As far as Rwandese Gospel is concerned, the song “Ni iki watanze” went in history as one of the “living classics”, mainly because of its strong message about this life on earth. In the 1990’s the war was raging in the North of the country. Chorale Abagenzi interpreted the song ni iki watanze, to remind people we are just pilgrims on this planet.
Yewe mwana wa Adamu, uriho ugihumeka, mbese ntiwashimira Imana ikugejeje
Oh Son of man, wouldn’t you thank God who guards and sustains you?
aya magingo?
Abasore beza bitondaga, ba bandi beza b’imigenda abo wari uzi n’abo utamenye,
Some of the Handsome and serious young men have come and gone
bagiye ureba wumva ugenda.
and yet you survived.
Ni iki watanze mwana wa Adamu cyatumye urindwa bigeze aho
What have you given oh son of man, so you could be protected
Menya ko ari ubuntu wagiriwe, ngaho nawe ujye ushima uwo Mwami.
It is nothing but grace, so give thanks to the Lord.
Wakoze ibibi mugenzi bibaza umuremyi wawe
You’ve done evil and grieved your saviour
nyamara aracyakurinze kuko agufitiye umugambi
but He still keeps you because he has a purpose for you.
Abakobwa beza bitondaga bamwe barinze ubwari bwabo, abo wari uzi n’abo utamenye,
Beautiful and lovely girls, who minded their youthful ways
bagiye ureba wumva ugenda.
Have come and gone, and yet you survived.
Ntacyo twatanze ngo turambe, ntawaguze ayo mahirwe
We did not give anything to live this long, one of us bought that chance
kuko nabo si kubw’abo kuko ntawanga kuramuka
Even those who no longer are, wanted to stay one more day.
Abagore beza bitondaga, bari imitima y’ingo zabo, abo wari uzi n’abo utamenye Beautiful women who were the hearts of their households,
bagiye ureba wumva ugenda.
have come and gone, and yet you survived.
ABO mu rungano rwawe, BAMWE ntabwo bakiriho nyamara abenshi
Some of your age are no more, and yet many of them
muribo bakurushaga ubutungane.
were more righteous than you.
Abagabo beza bitondaga bazi gucunga iby’ingo zabo abo wari uzi n’abo utamenye
Good men who managed well their households
bagiye ureba wumva ugenda.
have come and gone and yet you survived.
The translation may not have as much of an impact as the original message, but the message spans through generations because every second of our life, we are luckier than someone else to some extend. Do we take the time to think about this amazing grace of being alive? From my understanding, it is the only reason people kill each other, steal or cause other harm to their fellow humans because they don’t grasp the idea that being alive is a gift. So, how special do you think you are that God keeps you alive?
