The video game Civilization IV was released in 2005 with a theme song composed specifically for the game, titled “Baba Yetu.”
Composed by Christopher Tin, the song made history in 2011 by being the first song composed for a video game to win a Grammy.
What many people don’t know is that “Baba Yetu” is actually the “Our Father” sung in Swahili.
Alex Boyé, a London-born son of a Nigerian couple, has recorded a version of the song on his YouTube channel.
It’s beautiful and moving:
Baba yetu uliye (Our Father)
mbinguni yetu, yetu (in heaven, our, our)
Amina! baba yetu, yetu, uliye (Amen! Our Father)
Jina lako milele litukuzwe (Hallowed is your name forever)
Utupe leo chakula chetu (Give us this day our bread)
Tunachohitaji (We need it)
Utusamehe makosa yetu, hey! (Forgive us our trespasses)
kama nasi tunavyowasamehe waliotukosea (As we forgive those who have trespassed against us)
Usitututie katika majaribu lakini (Don’t let us fall into temptation, but)
Utuokoe na yule milele na yule (Deliver us from evil for ever)
Ufalme wako ufike (Thy kingdom come)
utakalo lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni (On earth as in heaven)
Amina! (Amen!)
And today we celebrate...