"Baba Yetu" is a song by composer Christopher Tin. It was composed in 2005 when video game designer Soren Johnson, Tin's former roommate at Stanford, asked him to compose the theme song for Civilization IV. It was sung by Ron Ragin and the Stanford Talisman. For its re-release in Tin's debut album Calling All Dawns, it was sung by Ron Ragin and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
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In 2007, "Baba Yetu" was released by Alfred Music Publishing, and in 2011 it was rearranged by Tin for an SATB a cappella choir with optional percussion accompaniment.
Awards and Achievements
On December 5, 2010, it was reported that "Baba Yetu" was nominated for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) category, making it the first video game theme nominated for a Grammy Award. On February 13, 2011, it was announced as the winner of its category, making it the first piece of music composed for a video game to win a Grammy Award. At the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards, "Baba Yetu" was the winner in the 'Song Used in Film/TV/Multimedia' and 'World Beat Song' categories, and at the 2006 Game Audio Network Guild (GANG) Awards in 2006 it won Tin two awards.
"Baba Yetu" has been performed at various venues and events around the world, including The Dubai Fountain, the Kennedy Center, Royal Festival Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Dorian Festival of Luther College, UKA(2011) - Norway largest festival and the New Year’s Concert of the sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly. The song was also performed by an orchestra at the South Australian Primary School Music Festival.
"Baba Yetu" has garnered much critical praise; over 20 reviewers have singled out the theme on IGN, GameSpy, and Game Shark, and it is the subject of numerous blog posts and choral renditions.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "Baba Yetu" (which means "Our Father") are a Swahili language-translation of the Lord’s Prayer.