Metaphor that Puzzles
Gospel reggae artist Manji Mwan has moved to clarify the spiritual depth behind his trending Hausa reggae song, “Maishe Ni,” after listeners across Nigeria raised questions about a key metaphor in the chorus.
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In a message shared with fans recently and made available to AkweyaTV, the Plateau-born musician said the lines “Ka wanke ni, saptace ni in zama kamar Guza… in zama kamar gold” (“Wash me, cleanse me until I become like tin… like gold”) are not literal references to metals, but symbolic imagery drawn from Scripture and everyday life.
God’s Process
“The song is a prayer for inner cleansing and renewal,” Manji explained. “Just as tin is washed and filtered before it becomes useful, and gold refined by fire before it becomes pure, the lyrics point to God’s process of refining the human heart.”
The artist, who wowed fans at the 8th Rydeem of Light International Gospel Reggae Festival held in Abuja on the 22nd of November 2025, cited biblical passages, including Job 23:10, Malachi 3:3, and Psalm 51:7 to underline the theme of spiritual purification and renewal. The chorus, he added, should be understood as a plea for transformation—“Lord, wash my heart, cleanse me and make me new.”
The clarification has been welcomed by fans who say the explanation deepens their appreciation of the song’s worshipful intent. For many, the Hausa lyrics have also broadened the song’s reach beyond Plateau State to listeners in northern Nigeria and the diaspora.
From Pharmacy to Praise
Known on stage and streaming platforms as Manji Mwan, the artist’s full name is Manji Jonah Dachom. Born in 1985 in Jiblik village, Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, he is of the Mupun ethnic group and speaks Mupun, Hausa and English.
Though formally trained as a pharmacist and a 2014 graduate of the University of Jos, Manji’s musical immersion dates back to 2005 when he began serving as a church instrumentalist with a box guitar and bass. That foundation in worship and live performance later shaped his studio work. With Manji, the Kristofarians, as the Gospel Reggae Team Initiative is more popularly known, now boasts three trained pharmacists involved in the music subgenre: Yelbi Analop and OKENYODO.
Manji Mwan’s debut album, Tehilah, released in November 2024, announced his entry into the recording scene with an all-reggae worship project that drew attention for its fusion of faith, culture and Caribbean rhythms. Riding that momentum, Manji is dedicated his second album on July 27, 2025, underscoring a fast-rising career in Nigeria’s gospel reggae space.
Married to Mrs. Caroline Manji, a nurse, the couple have three daughters—Tapret, Seyilnaan and Retna. He is the son of the late Mr. Jonah Ropshak and Mrs. Tabitha Ropshak of Jiblik.
A Message of Transformation
Manji says the heart of “Maishe Ni” is revival and Christ-likeness. “We all pass through God’s process—cleansing, shaping and refining—before we shine,” he said, urging listeners to receive the song as a worship prayer rather than poetry alone.
All his music is available on major streaming platforms, and he invites fans to explore his catalogue by searching “Manji Mwan.”
With a mission to create spiritually uplifting music that blends reggae with worship, and a vision to become a global voice for Gospel Reggae, Manji Mwan appears set on a path that is as disciplined as it is devotional, trading laboratory coats for a life of praise, and turning metaphor into ministry.
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