Mandi Robinson wrote:
I spent 2 years in Tanzania with my children, we used to sing baa baa mbuzi, unfortunately I only know a little bit of it could someone help me with the words tafadhali, :D
I found this version by Sajida on Youth Community:
Baa baa black sheep in kiswahili goes:
Baa Baa mbuzi una uzi,
ndiyo ndiyo gunia matatu,
moja kwa baba,
moja kwa mama,
moja kwa mtoto anayelia.
I found these translations from Swahili to English:
mbuzi = goat(s)
una = you have (can be a question based on intonation)
uzi = yarn, string, thread
ndiyo = yes (it’s the way it is)
gunia = sack
matatu = three
moja = one
kwa = for
baba = Dad
mama = Mom
mtoto = kid or baby
anayelia = s/he is doing/ or crying
Here’s what I came up with for a literal translation:
Baa Baa goat, do you have yarn?
Yes, yes, three sacks,
One for dad,
One for mom,
One for the baby who is crying.
If this the version you’re looking for Mandi?
Please let us know, and if anyone would like to improve the translation or original text, please comment below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Thursday, November 4th, 2010 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Baa Baa Black Sheep, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Swahili, Tanzania, United Kingdom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
2 Responses to “Baa Baa Mbuzi – Baa Baa Black Sheep in Swahili”
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November 5th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Daud Ndambuki Muthoka wrote:
Kondoo = sheep (kondoo mweusi = black sheep)
April 7th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Baba Mbuzi
Iko na uzi
Ndiyo Bwana Ndiyo Bwana
Iko kikapu tatu
Moja ya baba
Moja ya mama
Moja ya toto ndogo na liya barabara
(literal translation)
Baa Baa Sheep
Do u have wool
Yes sir yes sir
I have 3 bags
One for father
One for mother
One for the little baby crying on the lane