Vanillah and Alikiba collaborate on Tamu Chungu, a 2026 release about love’s dual nature. Lyricists Ally Salehe Kiba and Fanuel Phabian Peter write this Swahili melody with composers including Mr. T Touch. The song describes a romance tested by outside temptations and private doubts.
Released: January 21, 2026
Tamu Chungu (feat. Alikiba)
Vanillah
Tamu Chungu (feat. Alikiba) Meaning & Lyrics (Vanillah)
Kiba and Peter write about love as an exhausting burden in their lyrics. They mention discovering cheating messages but choosing reconciliation. The lyricists compare romance to an elephant’s tusk – precious yet heavy to carry.
Tamu ChunguSweet and Bitter
Mwenye Macho Haambiwi OnaOne who has eyes isn’t told to see,
Na Mwenye Donda Haambiwi KomaAnd the one who is wounded isn’t told to stop hurting,
Mwenye Moyo Haambiwi PendaThe one with a heart isn’t told when to love.
Na Ukishapenda Amani ImeendaAnd once you’ve fallen in love, your peace is gone.
Au Mapenzi Uovu Mi Nilizani WokovuOr is love a sin? I thought it was salvation.
Mapenzi Pembe La NdovuLove is an elephant’s tusk,
Nimeyabeba Sasa Naona UchovuI’ve carried it, and now I’m feeling the exhaustion.
Ashakuta Meseji Za Watu Wakiniita BabyShe already found messages from people calling me ‘baby’.
Hata Mi Nishafuma MesejiEven I have caught messages,
Wakimsifu Yeye Mtundu Kwa BedPraising her for being wild in bed.
Nawala Siyabebi Machungu YoteBut I don’t carry all the bitterness.
Nayaweka PembeniiiI’m putting it all aside,
Nataka Tuwe Good Najua ShetaniI want us to be good, I know the devil
Yupo Kwenye Kampeni Ooh OohIs out here campaigning, ooh ooh.
Najua Mapenzi Ni Tamu ChunguI know that love is sweet and bitter.
Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter.
Aloyaumba Haya Ni MunguThe one who created this is God.
Tamu Chungu Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter, sweet and bitter.
Chungu ChunguBitter, bitter.
Najua Mapenzi Nitamu ChunguI know that love is sweet and bitter.
Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter.
Aloyaumba Haya Ni MunguThe one who created this is God.
Tamu Chungu Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter, sweet and bitter.
Mapenzi Ni Sayansi PanaLove is a broad science,
Unaempenda Ndo Mnaye GombanaThe one you love is the one you fight with.
Mapenzi Kama DanadanaLove is like a game of ‘keep-away’,
Usipotulia Utapaisha MpiraIf you don’t steady yourself, you’ll lose the ball.
Hakuna Mwaminifu HukuThere’s no faithful one here.
Hakuna Mkosefu HukuThere’s no innocent one here.
Hakuna Asiye Na NguvuThere’s no one here who doesn’t have strength,
Huku Ukitaka Ujifanye MjingaSo if you want to survive, you have to play the fool.
Ashakuta Meseji Za Watu Wakiniita BabyShe already found messages from people calling me ‘baby’.
Hata Mi Nishafuma MesejiEven I have caught messages,
Wakimsifu Yeye Mtundu Kwa BedPraising her for being wild in bed.
Nawala Siyabebi Machungu YoteBut I don’t carry all the bitterness.
Nayaweka PendingI’m putting it all on ‘pending’.
Mi Nachotaka Sisi Tuwe GoodWhat I want is for us to be good,
Najua Shetani Yuko KaziniI know the devil is at work.
Yuko Kazi OoohHe’s at work, oooh.
Najua Mapenzi Ni Tamu ChunguI know that love is sweet and bitter.
Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter.
Ouwoooh OoohOuwoooh Oooh.
Tamu Chungu Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter, sweet and bitter.
Chungu ChunguBitter, bitter.
Utamu Mara Machungu Mara Utamu EeehSometimes sweetness, sometimes bitterness, sometimes sweetness, eeh.
Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter.
Tamu Chungu Tamu ChunguSweet and bitter, sweet and bitter.
Tamu Chungu (feat. Alikiba) Music Video
The Tamu Chungu lyrics meaning explores how relationships blend joy and pain. Vanillah and Alikiba show couples facing universal struggles between trust and suspicion in modern love.