Mfurahini, haleluya (Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia)

Author: Bernard Kyamanywa

“Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia” comes to us from African Lutheranism. Rev. Bernard Kyamanywa wrote the original Swahili text while he was in seminary in Tanzania. He wrote it in a very African style, envisioning a story-teller and congregation responding; the story- teller presents the simple story of the Easter Gospel, and the congregation responds with the refrain. (Although it can be sung in unison.) --stjohnschicago.org Go to person page >

Translator: Howard S. Olson

Howard Olson (b. 1922; d. 2010), longtime missionary/teacher in African, compiled a number of African songs in Set Free (Augsburg Fortress, 1993). Many were folk tunes to which Christian Swahili texts were later added. He wrote in the introduction: “In their original form these tunes wee sung with uninhibited improvisation. Consequently the form in which these songs appear in this book represents only one of several possibilities.” Sing! A New Creation Go to person page >