live] - Oh Siyabonga by Solly Mahlangu cover art](/images/wahamba-nathi-d_316x316px.webp)
Lyrics
Chorus
In Zulu
Wahamba nathi, Oh wahamba nathi
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga Ngonyama Yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga
Verse 1
You walked with us, Oh you walked with us
Oh you walked with us, We thank you.
We thank you Jesus, we thank you Lion of Heaven
We thank you Jesus, we thank you
Verse 2
In Swahili
Tembea nasi, oh Tembea nasi,
Oh watembea nasi, twashukuru
Twashukuru yesu, twashukuru Simba wa Yuda
Twashukuru Yesu, twashukuru
Verse 3
In Venda
Vha tshimbila na rine, oh vha tshimbila na rine
Oh vha tshimbila na rine, ria livhuwa.
Ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa Khosi ya Mahosi
ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa
Verse 4
In Ghana
Wo ne y3n nam, oh wo ne y3n nam
Oh wo ne y3n nam, y3 da wo ase
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’se Osoro Gyata
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’ase
Verse 5
In Kamba
Waendie naitu, Oh waendie naitu
Oh waendie naitu, ni muvea
Ni muvea Yesu, ni muvea Munyambu wa Ituni
Ni muvea Yesu, ni muvea
Verse 6
In Luganda
Wagenda nafe, Oh wagenda nafe
Oh wagenda nafe, tukwebaza.
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza Mpologoma ye Gulu
Tukwebaza Yesu, tukwebaza
Outro
In Zimbabwe
WoFamba Nesu, WoFamba Nesu
WoFamba Nesu, Tinotenda
Tinotenda Jesu, Tinotenda Shumba Yedenga
Tinotenda Jesu, Tinotenda
Sotho(South Africa/ Lesotho):
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Re a boka jesu, re a boka tlatlamathjolo
Re a boka jesu, re ya boka
Credits & Song Information
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Siyabonga Jesu (Wahamba Nathi)” by Solly Mahlangu is a live song of thanks that travels across African languages. The chorus is in Zulu: “Wahamba nathi,” meaning “You walked with us,” and “Siyabonga Jesu,” meaning “we thank you Jesus.” The same three-line pattern is sung in English, Swahili, Venda, the Ghanaian language, Kamba, Luganda, Shona and Sotho.
Each language also names Jesus with a lion title. The Zulu verse calls Him Lion of Heaven, the Swahili verse calls Him Simba wa Yuda, which means Lion of Judah, and the later verses give other regional words for lion or king, including the Venda title King of Kings. The effect is a continent singing one song with local words.
The central claim, that Jesus walked with His people, is close to Matthew 28:20 and Luke 24:15. The lion title is close to Revelation 5:5, and the thanks reflects Psalm 107:1. The song is simple, repeated and built for a crowd.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 28:20 I am with you always
- Revelation 5:5 The Lion of the tribe of Judah
- Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good