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Music & Movement from East Africa:

Wako Wapi?, Swahili Song

This is a popular welcoming song performed in Wamunyu, Kenya. Shown here is a field recording and a simplified version which appear on Kenya Sing & Dance, as well as a full choral version performed at the 2009 OAKE Conference. Here are some lyrics that you can use:

Part A:

Wageni* wako wapi (X 3), twataka kumuona?
   Visitors, where are you, we need to see you?

Wageni can be replaced with:

wanafunzi – students
walimu – teachers
wazazi – parents

Part B:

Kwanza tuwaone, pili tuwasikie, tatu ni vitendo, ya inne ni furaha.
   First we see you, second we hear you, third comes action, fourth comes joy.

Part C:

Chorus - Iye ni wema iye - Oh yea, it’s good, oh yea.
Leaders’ Interjections: Shule ni wema – school is good / Mambo sawa – things are good

See more videos on Tim Gregory’s YouTube Page