Title: Mukwano Gw’enkalakkalira (My Forever Love)
Tempo: Slow, soulful Afro-fusion / Acoustic
Duration: Approx. 4 minutes
[Intro]
(Acoustic guitar strums softly with traditional Ugandan adungu or ntongoli harp notes)
Oh-woah, maama...
The queen of my heart, the light in the dark.
Mwebale nnyo, asante sana, siyabonga...
This one is for you, Maama.
[Verse 1 - Luganda]
Maama wange, eyanzala n’andabirira,
Ng’ekikolo ky’omuti ogugumira mu kibuyaga.
Emikono gyo gyanjanjaba, bwe nnali omulwadde,
Enseko yo, gwe musana ogumya emmeeme yange.
Oli kitiibwa, oli maanyi, oli nsibuko y’obulamu,
Tewali kiggwa, naye gwe tolwala kwagala.
Ekiro bwe kyanyiganga, nga nze nneebase otulo,
Gwe weesula ku mulyango, nga weesiga Katonda.
Amaloboozi go ag’essanyu gakyawuuma mu matu gange,
Oli ddaala lyange rolled into one, tewali akunyenyeza.
[Verse 2 - English]
You carried me for nine long months through the sweat and the pain,
You held my hand through the storm, through the wind and the rain.
When the world closed its doors, you opened your arms so wide,
With your gentle sweet whispers, you wiped the tears I cried.
I look at my reflection, and I see your beautiful grace,
No amount of gold or silver could ever take your place.
You taught me how to walk, how to speak, how to stand tall,
And whenever I stumbled, you were there to catch my fall.
[Chorus - Luganda & English]
Maama, maama, maama...
Oli wa bbula, oli wa kitalo!
Nze nkutendereza, maama wange ow’ekisa,
N’ebigambo byonna, tebimala kusaasira.
Yadde n’obudde buweddeko, nze nkyakwagala,
Maama, gwe mukwano gwange ogw’enkalakkalira.
(Mother, you are rare, you are wonderful!)
(I praise you, my merciful mother)
(My forever love, I will love you till the end of time)
[Verse 3 - Pan-Ugandan & African Appreciation]
From the peaks of Rwenzori to the southern shores,
Every corner of Africa is singing your applause:
Kiswahili: Mama, wewe ni nguzo yangu, nakupenda sana. (My pillar, I love you)
Acholi/Luo: Mia, amari adwong, in aye ladit ma timo kica. (Greatly loved, full of mercy)
Runyankole/Rukiga: Maama, iwe oli kitooro kyangye, ninkusiima munonga. (My treasure, I thank you)
Lugbara: Ma’a, muke muke, ama i ka mva. (Mother, you are good, we love you)
Zulu/Xhosa: Mama, uyi-qhawe lami, ngiyabonga ngothando lwakho. (My hero, thank you for love)
Yoruba: Iya mi, o ku ise, e seun fun ife re. (My mother, well done, thank you for your love)
[Verse 4 - Luganda & English Expansion]
Bw’otunula mu maaso gange, nneewuunya obulungi obwo,
Mukwano gwo tegwesala, gubulula bululi buli lukya.
Ompadde amagezi g’obulamu, n’okumanya okw’omu maaso,
Nga nze omwana wo, nkusaba obulamu obulungi n’emirembe.
You worked with your bare hands just to put food on my plate,
You prayed upon my destiny and rewrote my fate.
Oli mmemba y’omwoyo gwange, tewali asinga gwe,
Every beat of my heart sings a thank you melody to thee.
[Bridge - English & Luganda]
From the shores of the Nile to the plains of the Savannah,
From the heart of the motherland, you
