Mimi ni rafiki yako milele

One of the greatest joys that I had in Kenya, was adding to what little Swahili I already knew. As an American, most of our Swahili knowledge comes from a movie called “The Lion King” by Disney. If we’ve been to Animal Kingdom, we know a couple more words, but beyond “Hakuna Matata” “Simba” and “Jambo!” Most Americans don’t know a lick of Swahili…I was different, I knew the greeting “Habri za Asabuhi”…good morning! A short greeting that I had learned from my friend Marilyn. I did know that Jambo meant hello, but only to tourists.  

It was pretty funny to be greeted as Americans in Kenya. Many people would shake our hands and say “Hakuna Matata!” Then smile and say “Kenya means No worries!” Because as Americans that is the little bit of Swahili we know and we probably don’t even realize that those words and phrases actually mean what we have been taught! 

So the night that we left Kenya, we all learned to say Mimi ni rafiki yako milele (I am your friend forever.) 

I am not a great song writer, but I did decide to write this into a song. 

Mimi ni rafiki yako milele. 

Mimi ni rafiki yako milele.

It means I’m your friend forever until the end.

It don’t matter if I never see you, 

Or speak with you again. I will 

Love you forever, forever, my friend. 

So mimi ni rafiki yako milele. 

Mimi, mimi ni rafiki yako milele. 

It means I’m your friend forever, until the end. 

I may never be a part of your life again, 

And I may spend time away…

But I know, if God is our Lord, we’ll be 

Together again. 

So Mimi, mimi ni rafiki yako milele. 

Mimi ni rafiki yako milele. 

It’s means that I am your friend, 

your friend forever. 

Mimi ni rafiki yako milele.