Worship is so crucial because it is the only reason we live. We don’t worship songs, we worship God.
As the Bible says in Psalm 51; the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, we need to know that true worship is when you give up all your spirit to God. This means much.
That having been said, we see that the Bible talks about worshipping God with songs. Here, we are going to make a pick of the best ten Rwandan worship songs in the last fifteen years. It is going to be in the descending order, from ten to one; in form of a count down.
- Menye neza by Patient Bizimana
This song talks about the reality that the world can give you nothing better than the love that The LORD Your God has given you. Simple truth embodied in a worship song.
- Hari Impanvu by Israel Mbonyi
Great song, reminding your soul what God has done in your life. Looking back, you can sing and say, “Surely, my heart endorses the fact that He Has been good.”
- Arankunda Kandi Anyitayeho by Rene Patrick
God loves me, He cares for me; day by day, I see him for myself, I don’t base on what people have told me about Him. That’s the key message. Its slow rhythm gives you time to meditate on the faithful saying that God will never leave you, nor forsake you.
- Ishimwe Ni iryawe by Potter’s Hand Church
Though we are writing about songs that have been great for the last fifteen years, new ones can break into the list. And this one by Potter’s Hand church is one of those. Perhaps written by the pastor Martin Butarama (passed on), a silent but great man of God that wrote many songs that are used in church even today.
What can we say? Its lyrics are such a great treasure to the soul as it reminds you that if it has not been his zeal, you would have perished. “Umurava wawe niwo utuma tudashiraho.” You can cry to this, as you remember His Mercy.
- Iyo Ataba Uwiteka by Singiza Ministries
Done by the youthful Singiza Ministries, this is another reminder of where you would be without God.
Iyo ataba Uwiteka wahagaze mu ruhande rwanjye, umunwa w’ikuzimu wari kumira bunguri. Iyo ataba Uhoraho, buhungiro n’agakiza, amazi y’umwuzure yari gutembana ubugingo bwanjye.
Sure, this is the story of your life, if you recognise how caring He has been. Without Him, who could do it? Who could help?
- Zaburi 23 by Alexis Dusabe
From Psalm 23, Alexis Dusabe composes this song. Rooted from arguably the most famous Psalm, the song talks about God being our shepherd, and because of that fact, we shall not want.
Surely His Goodness and Mercy shall follow us all our days, the song reminds us. And we shall dwell with him forever, and the troubles of the earth will be nothing.
- Muririmbire Uwiteka by Aime Uwimana
Aime makes a song that thanks God for His Greta Works that He is going to do in the country of Rwanda. Talking about Rwanda’s unpleasant past, we get to realise that because of God’s mercy, sour troubles cannot last forever. “Yibutse umurava we, yibutse urukundo rwe,” Surely God remembers His zeal for us, He remembers His Love for us and he comes to save us.
- Nongeye Ndaje by Patient Bizimana and Aime Uwimana
“There is one word I want to tell you. O LORD my God who is greater than all. Accept to listen to me again. I have come back to the shawl of our goodness.”
How good these supplication words are! Being such a good prayer song, it makes the list.
- Mbwira ibyo Ushaka by Richard Ngendahayo
This comes at number two. It’s such a great song of confiding in God. “Mbwire nde wundi utagira umugayo? Bwiza buzirinenge mukunzi wangye.” (Whom can I talk to who is faithful and trustworthy but you? You are the goodness that has no fault)? I call it an adoration song where you lavish all your love and trust and confidence to your God.
1.Uwigitangaza by Rehoboth Ministries
Finally, at number one, we have Uwigitangaza by Rehoboth. It talks about Jesus as per Isaiah 53;
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
It goes on to Revelations chapter 5, where Jesus alone could loosen the seals and open the scroll of the Book in heaven.
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
You get so emotional when you are singing this with truth. Thank You Jesus for the price you paid. You lived a sorrowful life, despised by people, but all this for me. To win me back to God and you did it.