How to play "Re Ya Mo Leboga (Akekho Ofana Nawe)"

This Re Ya Mo Leboga piano tutorial takes you through the whole song in F♯ major, one step at a time, using the chords from our own chart. It’s a traditional South African praise song: “Re ya mo leboga” is Sesotho for “we thank Him,” and “Akekho ofana nawe” is isiZulu for “there’s no one like You.” Every church band gets asked for it sooner or later, so it’s worth learning properly.

Step 1: Know what the song is doing

This is congregational thanksgiving. People know the words, the choir knows the parts, and the song can run long while the leader keeps it going. That tells you two things before you play a note. First, steadiness matters more than flair. Second, you’ll be repeating the same changes many times, so learn them until you don’t have to think.

Step 2: Get comfortable in F♯ major

F♯ major has six sharps: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E♯. Don’t let the paperwork scare you. The main shapes lie mostly on black keys and feel natural once your hand settles. Here are the building blocks in Nashville numbers:

• 1 = F♯ (F♯, A♯, C♯)
• 2m = G♯m (G♯, B, D♯)
• 4 = B (B, D♯, F♯)
• 5 = C♯ (C♯, E♯, G♯)
• 6m = D♯m (D♯, F♯, A♯)

Use a warm piano sound. A light string pad behind it helps when the choir is big, but keep it low.

Step 3: The verse, the core of this Re Ya Mo Leboga piano tutorial

Here’s the verse straight from our full chord chart for Re Ya Mo Leboga:

1 – 3m7 – 4sus2 – 2m7 – 1 – 5⁷

In F♯ that’s F♯, A♯m7, Bsus2, G♯m7, F♯, C♯7. A few notes on the spelling, because this is where players slip:

• A♯m7 is A♯, C♯, E♯, G♯. Yes, E♯, the white key you’d normally call F.
• Bsus2 is B, C♯, F♯. No third, so it floats. Don’t fill in the D♯.
• G♯m7 is G♯, B, D♯, F♯.
• C♯7 is C♯, E♯, G♯, B. That B is the 7th, and it’s what pulls you back to F♯.

Play the verse with just the left-hand roots first: F♯, A♯, B, G♯, F♯, C♯. Once that feels automatic, add the right hand.

Step 4: Learn the chorus

The chorus on our chart goes:

2m7♭5 – 1 – 2m – 1 – 5 – 1

In F♯ that’s G♯m7♭5, F♯, G♯m, F♯, C♯, F♯. The opening chord is the interesting one. G♯m7♭5 is G♯, B, D, F♯. That D natural is the flattened fifth, and it gives the chorus a little ache before it settles onto the 1. Lean on it slightly, then let the F♯ land.

Notice how the chorus keeps coming home to the 1. That’s what makes it so singable: the congregation always knows where home is.

Step 5: Make it sound like church

• Right hand: keep the voicings close together around middle C. For the 1, try A♯, C♯, F♯ so the top note sits where the sopranos are.
• Left hand: roots in octaves on the strong beats. Add the fifth only when the song picks up.
• One move to try: on the last C♯7 of the verse, add a G♯ on top and let it fall to the F♯ on the next bar. It’s a small thing, but it helps the choir hear the resolution coming.

Step 6: When the key changes

Leaders love to move this song up once the room is warm, or drop it for a lower voice. Your numbers don’t change: the verse is still 1, 3m7, 4sus2, 2m7, 1, 5⁷ in any key. Our chart page has an every-key table, so check it ahead of time, and keep Gig Mode open on the night for the letters.

Your 20-minute practice run

1. 5 minutes: verse roots only, left hand, saying the numbers aloud.
2. 5 minutes: verse with full chords, slowly. Check every E♯ and every B on the C♯7.
3. 5 minutes: chorus, starting with the G♯m7♭5 until the D natural feels normal.
4. 5 minutes: play the whole thing with the video above, eyes off your hands for the last round.

FAQ

What key is Re Ya Mo Leboga in?

Our tutorial and chart are in F♯ major. If your leader needs it lower, F is a semitone down and the shapes barely change.

Is it hard for beginners?

The verse has a few colour chords, but the chorus is mostly 1, 2m and 5. Learn the chorus first if you’re short on time.

Ready for another one in F♯? Have a look through the worship song charts and pick a song in the same key.