Encouraging people around the world since 1991 !!


TRANSLATIONS

 

Igbo
  

Translated into the Igbo language
by my friend Chimka Ama-Kalu, from Nigeria

My career hasn't really blossomed to the extent of
considering writing a biography, other than the fact
that I was born in Enugu, then in the old Anambra State of Nigeria... 
My dad is now a retired inspector of the Nigerian Police Force.

I attended Nkwo-Ogbe Primary School (Primary One to
Primary Six: 1980-1988) and St Jude's Secondary School
JSS1 to JSS3 : 1988-1990) both in Ihiala, Anambra State
for my primary and junior secondary school education between
between 1980 and 1990, before completing my Senior Secondary
School education (SS1 to SS3: 1990-1993) in my village
at Ututu/Ihe High School, Ihechiowa, in Abia State, Nigeria.
Finally, the University of Lagos 1998-2005 with a
B.Sc in Applied Physics & Electronics.

It is after university graduation that graduates often go
for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which
pictures I have included for you, and of course, you
already know of my deliverance from the pits of hell...
by God's awesome and providential care during my NYSC year.
And for that reason, I am purposed to do
anything within my capacity to advance the course of music
ministry by His grace. Amen.  (written July 2008)

 

 

 

NOW OUR GOD ----------------------------------------- UGBU A CHINEKE ANYI

Now our God we give thanks to You -------------- Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi n'ekele gi
for all the things You have done --------------------- n'ihi ihe nile I meworo
You've shown Your grace in so many ways ------- I gosiwo amara Gi n'otuto uzo
Your mercy and kindness and power --------------- ebere Gi na idi mma Gi na Ike Gi

We thank You, thank You, thank You Lord -------Anyi n'ekele Gi, ekele Gi, ekele diri Gi                                                                                 onye nwe anyi
We thank You, thank You, thank You Lord ------ Anyi n'ekele Gi, ekele Gi, ekele diri                                                                              Gi onye nwe anyi

Verse 2)  Love
Verse 3)  Praise
 
Dear Ralph,
 
I must admit that the above translation is by no means a professional job.
It is only a layman's approach to understanding the wordings of the song.
 
NOW = UGBUA
OUR GOD = CHINEKE ANYI
WE = ANYI
GIVE = NYE
YOU = GI
 
 
Hence, the first line could also have been rendered in this following manner:
Ugbua Chineke anyi na enye Gi ekele OR Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi n'enye Gi ekele.
 
Notice that the "a" in "na" could be omitted to join two words like: na ekele = n'ekele.
 
This is because in the actual pronouciation, the "a" often seem to be
almost "swallowed" up by the following "e".
 
In trying to explain the above, I think I feel that a more appropriate
way to render the word "GIVE" would ne "NYE"
 
You would however notice that in the bolded translation, I omitted one
"anyi" This is because "Chineke" means "God", and "Anyi" means "We".
 
But in the Igbo language, the object/subject precedes it's adjective.
That is why "OUR GOD" cannot be rendered as "ANYI CHINEKE"
 
 
 
Verse 2) Love = Ihunanya
Verse 3) Praise = Otito
 
Hence, we may have something like this for the verse two: Ugbua Chineke anyi,
anyi enye Gi ihunanaya OR Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi na enye Gi ihunanya OR
Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi na ahu Gi n'anya.
 
As said before, "Give" means "Nye". However, the act doing it,
that is giving could be rendered as "na enye" or "n'enye" as I have said before
that the "a" in "na" could be omitted with an inverted comma joining the two words.
 
for the chorus:
We love You, love You, love You Lord -----------------------------
Anyi huru Gi n'anya, huru Gi n'anya, huru Gi n'anya onye nwe anyi
We love You, love You, love You Lord -----------------------------
Anyi huru Gi n'anya, huru Gi n'anya, huru Gi n'anya onye nwe anyi
 
 
Finally, for verse 3,
 
Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi n'enye Gi otito
 
Thus far, I should think that it would even be more appropriate to render the first verse
above as: Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi n'enye Gi ekele INSTEAD OF Ugbua Chineke anyi, anyi n'ekele gi
 
for the chorus:
We praise You, praise You, praise You Lord --------------------
Anyi n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi onye nwe anyi
We praise You, praise You, praise You Lord --------------------
Anyi n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi onye nwe anyi
 
I have used the translation: "onye nwe any" for the word "Lord".
Meaning "OUR OWNER"
Nevertheless, supposing you were meaning to render "LORD" as given
in KJV of the bible for the name of God, we have it directly in the Igbo
translation as "JEHOVAH". But the word "Lord" lower case can often
be given as "onye nwe anyi" meaning "our owner". Therefore, if your
 intention was for the name of God as LORD used in the KJV, then you
might as well replace the "onye nwe anyi" lines above with the word
Jehovah. In that case, the last chorus for verse 3 read like this:
We praise You, praise You, praise You Lord --------------------
Anyi n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi Jehovah
We praise You, praise You, praise You Lord --------------------
Anyi n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi, n'eto Gi Jehovah
 
The above translations may slightly differ from the one I had posted to you long ago,
but I should think that I tried as much as I could to be explain things better here. I would
try to locate the address of our local bible and hymns translators, and may be contract them
for a more professional job that you could set to music.
 
Stay blessed.
 
Love,
Chimka.

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