{"id":797,"date":"2016-08-19T09:29:25","date_gmt":"2016-08-19T16:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=797"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:48:37","slug":"amani-unajifia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/?page_id=797","title":{"rendered":"Amani Unajifia!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
AMANI UNAJIFIA\u2026!<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nOh Peace, you are dying\u2026!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1. Nalia nasikitika, kukuaga Mahabubu!<\/span><\/td>\nI am crying I am so sad, to take my leave of you My Love!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gonjwa <\/em>\u00a0lililokufika, wanashindwa kukutibu!<\/span><\/td>\nThe Disease<\/em> that came upon you, they\u2019re unable to cure you.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tujiandae kuzika, kifo kwako ki karibu!<\/span><\/td>\nLet us prepare to bury you, death is so close to you!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nOh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. Adui zako wa jadi, Chuki<\/em> pia na Dhuluma!<\/em><\/span><\/td>\nYour traditional enemies, Hatred<\/em> and Injustice<\/em> too!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ubabe<\/em> na Ufisadi<\/em>, Ugomvi<\/em> na Uhasama!<\/em><\/span><\/td>\nBrutishness<\/em> and Corruption, Conflicts<\/em> and Disputes<\/em>!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wamekuwa makuwadi, Amani kukuandama!<\/span><\/td>\nThey have become pimps, to ruin you, Oh Peace!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPeace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. Nyumba<\/em> itavurugika, mauti yakikufika<\/span><\/td>\nThe House<\/em> will be in turmoil, if you die<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tutabaki hangaika, tusijue pa kushika<\/span><\/td>\nWe will be bereft, not knowing what to cling to<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka<\/span><\/td>\nWe are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPeace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. Mkowapi Matabibu<\/em>, Waganga<\/em> na Waganguzi<\/em>?<\/span><\/td>\nWhere are you, Doctors, Physicians <\/em>and Healers<\/em>?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Na mumtibu Muhibu, kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi<\/span><\/td>\nAnd are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty\u2019s blessing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mtuondolee tabu, na kuleta mageuzi<\/span><\/td>\nSo to eliminate our troubles, and bring changes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPeace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. Wako wapi ndugu zako, Haki<\/em> na Uwadilifu<\/em>?<\/span><\/td>\nAnd where are your brothers, Justice <\/em>and Rightousness<\/em>?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Na wote rafiki zako, waje tena bila hofu<\/span><\/td>\nAnd all your friends, for them to come again without fear<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu<\/span><\/td>\nTo your bed, for them to play their trump card<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPeace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6. Wako wapi siwaoni, kukuokoa mwenzangu?<\/span><\/td>\nWhere are they I don\u2019t see them, to rescue you my companion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikwambie buriani, sina mengi ndugu yangu<\/span><\/td>\nLet me say my final good-byes, I don\u2019t have much else (to say), my ndugu<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bwakila nina huzuni, kukukosa nuru yangu<\/span><\/td>\nI, Bwakila, I am (full of) grief, to be without you, my light.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPeace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Summary<\/h5>\n

On one level of meaning the poet laments the passing of his beloved. \u00a0On 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. \u00a0Who or what has prompted the poet’s grief is left unsaid. \u00a0One might guess from his mention of “<\/em>brutishness”\u00a0and “corruption” that those wielding power might be responsible.<\/p>\n

Glossary<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
andama<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. tr.]<\/span><\/td>\nRuin (MASB). Follow in order, accompany, follow up, be next in order, succeed in order. Mwezi umeandama<\/strong><\/em>, the new moon has followed on, has begun (FJ). Coll. <\/em>beat someone, let one have it (K&K). Wamekuwa makuwadi, Amani kukuandama!<\/em> They have become pimps, to ruin you, Oh Peace! (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
buriani<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9]<\/span><\/td>\nLast words, farewells, leave-takings, esp. of people going on a journey. Kuwapa rafiki buriani<\/em>, to give friends a farewell (send-off); Kutakana (agana) buriani<\/em>, exchange farewell greetings, i.e. beg for mutual forgiveness (FJ). Ar. Nikwambie buriani<\/strong>, sina mengi ndugu yangu<\/em>; Let me say my final good-byes, I don\u2019t have much else (to say), my ndugu <\/em>(MASB-Au5).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dhila ~ madhila<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9 ~ 6]<\/span><\/td>\nMean condition, abasement, low state (FJ). Oppression, suffering, discrimination, humiliati\u00adon (K&K). Hali ya kuonewa au kuteswa; mateso, tabu, unyonge (KKS). Ar. Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila<\/strong> kutuepuka<\/em>; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dhuluma<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10]<\/span><\/td>\nInjustice (MASB). See dhalimu adj. <\/em>unjust, oppressive, tyrannical, fraudulent, violent. Sometimes as v. be unjust, etc.; see also dhulumu <\/em>v. treat unjustly, defraud, oppress; and dhulumu\/ma-<\/em> n. 5\/6 injustice, fraud, oppression, violence (FJ). Ar. Adui zako wa jadi, \u201cChuki\u201d pia na \u201cDhuluma<\/strong>“<\/em>; Your traditional enemies, \u201cHatred\u201d and \u201cInjustice\u201d too (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
epuka<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. tr.]<\/span><\/td>\nAvoid, get out of the way of, abstain from, withdraw from, keep from (FJ). Tunamuomba Rabuka, madhila kutuepuka<\/strong><\/em>; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
gonjwa\/ma-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 5\/6 aug.]<\/span><\/td>\nSerious disease, affliction, malady (TJH). See ugonjwa\/ma-<\/em> 14\/6 (FJ). \u201cGonjwa<\/strong>\u201d lililokufika, wanashindwa kukutibu!<\/em> The Disease<\/em> that came upon you, they\u2019re unable to cure you (MASB-Am1)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hangaika<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. st.]<\/span><\/td>\nBe overcome with emotion, e.g., anxiety, worry, grief, etc. (TJH). Be confused, busy with affairs, troubled, excited, anxious (FJ).\u00a0 Tutabaki hangaika<\/strong>, tusijue pa kushika<\/em>; We will be bereft, not knowing what (lit.<\/em> where) to cling to (MASB-Au3).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
idhini<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10]<\/span><\/td>\nAssent, approbation, blessing (TJH). Sanction, permission, authorization, leave (FJ). Ar. Na mumtibu Muhibu, kwa idhini<\/strong> ya Mwenyezi<\/em>; And are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty\u2019s blessing (MASB-Au4).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
jifia<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. reflx.]<\/span><\/td>\nDie miserably, perish, disappear, surrender to death, be utterly destroyed, kill oneself (K&K). Amani unajifia<\/strong>, unatuacha wakiwa; <\/em>Oh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved (MASB-Au1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
kuwadi\/ma-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 5\/6]<\/span><\/td>\nA procurer, a pander, a pimp (FJ). Ar. Ubabe<\/em> na Ufisadi<\/em>, Ugomvi<\/em> na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi<\/strong>;<\/em> Brutishness<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Corruption, Conflicts<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Disputes;\u00a0<\/em>They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mahabubu<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9 an.]<\/span><\/td>\nBeloved, 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<\/strong><\/em>; I am crying I am so sad, to take my leave of you My Love (MASB-Am1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mganguzi\/wa-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 1\/2]<\/span><\/td>\nDoctor, healer, medical professional. See \u2013ganga <\/em>bind up, fasten together, splice, mend (what is injured or broken). Hence esp. of doctor’s work generally, ‘apply remedy, cure, heal’; also \u2013gangua<\/em> Same as ganga<\/em>; (2) save, get out of a difficulty, set free from a charm, etc. (FJ). Haribu chenye kugangwa; (2) \u2013agua, -opoa, -ponyesha (KKS). Mkowapi Matabibu, Waganga na Waganguzi<\/strong>?<\/em> Where are you, Doctors, Physicians and Healers? (MASB-Au4).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mkiwa\/wa-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 1\/2]<\/span><\/td>\nSolitary, destitute, friendless person, a poor man; (2) a bereaved person (FJ). See makiwa<\/em> n.6, plur. of ukiwa<\/em>, used as a salutation when visiting a house of mourning. Makiwa<\/em>! or makiwani<\/em>! The answer being yamepita<\/em>, if the corpse has been buried, or tunayo<\/em>, if it is still in the house; -kiwa<\/em> adj., solitary, alone, desolate, abandoned, outcast; ukiwa<\/em> n. 14, solitariness, loneliness, abandonment, desolation, state of being uninhabited (FJ). Amani unajifia, unatuacha wakiwa<\/strong>; <\/em>Oh Peace, you are dying, you are leaving us bereaved (MASB-Au1).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
muhibu\/wa-<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 1\/2]<\/span><\/td>\nSweetheart (MASB). Beloved, lover, friend\u00a0 (K&K). Not in FJ. Ar. Na mumtibu Muhibu<\/strong>, kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi<\/em>; And are you curing my Sweetheart, with God Almighty\u2019s blessing (MASB-Au4).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rabuka<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. pers.]<\/span><\/td>\nAlmighty God (MASB). Thy Lord (K&K). Ar. Tunamuomba Rabuka<\/strong>, madhila kutuepuka<\/em>; We are praying to Almighty God, to keep us from such suffering (MASB-Au3).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tupa turufu<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. phrase]<\/span><\/td>\nPlay one\u2019s trump card, lit., <\/em>throw the trump card; metaph. <\/em>present a final solution, achieve unexpected results (TJH). Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu<\/strong><\/em>; To your bed, for them to play their trump card (MASB-Au5).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
turufu<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 9\/10]<\/span><\/td>\nTrump card (TJH). Port. Katika kitanda chako, watupe yao turufu<\/strong><\/em>; To your bed, for them to play their trump card (MASB-Au5).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ubabe<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 14]<\/span><\/td>\nBrutishness (MASB), See mbabe<\/em> n. 1\/2, a strong, tall man; hero (in film); (2) a bad man, a brute of a man (K&K). Ubabe<\/em><\/strong> na Ufisadi<\/em>, Ugomvi<\/em> na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi<\/em> (MASB-Au2). \u201cBrutishness\u201d and \u201cCorruption\u201d, \u201cConflicts\u201d and \u201cDisputes\u201d! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ufisadi<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 14]<\/span><\/td>\nVice, viciousness, corruption. Also in sense of slander, stir up strife, etc. (FJ). Ar. Ubabe<\/em> na Ufisadi<\/em><\/strong>, Ugomvi<\/em> na Uhasama, wamekuwa makuwadi;<\/em> \u201cBrutishness\u201d and \u201cCorruption\u201d, \u201cConflicts\u201d and \u201cDisputes\u201d! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uhasama<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 14]<\/span><\/td>\nEnmity, violence, sulkiness (FJ). Ar. Ubabe<\/em> na Ufisadi<\/em>, Ugomvi<\/em> na Uhasama<\/strong>, wamekuwa makuwadi;<\/em> \u201cBrutishness\u201d and \u201cCorruption\u201d, \u201cConflicts\u201d and \u201cDisputes\u201d! They have become pimps (MASB-Au2).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uwadilifu<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[n. 14]<\/span><\/td>\nRighteousness (MASB). See \u2013adilifu<\/em> adj.<\/em> upright, honorable, moral, righteous, impartial (FJ). Ar. Wako wapi ndugu zako, \u201cHaki\u201d na \u201cUwadilifu<\/strong>\u201d?<\/em> And where are your brothers, \u201cJustice\u201d and \u201cRightousness\u201d? (MASB-Au5).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
vurugika<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n[v. st.]<\/span><\/td>\nBe 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<\/strong>, mauti yakikufika<\/em>; The House will be in turmoil, if you die (MASB-Au3).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AMANI UNAJIFIA\u2026! Oh Peace, you are dying\u2026! \u00a0 1. Nalia nasikitika, kukuaga Mahabubu! I am crying I am so sad, to take my leave of you My Love! Gonjwa \u00a0lililokufika, wanashindwa kukutibu! The Disease that came upon you, they\u2019re unable to cure you. Tujiandae kuzika, kifo kwako ki karibu! Let us prepare to bury you, … Continue reading Amani Unajifia!<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-797","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=797"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":804,"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/797\/revisions\/804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/swahilipoetry.humnet.ucla.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}