Ngoni, Zulu and Xhosa Language Hymns From Izingoma Zobukhristu

The following are songs from the Izingoma zobukhristu hymnal of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. The hymnal was compiled in the late 1800s and comprises Ngoni, Zulu and Xhosa hymns. I am excited about this hymn because some of the songs are sung in the Ngoni language of my ancestors. Ngoni is a nguni family language which is a family of languages to which isiSwazi, isiZulu and isiXhosa belong. No wonder that even if you are like me who knows a little Zulu you will still have problems to know which song is purely Ngoni or Zulu or xhosa, for these languages are mutually intelligible.

Iam looking forward to the day when the Ngoni people of Malawi will go back to their Ngoni language for it is the only language that can fully express who they are. Enjoy and try to sing the songs through the embeded youtube videos.

MKONZENI UYESU NGWELE (Hymn No. 47 Izingoma zobukhristu)

1. Mkonzeni uYesu

Ngcwele! Ngcwele! Ngcwele! Ngcwele!

2. Uyabiza lina. Ngcwele!

3. Yelekani 'kunqaba. Ngcwele!

4. uYesu useduze. Ngcwele!

5. Hlomanini impahla

6. Impahla, nginhliziyo.

Zenu, zenu, zenu, zenu.

NGIYONILE BABA (Hymn no.66 Izingoma zobukhristu)

1. Ngiyonile Baba, phambi kwakho,

Ngibuyenzile lobu bubi.

2. Bheka, ngazalelwa ebubini,

Nise 'koneni ngatatshatwa.

3. Bheka, uyathanda iqiniso,

Mawungazisi, iqiniso.

4. Ungihlanzi, Nkosi ezonweni,

Ungihlanzise, ngibe mhlophe.

5. Fihl'ubuso bakho ezonweni,

Ungihlangule ebubini.

6. Mawungangilahli phambi kwakho,

Ungasusi kimi Moya wakho.

NGIZWE NKOSI (Hymn no. 61 Izingoma Zobukhristu)

1. Ngizwe, Nkosi, kulumqango wami,

siza mina,

Izitha zami seziyangahlula.

Ungangitshiyi ngingafi, siza mina.

2. Wena wangaluka esiswini ka mame,

siza mina;

Amatumbu na matambo ayenzwa nguwe.

3. Lapho ngiziboma ngiyahluleka,

siza mina;

Lapho ngizibamba senyamangala.

4. Ngobalekelaphi ngisuke kuwe? Siza mina,

Ngiye ezulwini, ulapho wena.

5. Ngiye emhlabeni wonke, ulapho wena, siza mina,

Ngingen'emgodini, na lapho nguwe.

6. Ungivimbezel'emva naphambili, siza mina;

Ubekil'isandhla sakho phambili kwami.

NGOPHAKAMISELA AMEHLO AMI (Hymn no. 67 Izingoma zobukhristu)

1. Ngophakamisela amehlo ami

Ezintabeni phezulu.

Ukusiza kwami ku kuye,
uYehova owenzil'izulu nomhlaba.

2. Yena uYehova akavumi

Unyawo lwakho lutshelele.

3. Bheka yena olondolozayo

Akayozeli akalali.

4. Nguye yena uMninimandhla.

Usezulwini phezulu.

5. Sidumisa yena thina sonke,

Uyilanga lethu elihle.

YESU YESU NKOSI YAMI (Hymn no. 128 Izingoma zobukhristu)

1. Yesu, Yesu, Nkosi yami.

Yiza-ke Nkosi, yiza.

2. Nkosi, thumel' uMoya wakho.

3. Afundise mina kahle.

4. Hawu! mina 'muntu omubi.

5. Nkosi, siza, nginge bube.

6. Msizi, ungisize mina.

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Traditional Christian Songs In Original Ngoni Language

I intend to post all the songs that I have been able to collect. So this is a work in progress page that will continue to be updated. Most if not all the songs that I'll post were composed in the late 18th century when most of Ngoni spoke Ngoni language (a Nguni language, a family of languages that include isiZulu, siSwati, isiXhosa etc ).

Most if not all songs to be posted are from the Izingoma zobukhristu hymn of the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). I would like to thank Dr. Lupenga Mphande for pointing out to me among other things that the song book comprises apart from Ngoni, Zulu and Xhosa hymns as well. I hope that those involved in the promotion of Ngoni culture could drink from the well of wisdom of such scholars as Dr. Lupenga Mphande.


Baba Wethu by Jonathan Chirwa


1 Baba wethu sisondela kuwena,
Mawuhlangane nathi, Nkosi yethu.

2 Nazo zinhliziyo zethu ngezakho,
Uzihlole zona, uzihlanzise.

3 Nawo, amehlo ethu angawakho,
Makabone izinto zakho zodwa.

4 Nazo izandhla zethu zingezakho,
Mazibambe umusebenzi wakho.

5 Nazo izinyawo zethu ngezakho,
Mazigijime endhleleni yakho.

6 Nayo imilomo yethu ngeyakho,
Mayitshel'indaba yakho kubantu.

7 Nazo, izindhlebe zethu ngezakho,
Maziqaphele kuwe, Nkosi yethu.

PHENDUKANI NANGU YESU



1. Phendukani bobaba nangu Yesu,

Umemeza ilizwe, nanguke nanguke
Nangu Yesu umemeza ilizwe

2. Phendukani bomama nangu Yesu.

3. Makhosi phendukani nangu Yesu.

4. Zinduna phendukani nangu Yesu.

5. Majaha phendukani nangu Yesu.

6. Zinthombi phendukani nangu Yesu.

7. Tshokona muyayala nangu Yesu.

Izingoma zobukhristu no. 21
by Mawelera Tembo

1. Israel buyela, buyela ku Yehova.
Kulumqango wakho.

2. Ungadangali-ke.
3. Nange ‘zono zakho.
4. Nokuba ziningi.
5. Yena wozihlanza.
6. Yena umemeza.
7. Tshiyani okubi.
8. Lina Bantu bakhe.
9. Nimuthande yena.
10. Ngokuba ngumsizi.
11. Msizi wabo bonke.
12. Buyela, buyela.
13. Olahlekileyo.
14. Ukuleke kuye.
15. Yena uyakuzwa.
16. Buyani buyani, buyani ku Yehova.
Kulumqango wethu

Izingoma zobukhristu no.18

1. Ibandhla likaJesu limani hau limani,
Silimel'ukupila phakade kutalani;
Akunani abantu bohleka bohleka badinwe,
Sebenzani bandhla lika Jesu
Sofumama umvuzo ezulwini kutalani.

2. Umhlaba kaunawo umvuzo hau limani,
Oko mhlaba konke ku yapela kutalani;
Ubuhle bomhlaba uyaguga,
Upele ube sengamanyala kutalani,
UJesu wafela tina bantu;
Ukusihlenga ezonweni.

3. Yazini kuti tina sahlengwa hau limani,
Sihlengwa nje sobesingayazi kutalani,
UJesu nguye Msindisi wetu,
Wasindisa sonke ekufeni kutalani;
Yena ngi mbokoto esindwayo
Yipatwa ngesikutalikazi kutalani.

4. Siqinise siqine sithi ngco hau limani,
Siqinise ukulwa kwethu kutalani;
Sogiya sohuba ezulwini,
Somekeza sojabula tina kutalani
Sohuba kuzwakale intokozo,
Kojabiswa abasihlekayo kutalani.

5. Masikutale singadinwi hau limani,
Silime kuze kufike Inkosi kutalani;
Mhla Inkosi iyakubuya kodika izulu no mhlaba,
Bahlabelele abakolwa yo,
Kanye na bangcwele ezulwini kutalani
Lizwe Lonke


1.Lizwe Lonke vumani, nge njabulo ku Mlungu
HLabelani, ngokubonga iGama.

2.Yitshoni kuYehova, kuti uyesabeka,
Ekwenzeni, ngo buningi ba mandhla.

3.Hambanini nibone, imisebenzi yakhe,
Yesabeka, ekwenzeni ku bantu.

4.Uyabusa ngamandhla, kuze kube pakade.
Iso lakhe, liyalinda izizwe.

5.Yizani nizwe nonke, lina enimsabayo,
Hlabelani, nikotame, ngotabo.

6.Masihlokome sonke, sikotame ku Mlungu,
Aleluya! Aleluya! Somandhla.

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