SINAYE BABA

A Swahili Poem (English translation below)

1. Wanisukuma uchungu, hayano kuyaongea,
   Kuyaongea wenzangu, yaache nielemea,
   Kumuhusu baba yangu, baba asiyenilea.
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

2. Lakini kama sinaye, kwa sauti nawambia,
   Ili kote isambaye, na yeye kumfikia,
   Yakwamba mie mwanaye, nimeshindwa jizuia,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

3. Aliweza kunizaa, kunilea hakujua,
   Yeye alikesha baa, na vimada ‘kitanua,
   Mama akamuhadaa, kwake akamtimua,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

4. Hakuthubutu mavazi, mwanaye kunipatia,
   Chakula nayo malazi, mama alimsusia,
   Mama asiye na kazi, zigo alimbwagia,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

5. Hakika hakunijali, hata nilipougua,
   Nililazwa Muhimbili, mguu hakunyanyua,
   Hakuja hosipitali, hali yangu kuijua,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

6. Katika yangu elimu, ndipo nilipoumia,
   Kwani ilinilazimu, niuze sana bagia,
   Ili kukidhi jukumu, la karo kujilipia,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama
   sinaye.

7. Hata nilipothubutu, kwake kumtembelea,
   Hakutaka katukatu, miye kumsogelea,
   Alisema hana kitu, niwe najitegemea,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

8. Sijawahi kula chake, katika hii Dunia,
   Si thumuni toka kwake, na hata upendo pia,
   Ni kweli nieleweke, si kwamba namzushia,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

9. Chanizuia kilio, tama hapa naishia,
   Nilosema yote ndio, na kwa Mola naapia,
   Au laa! Kama sio, aje hapa nibishia,
   Mwenzenu ninaye baba, lakini kama sinaye.

I HAVE NO FATHER (translated by Ifeanyichukwu Avajah)

1. In pain I am mocked, by silent murmurs
   In the midst of my peers, let me bear my burden;
   Without my Father who has cut the chords of fatherhood
   My friend, I have a father, but I have no father.

2. If I don’t have a father, I shout it aloud,
   Echoes of my words reaching the distances,
   Reaching him…and he says, “My son I couldn’t help myself”
   Mwenzenu, I have a father, but I have no father.

3. Though he bore me, he could not raise me,
   He kept vigil at the bar, in extended discussions
   His mother tricked him, and kicked him out,
   My friend, I have a father, but I have no father.

4. He did not care to clothe his son,
   Nor provide food and shelter, so mother left him;
   An unemployed woman, mother carried her burdens,
   Mwenzenu, I have a father, but I have no father.

5. He showed no care, even when I was sick,
   I was laid in Muhimbili, he did not lift his leg,
   He did not come to the hospital, as far as I know,
   My friend, I have a father, but I have no father.

6. In my education, that’s when I got hurt,
   I had to hawk and sell a lot of vegetables,
   In order to meet my needs, and pay the bill,
   Mwenzenu, I have a father, but I have no father.

7. Even when I dared to visit him,
   He didn’t want a cat, to approach him.
   “I have nothing! You should be independent!” he yelled.
   My friend, I have a father, but I have no father.

8. I have never received from him, in this world,
   Neither direction nor love, have I received from him,
   My story is true, please understand, I’m not lying to you,
   Mwenzenu, I have a father, but I have no father.

9. Don’t stop me from crying, this is where I end,
   Yes, my hopes have drowned in my tears, I swear.
   Oh no! Come and let me defend my helpless case,
   My friend, I have a father, but I have no father.