Voices only: A ‘Sweet Spirit’ and more from The Light Acapella

Welcome to Voices only, your weekly dose of a cappella.

I’m filling in for our digital news editor — whose internet is down due to what she describes as “an unfortunate yard work accident.” (Very on-brand for 2020, I think.)

Last week we brought you a beautiful rendition of “The Blessing” from Uganda (go see it if you haven’t yet) and this week we’re just up the road in Kenya, where The Light Acapella is sending out voices-only renditions of traditional hymns. Here’s their latest, “Sweet Spirit.”

It’s an a cappella rendition of the classic hymn “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” by African-American gospel songwriter Doris Mae Akers (1923-1995). There’s some good background on the song here.

Here’s another great hymn in one of Kenya’s indigenous languages, Gusii. The song is called “Ngoika Nka”

I believe this is a translation of a hymn called “When I Get Home” written by C. Austin Miles in 1900. I’m not familiar with it, but here are the lyrics I found online:

I shall wear a golden crown,
When I get home;
I shall lay my burdens down,
When I get home;
Clad in robes of glory,
I shall sing the story
Of the Lord who bought me,
When I get home.

When I get home,
When I get home,
All sorrow will be over,
When I get home;
When I get home,
When I get home,
All sorrow will be over,
When I get home.

All the darkness will be past,
When I get home;
I shall see the light at last,
When I get home;
Light from Heaven streaming,
O’er my pathway beaming,
Ever guides me onward
Till I get home.

I shall see my Savior’s face,
When I get home;
Sing again of saving grace,
When I get home;
I shall stand before Him;
Gladly I’ll adore Him;
Ever to be with Him,
When I get home.

Perhaps some of our Kenyan readers can confirm that I’ve got the lyrics right based on what they’re singing!

Got a suggestions for Voices only? Post links below.

And make sure to check out our ever-growing library of great a cappella.

Filed under: African Christianity African hymn Classic hymns classical hymns hymn history International Kenya Sweet sweet spirit Voices Only When I get home