Amani Unajifia!

AMANI UNAJIFIA…! Oh Peace, you are dying…!
 
1. Nalia nasikitika, kukuaga Mahabubu! I am crying I am so sad, to take my leave of you My Love!
Gonjwa  lililokufika, wanashindwa kukutibu! The Disease that came upon you, they’re unable to cure you.
Tujiandae kuzika, kifo kwako ki karibu! Let us prepare to bury you, death is so close to you!
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Oh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
2. Adui zako wa jadi, Chuki pia na Dhuluma! Your traditional enemies, Hatred and Injustice too!
Ubabe na Ufisadi, Ugomvi na Uhasama! Brutishness and Corruption, Conflicts and Disputes!
Wamekuwa makuwadi, Amani kukuandama! They have become pimps, to ruin you, Oh Peace!
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
3. Nyumba itavurugika, mauti yakikufika The House will be in turmoil, if you die
Tutabaki hangaika, tusijue pa kushika We will be bereft, not knowing what to cling to
Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
4. Mkowapi Matabibu, Waganga na Waganguzi? Where are you, Doctors, Physicians and Healers?
Na mumtibu Muhibu, kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi And are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty’s blessing
Mtuondolee tabu, na kuleta mageuzi So to eliminate our troubles, and bring changes
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
5. Wako wapi ndugu zako, Haki na Uwadilifu? And where are your brothers, Justice and Rightousness?
Na wote rafiki zako, waje tena bila hofu And all your friends, for them to come again without fear
Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu To your bed, for them to play their trump card
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
6. Wako wapi siwaoni, kukuokoa mwenzangu? Where are they I don’t see them, to rescue you my companion
Nikwambie buriani, sina mengi ndugu yangu Let me say my final good-byes, I don’t have much else (to say), my ndugu
Bwakila nina huzuni, kukukosa nuru yangu I, Bwakila, I am (full of) grief, to be without you, my light.
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa! Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!
Summary

On one level of meaning the poet laments the passing of his beloved.  On another he bemoans the death of Peace and how those responsible, the “doctors” and “healers” have ignored her, that her siblings, Justice and Righteousness, have disappeared.  Who or what has prompted the poet’s grief is left unsaid.  One might guess from his mention of “brutishness” and “corruption” that those wielding power might be responsible.

Glossary
andama [v. tr.] Ruin (MASB). Follow in order, accompany, follow up, be next in order, succeed in order. Mwezi umeandama, the new moon has followed on, has begun (FJ). Coll. beat someone, let one have it (K&K). Wamekuwa makuwadi, Amani kukuandama! They have become pimps, to ruin you, Oh Peace! (MASB-Au2).
buriani [n. 9] Last words, farewells, leave-takings, esp. of people going on a journey. Kuwapa rafiki buriani, to give friends a farewell (send-off); Kutakana (agana) buriani, exchange farewell greetings, i.e. beg for mutual forgiveness (FJ). Ar. Nikwambie buriani, sina mengi ndugu yangu; Let me say my final good-byes, I don’t have much else (to say), my ndugu (MASB-Au5).
dhila ~ madhila [n. 9 ~ 6] Mean condition, abasement, low state (FJ). Oppression, suffering, discrimination, humiliati­on (K&K). Hali ya kuonewa au kuteswa; mateso, tabu, unyonge (KKS). Ar. Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).
dhuluma [n. 9/10] Injustice (MASB). See dhalimu adj. unjust, oppressive, tyrannical, fraudulent, violent. Sometimes as v. be unjust, etc.; see also dhulumu v. treat unjustly, defraud, oppress; and dhulumu/ma- n. 5/6 injustice, fraud, oppression, violence (FJ). Ar. Adui zako wa jadi, “Chuki” pia na “Dhuluma“; Your traditional enemies, “Hatred” and “Injustice” too (MASB-Au2).
epuka [v. tr.] Avoid, get out of the way of, abstain from, withdraw from, keep from (FJ). Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).
gonjwa/ma- [n. 5/6 aug.] Serious disease, affliction, malady (TJH). See ugonjwa/ma- 14/6 (FJ). “Gonjwa” lililokufika, wanashindwa kukutibu! The Disease that came upon you, they’re unable to cure you (MASB-Am1)
hangaika [v. st.] Be overcome with emotion, e.g., anxiety, worry, grief, etc. (TJH). Be confused, busy with affairs, troubled, excited, anxious (FJ).  Tutabaki hangaika, tusijue pa kushika; We will be bereft, not knowing what (lit. where) to cling to (MASB-Au3).
idhini [n. 9/10] Assent, approbation, blessing (TJH). Sanction, permission, authorization, leave (FJ). Ar. Na mumtibu Muhibu, kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi; And are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty’s blessing (MASB-Au4).
jifia [v. reflx.] Die miserably, perish, disappear, surrender to death, be utterly destroyed, kill oneself (K&K). Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa; Oh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved (MASB-Au1).
kuwadi/ma- [n. 5/6] A procurer, a pander, a pimp (FJ). Ar. Ubabe na Ufisadi, Ugomvi na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi; Brutishness and Corruption, Conflicts and Disputes; They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).
mahabubu [n. 9 an.] Beloved, darling, loved one; the Beloved; 2. Beloved (K&K). Neno lenye maana ya mpenzi, yule aliyekuingia moyoni na kumthamini zaidi ya wengine (MASB). Ar. Nalia nasikitika, kukuaga Mahabubu; I am crying I am so sad, to take my leave of you My Love (MASB-Am1).
mganguzi/wa- [n. 1/2] Doctor, healer, medical professional. See –ganga bind up, fasten together, splice, mend (what is injured or broken). Hence esp. of doctor’s work generally, ‘apply remedy, cure, heal’; also –gangua Same as ganga; (2) save, get out of a difficulty, set free from a charm, etc. (FJ). Haribu chenye kugangwa; (2) –agua, -opoa, -ponyesha (KKS). Mkowapi Matabibu, Waganga na Waganguzi? Where are you, Doctors, Physicians and Healers? (MASB-Au4).
mkiwa/wa- [n. 1/2] Solitary, destitute, friendless person, a poor man; (2) a bereaved person (FJ). See makiwa n.6, plur. of ukiwa, used as a salutation when visiting a house of mourning. Makiwa! or makiwani! The answer being yamepita, if the corpse has been buried, or tunayo, if it is still in the house; -kiwa adj., solitary, alone, desolate, abandoned, outcast; ukiwa n. 14, solitariness, loneliness, abandonment, desolation, state of being uninhabited (FJ). Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa; Oh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved (MASB-Au1).
muhibu/wa- [n. 1/2] Sweetheart (MASB). Beloved, lover, friend  (K&K). Not in FJ. Ar. Na mumtibu Muhibu, kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi; And are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty’s blessing (MASB-Au4).
Rabuka [n. pers.] Almighty God (MASB). Thy Lord (K&K). Ar. Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).
tupa turufu [v. phrase] Play one’s trump card, lit., throw the trump card; metaph. present a final solution, achieve unexpected results (TJH). Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu; To your bed, for them to play their trump card (MASB-Au5).
turufu [n. 9/10] Trump card (TJH). Port. Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu; To your bed, for them to play their trump card (MASB-Au5).
ubabe [n. 14] Brutishness (MASB), See mbabe n. 1/2, a strong, tall man; hero (in film); (2) a bad man, a brute of a man (K&K). Ubabe na Ufisadi, Ugomvi na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi (MASB-Au2). “Brutishness” and “Corruption”, “Conflicts” and “Disputes”! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).
ufisadi [n. 14] Vice, viciousness, corruption. Also in sense of slander, stir up strife, etc. (FJ). Ar. Ubabe na Ufisadi, Ugomvi na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi; “Brutishness” and “Corruption”, “Conflicts” and “Disputes”! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).
uhasama [n. 14] Enmity, violence, sulkiness (FJ). Ar. Ubabe na Ufisadi, Ugomvi na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi; “Brutishness” and “Corruption”, “Conflicts” and “Disputes”! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).
uwadilifu [n. 14] Righteousness (MASB). See –adilifu adj. upright, honorable, moral, righteous, impartial (FJ). Ar. Wako wapi ndugu zako, “Haki” na “Uwadilifu”? And where are your brothers, “Justice” and “Rightousness”? (MASB-Au5).
vurugika [v. st.] Be upside down (MASB). Be in turmoil (TJH). Be in a stirred-up, mixed-up condition, also used of things in a moldering (decaying, crumbling) condition, be completely decomposed or putrefied (FJ). Nyumba itavurugika, mauti yakikufika; The House will be in turmoil, if you die (MASB-Au3).

Discovering Swahili Poetry