Traditional Kinyarwanda Christmas song
English version and arrangement by Andrew Cashner (2019)
Princesse Nabintu-Kabaya, vocals
Andrew Cashner, vocals and piano
Recorded in quarantine, December 2020, Rochester, NY
1a. Yes’ avukiy’ i Betelehemu,
Bamuryamishije mu muvure;
N’umunyambabazi nyinshi cyane,
Nguk’uko yaj’ anshaka!
Nguk’uko yaj’ anshaka!
Nguk’uko yaj’ anshaka!
N’umunyambabazi nyinshi cyane,
Nguk’uko yaj’ anshaka!
1b. Jesus our Lord was born in Bethlehem.
His mother laid him in a trough of hay.
God’s loving mercy filled his tiny face,
When Jesus came to find me.
When Jesus came to find me,
When Jesus came to find me,
God’s loving mercy filled his tiny face,
When Jesus came to find me.
2a. Yesu yanshunguriye ku Giti,
Kand’ abohor’ umutima wanjye.
Ntangazwa cyane n’ imbabazi ze,
Yaziz’ ibyaha byanjye.
Yaziz’ ibyaha byanjye.
Yaziz’ ibyaha byanjye.
Ntangazwa cyane n’ imbabazi ze,
Yaziz’ ibyaha byanjye.
2b. Jesus took all our sin upon the cross.
He lived to break the chains that held our hearts.
God’s loving mercy filled his blood-stained face,
When Jesus died to save me.
When Jesus died to save me,
When Jesus died to save me,
God’s loving mercy filled his blood-stained face,
When Jesus died to save me.
3a. Yesu ntahwema gukiz ’abantu.
Ntitugasubire mu ngeso mbi,
Ngo tuzabane na We mw’ ijuru.
Araduhamagara.
Araduhamagara,
Araduhamagara,
Ngo tuzabane na We mw’ijuru,
Araduhamagara.
3b. Our Jesus rose again to make us whole.
His Spirit moves us still to follow him.
God’s loving mercy filled his glorious face,
When Jesus rose to heal me.
When Jesus rose to heal me,
When Jesus rose to heal me,
God’s loving mercy filled his glorious face,
When Jesus rose to heal me
4a. Yes’ azagaruk’ atujyan’i We,
Tugumane na We iminsi yose,
Kuko yabisezeranye natwe,
Azaza ntazatinda.
Azaza ntazatinda.
Azaza ntazatinda.
Kuko yabisezeranye natwe,
azaza ntazatinda.
4b. Jesus our king is coming back to reign.
We will live by his side, just as he said.
God’s loving mercy will fill all this place,
When Jesus comes to claim me.
When Jesus comes to claim me,
When Jesus comes to claim me,
God’s loving mercy will fill all this place,
When Jesus comes to claim me.
