KEY & PERFORMANCE
- Key: G major (capo 2 recommended for brighter child-friendly pitch)
- Tempo: 92 BPM, 4/4
- Basic chord palette: G — D — Em — C
- Strumming: simple children-friendly pattern: D D U U D U OR steady quarter-note downstrokes for young groups
- Suggested voicing: Leader (Kiongozi) + Children's Chorus (Watoto). Add claps or hand motions on each chorus beat.
INTRO (8 bars instrumental — play riff then strum progression twice)
| G | D | Em | C | (x2) ~20s
Intro riff (easy, play on high strings):
e|--3-2-0---0-2-3-2-0---0-2-3-2-0--|
B|--------3----------------3--------| (repeat)
ENTONEMENT / CALL & RESPONSE (allow pauses for children's reply)
(Kiongozi = Leader, Watoto = Children)
Kiongozi: Watoto wote semeni “Amina!”
Watoto: Amina!
Kiongozi: Je, mnazijua ahadi za Mungu?
Watoto: Ndiyo tunazijua!
Kiongozi: Ahadi za Mungu ni za nani?
Watoto: Ni za watoto wake!
(Repeat the entonnement once more: leader cue + children reply) ~30s
VERSE 1
(Progression per line: | G | D | Em | C | — 2 measures per line, sing slowly so kids can respond)
| G | D | Em | C |
Mungu alisema “Sitawaacha” – ahadi yake ni kweli,
| G | D | Em | C |
Alisema “Niko nanyi daima” – tukiomba anatuelewa.
| G | D | Em | C |
Alisema “Mtapata amani” – tukimfuata kwa moyo,
| G | D | Em | C |
Na alisema “Nimewapenda” – tangu bado tumboni.
CHORUS (sing with claps on each bar; repeat chorus twice here)
(Progression: | G | D | Em | C | — repeat)
| G | D | Em | C |
Ahadi, ahadi, ahadi za Mungu ni kweli,
| G | D | Em | C |
Hazibadiliki, ni thabiti kama mwamba.
| G | D | Em | C |
Twaamini, twaimba, tazama Yesu yuko nasi,
| G | D | Em | C |
Ahadi za Mungu ni za watoto wote!
(Repeat Chorus 1x) ~60–75s including sing+responses
INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE / VAMP (8–16 bars)
- Play progression | G | D | Em | C | for 8–16 bars
- Leader can hum the chorus melody while children do hand motions or soft claps
- Optional solo: play intro riff or improvise over Em–C to give variety ~30s
VERSE 2
| G | D | Em | C |
Mungu alisema “Nitawabariki” – kila siku tunayoinuka,
| G | D | Em | C |
Akatuambia “Msiogope” – maana yeye ni ng’ao yetu.
| G | D | Em | C |
Alisema “Nitawaponya” – mioyo yenye huzuni,
| G | D | Em | C |
Na akaahidi “Nitawaongoza” – hata tusipofahamu njia.
CHORUS (tous ensemble) — repeat chorus twice again
| G | D | Em | C |
Ahadi, ahadi, ahadi za Mungu ni kweli,
| G | D | Em | C |
Hazibadiliki, ni thabiti kama mwamba.
| G | D | Em | C |
Twaamini, twaimba, tazama Yesu yuko nasi,
| G | D | Em | C |
Ahadi za Mungu ni za watoto wote!
(Repeat Chorus 1x) ~60–75s
SHORT BRIDGE / INSTRUMENTAL SOLO (16 bars)
- Dynamics: pull back to soft for first 8 bars (fingerpicking or single-note arpeggios), build to louder strum for last 8 bars
- Play | Em | C | G | D | (x4) — let a teacher or lead sing a simple hummed line or a short spoken encouragement between phrases
- Encourage quiet listening, then build up to join full chorus ~40–45s
VERSE 3 (building dyna
