Ayala by Eunice Njeri is a worship song that bears multiple Psalmic expressions of the soul’s longing for God. It appears by all indications that Ayala is a Swahili translation of Matt Gilman’s As The Deer. Ayala comes in one month after the release of the second single, Jesu Carry Me, on Eunice Njeri’s Huru Live Recording Project.
On the day of the song’s release, the artist posted as follows:
There’s a longing in our souls that only god can satisfy! Psalms 42:2 – My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet God?
Eunice Njeri remarks on Ayala on a Facebook post
Song factsheet
| Song title | Ayala |
| Artists | Eunice Njeri |
| Recording type | Live recording |
| Recording location | Parklands Baptist Church, Nairobi |
| Release date | June 6, 2025 |
| Genre | Swahili Gospel |
| Song duration | 12:21 |
| Song key | F# |
Brief artist profile
Eunice Njeri Muthii is one of the most prolific gospel artists in Kenya. She premiered in the early days of the gospel music industry with landmark songs like Bwana Yesu.
Despite the shifts in the gospel music industry over the years, mostly tending towards secularism, Eunice Njeri’s music has remained true to the character of gospel. Such a track record has reinforced onto her the brand image of not only a renown gospel artist, but a worship leader.
Eunice Njeri’s songs are not foreign to church setlists. Some of her songs have at once been church staples, most notably Tumeshinda, which is also a personal favorite.
To date, she stands as an icon of true gospel music.
Character of the song
Talking first impressions, Ayala brings out the cry of a soul earnestly pursuing God, from an understanding that there’s no better fulfilment than to be in God’s presence. The message of the song should resonate with just about every believer.
Ayala takes on a musical style of ambient worship, with a steady lead guitar, synths and other voices keeping texture throughout the song, a form characteristic of popular Western Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) groups.
To charismatic, evangelical and protestant audiences, the song is well fitting for congregational use. However, a reformed or Calvinistic audience may not be as receptive of the musical style.
Song lyrics review
Main themes
A yearning for God
Ayala is built majorly on the soul’s longing to be with God. The Bible depicts this yearning as urgent.
Kama ayala aionavyo kiu ndivyo nafsi yangu yakutamani
Lyrics snippet from Ayala
Psalm 42:1 [KJV]
[1] As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Not only does the Psalmist express a longing for God, but also for the courts of the Lord, a place in which the presence of God was to be expected. Here’s a snippet of the song lyrics corresponding to this scripture:
Nafsi yangu, zaidi yatamani maskani yako, Mungu mwenye enzi
Lyrics snippet from Ayala
Psalm 84:2 [KJV]
[2] My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
God’s faithfulness to the upright
God is faithful to grant the prayers of believers, and in light of Christ’s work on the cross, we receive good things from God on the merit of Christ’s goodness, and respond by living in upright ways.
Hakuna kitu chema wewe wawanyima watafutao uso wako
Lyrics snippet from Ayala
Psalm 84:11 [KJV]
[11] For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Have you listened to the song yet? Let us know what you think of it!