Nursery Rhymes›African Lullabies›Sinzira, Mwana Wanje
Sinzira, Mwana WanjeSinzira, Mwana Wanje
A lullaby from Burundi

Sinzira, Mwana Wanje

Key: A minor~60 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Burundi
Relax In No Time video

▶ More lullabies on YouTube

Sinzira, Mwana Wanje Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by Burundi's Kirundi cradle-song tradition, set beside Lake Tanganyika and the sound of the traditional 'inanga' zither. Here you will find the lyrics, English translation, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.

Verse

Am E Am
Sinzira, mwana wanje,
Dm E Am
ikiyaga cyacecetse none.
C G
Inanga irivuga kure gato,
Dm E Am
sinzira, mwana wanje.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep, my child, the lake has gone quiet tonight. The inanga plays softly in the distance, sleep, my child.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
C
x
Guitar
CEG
Piano
G
Guitar
DGB
Piano
Good to know

What “Sinzira, Mwana Wanje” Means

Burundi and neighboring Rwanda share closely related Bantu languages, so Burundian lullabies echo some of the same gentle words. This original version leans instead on Lake Tanganyika’s calm waters and the soft sound of the ‘inanga’, Burundi’s traditional trough zither.

More songs to sing & play

Back to all our nursery rhymes and lullabies — each one with a different friend.

← All nursery rhymes Compare Lullaby Traditions 🌍

Sources & rights

  • An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
  • Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
  • Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
  • Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source? Tell us. How we work · Get in touch