Swahili Poems



I love poetry! I'm very much fascinated by the way poets express their inner feelings through poetry. I love the rhythm, the depth, and the power of poetry.

If you love poetry then please read below some Swahili poems authored by myself and other Swahili poets.

Kitandawili Natowa

Date: July 1, 2000
Author: Hashil S. Hashil, Denmark.

  1. Natowa kitandawili / mwenye jawabu kutowa
    Wako watu sura mbili / majaraha yasopowa
    Kuchupa kwao kuwili / nyoyo zao zaunguwa
    Watakayo ni muhali / milele hayatokuwa.
  2. Akili zao ni ghali / kutu zinawasumbuwa
    Wapigana na makali / mwenye fani hupekuwa
    Warejea ya awali / hawavuki zao puwa
    Wala hawana muhali / wamegeuka viluwa.
  3. Wanapeta pili pili / ungó wao chandaruwa
    Upungufu wa akili / ukweli kuutambuwa
    Wasemavyo waawali / wengine wajisumbuwa
    Hatari yawakabili / kuviwasha vilopowa.
  4. Mkahawa sihoteli / kushindana kutambuwa
    Dibeti zisoukweli / mtuno wakitumbuwa
    Kisu kutiwa makali / mwerevu anang´amuwa
    Ukweli muukubali / mwiko mwenziwe upawa.

Kitandawili (Jibu)

Date: July 1, 2000
Author: Hassan O. Ali, Ottawa, Canada.

  1. Watu wenye sura mbili, unao wasimulia
    Si watu ni makubeli, wako tayari kuua
    Tukae nao kwa mbali, roho wasije zitoa
    Watu wasio murua, ni maadui wa kweli.
  2. Wasifu wao tumbili, kila mti wachupia
    Vipando vyetu halali, haweshi kuvivamia
    Tena wafanya kejeli, majumbani waingia
    Watu wasio murua, ni maadui wa kweli.
  3. Hawajali hawabali, wendekeza ya dunia
    Nyoyo zao za jabali, imani 'mewapotea
    Wanajikumbizia mali, nundu zao za ngamia
    Watu wasio murua, ni maadui wa kweli.
  4. Asiyemcha Jalali, Muumba wetu Jalia
    Hafai hastahili, kuwaongoza raia
    Isiwe mara ya pili, fursa kumuachia
    Watu wasio murua, ni maadui wa kweli.
  5. Beti tano ni kamili, kuongeza sina nia
    Kwa chako kitendawili, jibu nimekutolea
    Nambie ewe Hashili, kama nimekipatia
    Watu wasio murua, ni maadui wa kweli.

Pakacha Pakachuka

Date: May 24, 2002
Author: Hassan O. Ali, Ottawa, Canada.

  1. Pakacha waniweka, roho juu
    Pakacha kila mwaka, hata huu!
    Pakacha wanitaka, niwe zuu?
    Pakacha pakachuka, chini puu!
  2. Pakacha nadhikika, dhiki kuu!
    Pakacha ninanuka, na kupuu
    Pakacha wanicheka, sana tuu!
    Pakacha pakachuka, chini puu!
  3. Pakacha umeruka, kichuguu
    Pakacha hujavuka, lima kuu
    Pakacha 'tachauka, chau chau
    Pakacha pakachuka, chini puu!
  4. Pakacha sina shaka, si kifuu
    Pakacha asotaka, la mkuu
    Pakacha huvunjika, lake guu
    Pakacha pakachuka, chini puu!

Pakacha Pakachuka ... (jibu)

Date: May 24, 2002
Author: Bakari A. Ali, Reading, U.K.

  1. Tungo ni safi nzuri, ahsantuu
    Utunzi huna dosari, wewe juu
    Waenda njema safari, ya majuu
    Hassani wewe hodari, ni mkuu
  2. Beti zanukia wazi, karafuu
    Twafurahia ujuzi, ulio juu
    Furaha kubwa azizi, sikukuu
    Mkono wenye pongezi, shika huu

Pakacha Pakachuka ... (jibu)

Date: May 24, 2002
Author: Hashil S. Hashil, Denmark.

  1. Pakacha parachuka, wajikuta chini juu
    Pakacha lakucheka, mzegazeka nafuu
    Pakacha kusarifika, zambarau sio fuu
    Pakacha towa talaka, ndio siri ya kifuu
  2. Pakacha ni kichaka, cha mbuni vitu kuviacha wazi
    Pakacha mashaka, wengi wauza mbaazi
    Pakacha kushilanga muafaka, shabaha kupanda ngazi
    Pakacha kuliamini ni shaka, lageuka utelezi
  3. Pakacha nakunasihi, fujo zako kuziacha
    Pakacha huzimi wala huwashi, wajijua umechacha
    Pakacha kipimo chako ni pishi,wengine watoto pacha
    Pakacha ubani wako mafushi, mara nyengine mchicha
  4. Pakacha kujihashuwa uwache, mara hii utadunda
    Pakacha makarara kwako cheche, mnyama wako ni punda
    pakacha gari lako ni mkweche, wapakia vilovunda
    Pakacha miye si cheche, ni sungura kwenye sanda.

Pakacha Pakachuka ... (jibu)

Date: May 25, 2002
Author: Ally bin Aboubakar, London, U.K.

  1. Wallahi nafurahika, ushairi kuushika,
    Malumbano kuyateka, na nyoyo kuburudika,
    Ila Pakacha nateta, jawabu hatujalipata,
    Pakacha hili nlipi, la Canada au Pemba?
  2. Dr.nakukumbusha,pakacha la kwenu Pemba,
    Muhogo na wake pweza,jioni utajitweka,
    Masheli ya kupwaza,si haba utajitwika,
    Pakacha hili nlipi,mbona hwelitaja?
  3. Karafuu hichumia, na mpeta kuokotea,
    Leo mbona mwalinunia, pakacha hili la kujivunia,
    Wallahi najivunia, mipesa nejichumia,
    Dr.Hassan hebu nambia, kabla sijakufokea,
  4. Komputa hutaitia, ndani ya pakacha nakwambia,
    Ila ndio tweanzia, karafuu na kijio kutafutia,
    Hebu leo twambie, huko canada lipo hilo Pakacha
    Au nlile la aslia , Pemba na Unguja lanukia?

N'na Paka Guniani

Date: October 25, 2000
Author: Hassan O. Ali

  1. Sitathubutu kusema, nimeshakula yamini
    Mchota maji kisima, hata iwe muadhini
    Hatanitoa kalima, wala hatanizaini
    N'na paka guniani, sitathubutu kusema
  2. Paka huyu kisirani, si paka ni ngawa-nyumba
    Avuua kaangoni, mara akinusa vumba
    Jeleko la kizamani, alitipa kama pamba
    N'na paka guniani, sitathubutu kusema
  3. Si paka ni subiani, jini amepigwa chapa
    Usipokaa makini, mara hukwendesha kapa
    Ndio hasema sineni, kanishinda namtupa
    N'na paka guniani, sitathubutu kusema
  4. Sitasema akarudi, akazidi kunitimba
    Nimeifanya juhudi, mwituni nenda msumba
    Hutendwa lisilo budi, mdomo ninaufumba
    N'na paka guniani, sitathubutu kusema

Heko Kwa Bwana Hassani ... (jibu)

Date: October 25, 2000
Author: Ahmed Rashid

  1. Japo paka subiani, shetani wa ujinini,
    Sasa yuko hatarini, simtoe guniani,
    Enenda naye porini, umfukie shimoni,
    Heko kwa Bwana Hassani, kalitupe paka shume.
  2. Kalitupe paka shume, likatoweke mwituni,
    Litupe lisisimame, limetuchosha nyoyoni,
    Uhakika tuuseme, ni paka shume ja nyani,
    Heko kwa Bwana Hassani, kalitupe paka shume.
  3. Paka hili jizi sana, masinzi tele usoni,
    Mbinuze ni nyingi sana, kuiba nyama jikoni.
    Hata Hassani kinena, shume harudi nyumbani,
    Sema siogope shume, shume harudi nyumbani.
  4. Kusema usiogope, yanene yote wavuni,
    Na changa moto tukupe, uyatoe ya moyoni,
    Kwa pamoja tulitupe, shume lilo guniani,
    Heko kwa Bwana Hassani, kalitupe paka shume.