Khadja left Burundi for Zaire in 1975 and got married in 1978. In 1980 she emigrated to Belgium with her two-year old son. In 1985 she met musician Nicolas Fiszman, who helped her get a contract with BMG. Her second album, a 1994 release entitled Ya Pili, was critically acclaimed. Her breakthrough, however, came in 1996 with her widely popular album Sambolera, which was sung in Swahili, Kirundi, and French. Khadja Nin successfully used a blend between African rhythms and modern pop to create her own unique brand of music. One of her most popular songs is Sina Mali, Sina Deni, a translated cover version of Stevie Wonder's song Free.
Mwana Wa Mama
Khadja Nin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tunapata haya
Mbele ya duniya wandugu
Kweli tumetubiya
Ju tumerudi ku uwana tena wandugu
Tabu ule utamwambiya nini?
Damu ya wake umemwanga bule
Waca liya
Usiwa ace vile
Uwambiye
Wambiye inchi ni ya siye wote
Mungu akijaliya
Mbele yo duniya
Tutapata namna wandugu
Ata ukiumiya
Jaribu tena ju fitina hayisayidiye
Tabu ule utamwambiya nini?
Ju ni damu ya wake umemwanga bule
The song "Mwana Wa Mamá" by Khadja Nin is a Swahili song that talks about the struggles that children of single mothers go through in society. The first stanza of the song talks about the challenges they face and how they handle them. "We mwana wa mama tunapata haya" (as children of single mothers, we face difficulties), "kweli tumetubiya" (we have learned to be strong) and "ju tumerudi ku uwana tena wandugu" (because we have reverted to being children again, friends).
The next stanza seeks to provide guidance to the children of single mothers. "Usiwa ace vile uwambiye wambiye inchi ni ya siye wote" (don't be shy, tell them that this country belongs to all of us). The last stanza talks about the hope that they have in the future. "Mungu akijaliya, mbele ya duniya tutapata namna wandugu" (if God wills it, we will find a way in this world, brothers and sisters) and "ata ukiumiya jaribu tena ju fitina hayisayidiye" (even if you are hurt, try again because trouble is not forever).
Overall, the song "Mwana Wa Mamá" is a song about the struggles of children of single mothers in society, and how they can overcome these challenges with resilience, guidance and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
We mwana wa mama
As children of a mother, we face challenges in life
Tunapata haya
We experience difficulties and hardships
Mbele ya duniya wandugu
Before the world and people around us
Kweli tumetubiya
Truly we have been tested
Ju tumerudi ku uwana tena wandugu
Because we have regressed to immaturity, my dear siblings
Tabu ule utamwambiya nini?
What will you tell someone who is going through a hard time?
Damu ya wake umemwanga bule
You have spilled innocent blood
Waca liya
Listen to me
Usiwa ace vile
Don't despise others
Uwambiye
Tell them
Wambiye inchi ni ya siye wote
Tell them that the country belongs to all of us
Mungu akijaliya
If God blesses us
Mbele yo duniya
Before the whole world
Tutapata namna wandugu
We will find a way, my siblings
Ata ukiumiya
Even if we suffer
Jaribu tena ju fitina hayisayidiye
Try again because gossip doesn't help
Tabu ule utamwambiya nini?
What will you tell someone who is going through a hard time?
Ju ni damu ya wake umemwanga bule
Because you have spilled innocent blood
Contributed by Jordyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.