Becoming The Muse

Jah Prayzah a Zimbabwean contemporary musician recently pulled off the ambitious project of dropping his 12th album Chiremera on the 12th of May and his 13th album Maita Baba on the 13th … Two albums launched in two cities in Zimbabwe.

Chiremera means Respect and Maita Baba means Thank you Father. My most played song in the last 30 days has been Kamwenje the 13 track off the album Maita Baba. Kamwenje means little light and the song is a meditative reflection or even a prayer for light in the darkness.

Kamwenje

Kamwenje Lyrics and Translation

hmmm kamwenje
hmmmm this light
Mandibvutira kamwenje
You have snatched away my little light
Kuti dima rindimedze
So that the darkness can swallow me
Kuti dziva rindiyeredze
So that the river can sweep me away
Ndangomirira kuyedze mambo
I am only waiting for dawn

[Chorus]
Zvimwe imwe nguva
Maybe some time
Kuchauya njiva
There will come a dove
Yakatakura ruva
Carrying a flower
Yoisa paguva
And put it on the grave
Pamwe muchatuma
Maybe you will send
Mutumwa akarurama
A messenger who is holy
Mondipa mazuva
And you will give me days
Mondiwedzera nguva
And increase my time
Ndongoda kamwenje
All I want is a little light
Ndotya, ndotya
I’m afraid, I am afraid
Ndaikumbira kamwenje
May I have a little light
Handichaona
I cant see
Kamwenje
Little light
Ndotya, ndotya
I’m afraid, I’m afraid

[Verse 1]
Hupenyu hwacho makasa
Life is a gamble
Anoziva ramangwana ishasha
The one who knows tomorrow is a genius
Kana ini ndavate parupasa
When I sleep on a mat
Ndoti rangu ndakabate basa
And say I have finished my part
Ndotya, ndotya
I’m afraid, I’m afraid.

[Chorus]
Zvimwe imwe nguva
Maybe some time
Kuchauya njiva
There will come a dove
Yakatakura ruva
Carrying a flower
Yoisa paguva
And put it on the grave
Pamwe muchatuma
Maybe you will send
Mutumwa akarurama
A messenger who is holy
Mondipa mazuva
And you will give me days
Mondiwedzera nguva
And add to my time
Ndongoda kamwenje
All I want is a little light
Ndotya, ndotya
I’m afraid, I am afraid
Ndaikumbira kamwenje
I am asking for have a little light
Handichaona
I cant see
Kamwenje
Little light
Ndotya, ndotya
I’m afraid, I’m afraid

[Verse 2]
Inombouya mweya yetsvina
Sometimes they come the evil spirits
Inongodzungaira nerima
wandering in the darkness
Mwеya inongoomesa zvamakasima
Spirits that dry up what you planted
Motumira moto unoririma
And you send fire that flames
Baba inombouya mweya yetsvina
Father sometimes evil spirits come
Inongodzungaira nеrima
wandering in the dark
Mweya inongoomesa zvamakasima
Spirits that dry up what you planted
Motumira moto unoririma
And you send fire that flames

[Bridge]
Zvamuri bako rangu rekuhwanda
You are my cave to shelter
Ndinomira naniko
Who shall stand with me
She muri chitsitiro chinondivharira museve nenyere
Lord you are my shield from arrows and bullets
Ndinomira naniko
Who shall stand with me
She zvamuri bako rangu rekuwanda mvura mawere
Lord you are my cave to hide from the pouring rains
She muri chitsitiro chinondivharira museve nenyere
Lord you are my shield from arrows and bullets
Ndinomira naniko
Who shall stand with me
She
Lord

[Outro]
Pandinoenda husiku ndodzoka ndiri mupenyu here?
Where I go is night will I come back alive?
Kwandoenda husiku ndodzoka ndiri mupenyu here?
Where I go is night will I come back alive?
Ndaikumbira kamwenje
I ask for a little light
Ndongoda kamwenje
I only need a little light
Handichaona
I cant see