Si Yako
“Si Yako” is a powerful song about love, loyalty, betrayal, and freedom. It challenges the belief that any living being can truly be owned, arguing that genuine love and loyalty cannot be bought, sold, imprisoned, or forced.
The lyrics contrast people who betray others for personal gain with those who offer unconditional love without expecting anything in return. Through the innocence of a child and the wisdom of an elder, the song explores forgiveness, compassion, and the strength of choosing kindness despite betrayal.
The song delivers a universal message: You may own the cage, but you can never own the love, loyalty, or spirit of the life within it.
Cover art for ZSORAYII’s “Si Yako” shows a woman in a flowing blue African dress walking freely among lions, elephants, giraffes, a horse, orangutan, meerkats, birds, and other wildlife. Two children open a cage labeled with words such as “Ownership,” “Contract,” and “Property.” Broken chains and a “Joe and Cody” book lie nearby, symbolizing that love, loyalty, life, and freedom cannot truly be owned or sold
Nobody dey own the thing
wey make you stay,
nobody write the rule
wey turn you that way,
dem fit name am,
dem fit claim am,
put am for paper,
put number for living thing
and padlock for cage,
but the part wey dey choose
no ask nobody permission,
and whatever dem fit buy
no be am at all.
Bila mkataba,
bila lugha,
bila shahidi,
kitu kiliamua,
hakikusema kwa nini.
Si yako, si yako,
huwezi kufunga,
huwezi kuuza,
si yako, si yako,
huwezi kuiba upendo,
Jama, Imara,
kamwe si yako.
The one wey go sell you
go smile first,
call you brother for morning,
sign the paper before four,
but no be every hand
dey carry the same thing,
some hand no get claim
and still e hold you well,
small pikin and old man
love wey no get paper,
na dem carry you comot
when the strong ones fail.
Si yako, si yako,
huwezi kufunga,
huwezi kuuza,
si yako, si yako,
huwezi kuiba upendo,
Jama, Imara,
kamwe si yako.
walipeana mikono,
juu ya kitu si chao,
mikono mingine,
mikono ya wema,
walipenda bure.
Small pikin talk am plain
wey the big ones no fit say,
the one wey dem dey aim
na the one wey save the day,
mzee alisema
msamaha ni wako,
si kwa sababu wamestahili,
ni kwa sababu inakula wewe,
shikilia, shikilia,
some hand go carry am,
some hand go break am,
upendo hauna bei.
Si yako, si yako,
huwezi kufunga,
huwezi kuuza,
si yako, si yako,
huwezi kuiba upendo,
Jama, Imara,
kamwe si yako.
shikilia,
Jama,
Imara,
mikono ya wema,
kamwe si yako.