Kuimba: Music
Itendey Song (from the CD "Salimu! Heshimu!")
(Kuimba)
Harp Theme, Traditional Congolese; Lyrics and Melody line, Denni MacDowell
Lark’s nephew, Denni MacDowell, had recently returned from a visit to Africa when we met in British Columbia. He had picked up this bow harp theme while at Itendey. He taught it to Lark and she plays it here on her Celtic harp. We never intended to put this impromptu jam session recorded on four track cassette onto disc but when we came to redo the song we realized that we couldn’t recreate the feeling of spontaneity and fun that we’d managed to capture — so here it is, Denni!
The lyrics are in Swahili.
Personnel- Lark Bowerman, lead vocal, folk harp, claves; Denni MacDowell, lead vocal; Kris Bowerman, vocal, whistling, djembe, shaker; Chris Ridout, electric bass
Tuna itaji maneno kuimba.
Kama tuna, tuna pima, tuta pata nyimbo vizuri,
Lakini kwa sasa tuna cheza tu.
Furaha, furaha, tuna cheza tu!
Furaha, furaha tuna cheza tu!
Furaha, furaha, tuna cheza tu!
Tuna cheza, tuna cheza, tuna cheza tu!
Lark: Iko muzuri!
We need some words to sing.
If we, if we try we can come up with a good song,
But for now we’re just having fun.
Happiness, happiness, we’re just having fun!
Happiness, happiness, we’re just having fun!
Having fun, having fun, we’re just having fun!
Having fun, having fun, we’re just having fun!
Lark: It’s good !
Denni: We’ve done it really very well!
Lark: This is a song from this place called Itendey.
Denni: Itendey alright! We’ve done really well!
…Kids really know how to have fun.
Lark: Yes, that’s the way it is!
Denni: Now we’re kids too!
Denni: Tuna fanya muzuri sana kabisa!
Lark: Ile njo nyimbo ya fasi moya Itendey.
Denni: Itendey kabisa! Tuna fanya muzuri sana!
. . . Watoto wanna jua furaha kabisa!
Lark: Ndio, iko ivi!
Denni: Sasa, tuna kua watoto
English Translation: