[Verse 1]

Wenzako waolewa we huolewi kwani we

Others are getting married but you’re still single, why?

Ati una hila moja husemi na majirani we

They say you have one flaw you hide from the neighbors.

Sema na hila ya pili ukihongwa hufanani wewe

Speak about the second flaw — you change when bribed.

Sema na hila ya tatu midabwada kitandani we

Talk about the third flaw — clumsiness in bed.

Sema na hila ya nne mwenzetu mchafu ndani we

Talk about the fourth flaw — you are dirty inside, my friend

[Chorus]

Kanijengee kibanda kwetu eeeh eeh eh

Build me a hut at our home, eeeh eeh eh.

Kanijengee kibanda kwenu wataniua

Build me a hut at your place, they will kill me.

Kanijengee kibanda kwetu eeeh eeh eh

Build me a hut at our home, eeeh eeh eh.

Kanijengee kibanda kwenu wataniua

Build me a hut at your place, they will kill me.

Kanijengee kibanda udugu wangu eeh eeh eh

Build me a hut for my brotherhood, eeh eeh eh.

Kanijengee kibanda shoga zako wataniua

Build me a hut because your friends will kill me.

Kanijengee kibanda kwetu eeeh eeh eh

Build me a hut at our home, eeeh eeh eh.

Kanijengee kibanda kwenu wataniua

Build me a hut at your place, they will kill me.

[Bridge]

Lalilo lilo eeeeh, pambe tu

Just playful nonsense sounds, all good vibes.

Lololo lololo

Lololo lololo (playful sounds).

Lali lali lalii, laa lalii lali lali lalii

Lullabies and playful sounds.

[Verse 2]

Ooo oh!

Ooo oh!

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini wewe umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have gone overboard.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini wewe umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have gone overboard.

Oooh ooh ohOooh ooh oh.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini wewe umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have gone overboard.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini wewe umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have gone overboard.

Oooh ooh ohOooh ooh oh.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini toss umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have tossed too much.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote zoazoa lakini wewe umezidi

Everyone collects a little, but you have gone overboard.

Oooh ooh oh

Oooh ooh oh.

Jani hilo, jani la mua eeeh eeh eh

That leaf, the mua leaf, eeeh eeh eh.

Watu wote wachepuka lakini lizer umezidi

Everyone cheats a little, but Lizer you have exaggerated it.

[Verse 3]

Acha nicheze mie

Let me dance.

Na watu wangu jangwani nalia

I cry with my people in the desert.

Ooooh! Acha niringe mie

Ooooh! Let me show off.

Na watu wangu jangwani nalia

I cry with my people in the desert.

Aaaaah! Aaah ah! Acha nicheze mie

Aaaaah! Aaah ah! Let me dance.

Na watu wangu jangwani nalia

I cry with my people in the desert.

Acha nijishaue shaue

Let me shake myself lightly.

Na watu wangu jangwani nalia

I cry with my people in the desert.

Ooooh lolilo lilo eeeh!

Ooooh playful sounds eeeh!

[Verse 4]

Kuntu! Mambo hayo

Kuntu! Those matters.

Alolololo lolo lolooo!

Playful chanting sounds!

Aah eeh mama mwanangu ooh!

Aah eeh, oh my dear mother!

Mama mwanangu ooh!

Oh my dear mother!

Aah mama mwanangu eeh!

Aah my dear mother eeh!

Mama mwanangu eeh!

My dear mother eeh!

Waniacha nasaga mpunga we, mbona sijijvi

You leave me pounding rice alone, why don't you care?

Waniacha nasaga mpunga we, mbona sijijvi

You leave me pounding rice alone, why don't you care?

Waniacha napinda mgongo we, mbona sijijvi

You leave me bending my back, why don't you care?

Aaah! Waniacha napinda mgongo we, mbona usiniambie

Aaah! You leave me bending my back, why don't you tell me?

[Verse 5]

Jamani mi naumwa eeh eeh eh, naumwa

Oh people, I am sick, eeh eeh eh, I am sick.

Naumwa, oooh, ooh oh naumwa aaah naumwa

I am sick, oooh, ooh oh, I am very sick.

Naumwa kijipu upele we, naumwa huniambii pole

I am sick with boils and rashes, and you don't even say sorry.

Naumwa eeh eeh eh, naumwa

I am sick, eeh eeh eh, I am sick.

Naumwa, oooh, ooh oh naumwa aaah naumwa

I am sick, oooh, ooh oh, I am very sick.

Naumwa kijipu upele we, naumwa huniambii pole

I am sick with boils and rashes, and you don't even say sorry.

Jamani naumwa eeh eeh eh, naumwa

Oh people, I am sick, eeh eeh eh, I am sick.

Naumwa kijipu upele we, naumwa huniambii pole

I am sick with boils and rashes, and you don't even say sorry.

Naumwa eeh eeh eh, naumwa

I am sick, eeh eeh eh, I am sick.

Naumwa, oooh, ooh oh naumwa aaah naumwa

I am sick, oooh, ooh oh, I am very sick.

Naumwa kijipu upele we, naumwa huniambii pole

I am sick with boils and rashes, and you don't even say sorry.

Naumwa kijipu upele jama, naumwa huniambii pole

I am sick with boils and rashes, my people, and you don't even say sorry.

[Verse 6]

Oyaa mwafulani wee khaaaaa

Hey you so-and-so, khaaaa!

Ooh mwafulani usitukane dangaji nakuambia aaah

Oh you so-and-so, stop insulting tricksters, I’m telling you aaah.

Huo udangaji jauanza dadayo kuutumia

That trickery, your sister has already started using it.

Ukiona mwana wa mwenzio budege

When you see someone else’s child in rags,

Na wako vilevile

Know that yours is the same.

Na wako vilevile

Yours is also the same.

Aaa ah ukiona mwana wa mwenzio mchele

When you see someone else's child shining (like rice),

Na wako vilevile

Yours is also shining.

Na wako vilevile

Yours too.

Ukiona mwana wa mwenzio shangingi

When you see someone else's child looking fancy,

Na wako vilevile

Yours is also fancy.

Na wako vilevile

Yours too.

Aaaah lilo lilo eeeh, tamu!

Aaaah playful sounds, sweet!

[Chorus]

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Jamani barua yangu, niisome

Oh people, my letter, let me read it.

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Naitaka barua yangu, niisome

I want my letter, let me read it.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Barua ya bwana ndani eeh, niisome

The husband's letter inside, let me read it.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Barua ya bibi ndani eeh, niisome

The wife's letter inside, let me read it.

Barua ifike vyema eeh, niisome

Let the letter arrive safely, let me read it.

Barua mama barua aah, eheeh, eh eh

Mother's letter, ah eheeh, eh eh.

[Verse 7]

Oooh nyie wana Dar es salama embu acheni umbumbumbu

Oh you people of Dar es Salaam, stop being foolish.

Nyie wana Dar es salama acheni umbumbumbu

You people of Dar es Salaam, stop being foolish.

Shariti ni kuinama ukitaka cha uvungu

It's a must to bow if you want what's hidden underneath.

Asa mbona wapata bwana halafu humpi?

So why get a husband and then refuse him?

Naombeni barua yangu, niisome

Please give me my letter, let me read it.

Naikata barua yangu, niisome

I'm demanding my letter, let me read it.

Niisome barua yangu, niisome

Let me read my letter.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Ah, ehAh, eh.

Jamani kuna kijiti kimoja kwa jina sitokitaja

Oh people, there’s a stick whose name I won’t mention.

Ukiona chasimama ujue chataka haja

If you see it standing, know it needs something.

Ukiona kimelala kisha chafua mapaja

If it’s lying down, it will dirty your thighs.

Jamani weweOh you.

[Chorus]

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Naitaka barua yangu, niisome

I want my letter, let me read it.

Nipeni barua yangu, niisome

Give me my letter, let me read it.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Barua ya mwana ndani eeh, niisome

The son’s letter inside, let me read it.

Barua jama barua eeh, niisome

Letter, oh letter, let me read it.

Naitaka barua yangu, niisome

I want my letter, let me read it.

Niisome barua yangu, niisome

Let me read my letter.

Barua jama bahaba, niisome

The love letter, let me read it.

Mahaba jama ya muhiba, niisome

The letter of love and longing, let me read it.

Ah, eh

Ah, eh.

[Verse 8]

Jamani kuna mama kuna kuna

Oh people, there's a woman, kuna kuna.

Kuna mama kuna kuna

There’s a woman, kuna kuna.

Kuna nazi kuna kuna

There’s coconut, kuna kuna.

Kuna mama kuna kuna

There’s a woman, kuna kuna.

Kuna kinyume nyume kuna

There’s backwardness, kuna.

Kuna kimbele mbele kuna

There’s forwardness, kuna.

Kuna kati kwa kati kuna

There’s the middle, kuna.

Kuna kinyume nyume kuna

There’s backwardness, kuna.

Hasa ku ku kuku, kukuku ku ku kuku kuku

Especially clucking, clucking sounds.

Eh, ku, eh, ku, eh, ku, ku, ku, ku

Eh, cluck, eh, cluck, eh, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.

[Verse 9]

Jamani kampata sharubaro jama kampeleka nyumbani

Oh people, she found a young man and took him home.

Muda wa kumpa mambo kamvalia miwani

When the time came to give him things, she wore glasses.

Kule hakupaona kafanya kwa pajani

Over there he couldn’t see, so he did it blindly.

Jamani kuna sasa kuna kuna

Oh people, now there’s kuna kuna.

Kuna embu kuna kuna

There’s embu kuna kuna.

Kuna mama kuna kuna

There’s mother kuna kuna.

Kuna dada kuna kuna

There’s sister kuna kuna.

Ricardo momo kuna kuna

There’s Ricardo momo kuna kuna.

Esma twende kuna kuna

Esma, let’s go kuna kuna.

[Verse 10]

Ooh udangaji udangaji jama ni habari ya mujini

Oh trickery, trickery, people, it’s a city affair.

Wenzako wapewa nyumba kwa magari ya injini

Others are given houses with engine cars.

Hivi we dangaji gani hadi leo walala chini

What kind of trickster are you that you still sleep on the floor?

Ngoja, embu kwanza kuna kuna

Wait, first kuna kuna.

Jifunze kukuna kuna

Learn to kuna kuna.

Kwa kushoto kuna kuna

On the left kuna kuna.

Kwa kulia kuna kuna

On the right kuna kuna.

Haya ku, ku, kuku, kukuku, ku, ku, kuku, kuku

Now cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.

Eh, ku, eh, ku, eh, ku, ku, ku, ku

Eh, cluck, eh, cluck, eh, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.

Ah, eh

Ah, eh.

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah.

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah.

[ Verse 11]

Ooh, utaniweza wapi utundu nimeanza zamani mie

Oh, how can you outsmart me when I started mischief long ago?

Utaniweza wapi utundu nimeanza zamani mie

How can you outsmart me when I started mischief long ago?

Ooh, utaniweza wapi kuchepuka nimeanza zamani mie

Oh, how can you beat me at cheating when I started long ago?

Utaniweza wapi utundu nimeanza zamani mie

How can you outsmart me when I started mischief long ago?

Ooh, utaniweza wapi madanga nimeanza kitambo mie

Oh, how can you outdo me in trickery when I started a long time ago?

Utaniweza wapi utundu nimeanza zamani mie

How can you outsmart me when I started mischief long ago?

Ooh, utaniweza wapi mjini napajua kitambo mie

Oh, how can you beat me in city life when I have known it for a long time?

Utaniweza wapi utundu nimeanza zamani mie

How can you outsmart me when I started mischief long ago?

[Verse 12]

Hasa nataka dodoa haya dodoa

Now I want to pluck, to pluck.

Nataka katika haya katika

I want to dance, to dance.

Jama najojoa haya jojoa

I am overflowing, overflowing.

Hamu yanishika haya dodoa

Desire grips me, to pluck.

Oooh nataka dodoa haya dodoa

Ooh I want to pluck, to pluck.

Eh nataka katiaka haya katiaka

Eh, I want to dance, to dance.

Jaama najojoa haya jojoa

I am overflowing, overflowing.

Hamu yanishika haya dodoa

Desire grips me, to pluck.

Mama nataka nilewe

Mother, I want to get drunk.

[Verse 13]

Ngoja nilewe nikishaanguka pombe utakunywa wewe

Let me get drunk, and when I fall, you will drink the alcohol yourself.

Oooh, jama nataka nilewe eh

Ooh, my people, I want to get drunk, eh.

Ngoja nilewe nikishaanguka pombe utakunywa wewe

Let me get drunk, and when I fall, you will drink the alcohol yourself.

Aaaah, hasa nataka dodoa haya dodoa

Aaaah, now I want to pluck, to pluck.

Jamani nataka katika haya katika

Oh people, I want to dance, to dance.

Aah, jama najojoa haya jojoa

Ah, my people, I am overflowing, overflowing.

Hamu yanishika haya dodoa

Desire grips me, to pluck.

Naataka dodoa haya dodoa

I want to pluck, to pluck.

Jama nakatika haya katika

I am dancing, dancing.

Ona najojoa haya jojoa

See, I am overflowing, overflowing.

Hamu yanishika haya dodoa

Desire grips me, to pluck.

Pambee eeeeh

Smoothly eeeeh.

[Outro]

Eeeh huo mnazi, unakatika

Eeeh that coconut tree is swaying.

Mnazi, unakatika

The coconut tree is swaying.

Jamani mnazi, unakatika

Oh people, the coconut tree is swaying.

Oooh, mnazi, unakatika

Oooh, the coconut tree is swaying.

Ukitaka kukatika hukatika

If you want to sway, you sway.

Kati, kati, kati, kati, ka

Sway, sway, sway, sway, ka.