
LYRICS
DJAM ODJA
KONTAM
NLIBRA DI BO
SAPATINHA
KI TA MANDA E MI
NHA RAINHA
FORTI DOR
BERSU D'ORU
GROGU KABA
N'KREU
ILIA MUNDU
NTA FASI KUSA

KEBRADA (2017)
LYRics Of the album "Ora Doci Ora Margos" here
DJAM ODJA (I Saw)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Ka nhos purguntam modi ki ntxiga li
Nka sabi flau pa undi ki npasa
Nsodadu nkorda spantadu li
Nkre volta pa kaza kaminhu sta lonji
Nba ta toma prendi tra um fumu
Es inxinam fazi um rolu
N mostradu undi ta bendedu
Ma mi so ki fika pa perdedu
Nhos dam mo nu bai
Nkre ba odja nha mai
Pe dam si bensom
Djam odja mera iluzom
Nhos dam mo nu bai
Nkre ba odja nha mai
Pe dam si perdom
Djam odja mera iluzom
Djam odja
Djam odja
Djam odja mera iluzom
Djam odja
Djam odja
E lebam so pa perdisom
Don’t ask me how I got here
I couldn’t tell you which way I came
I fell asleep and woke with a start
I’m such a long way from home
I began to smoke
They taught me to roll tobacco
And showed me where to find it
But I had everything to lose
Give me your hand and let’s leave
I want to see my mother again
To ask for her blessing
It was all just an illusion
I saw
I saw
It was all just an illusion
I saw
I saw
It was all just perdition
KONTAM (Tell Me)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Nlibra Di Bo (I Escaped from You )
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Kruz riba nha kosta
Es fla ntem ki karega
Cedu pa noti dia pa manxi
Tudu so riba mi
Dios ki mandam forsa
Pam ntrau di nha kontu
Mos ami nka pur si nau
Nem nka kapri di pe di po
Nka perdeu, nau
Nlibra di bo
I’m told that I must carry my cross
On my back
Day and night
With all its weight
God gave me the strength
To remove you from my life
I can resist you
My feet are firmly on the ground
I didn’t lose you, no
I escaped from you
Kontam
Mo ku ta xinti
Tudu bes ku odjam
Ku lagua ta disprinda
Nkre po flam
Si ta pobu sabi
Tudu bes ku odjam
Na kantu ta salusa
E pa keli ku ba kasa nha mai
E pa keli ku papia ku nha pai
E pa keli ku ta brindu muntu interu
Mo sa ta kasa
E pa keli ku po bu porku na sodji
E pa keli ku manda fola bu bodi
E pa keli ki bu djunta mundu
Pa fazi festa
Bem bu bem flam
Txiga li kontam
Bem bu bem flam
Txiga li kontam
Tell me
How you feel
When you see me
In tears
I want to know
If it makes you happy
To see me
Crying alone
It was hardly worth
Going to my mother’s
Talking to my father
And announcing our wedding to the whole world
It was hardly worth
Slaughtering the goat
And inviting all those people
To celebrate
Tell me
Come and let me know
Come and tell me
All those things
Sapatinha (Nha Mininensa) (My chilhood)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Ntem sodadi
Kantar di galu ta kordam
Na kompasu di serenata
Di txota ku pasarinhu
Nta lembra kantu
Kebra djudjum tinha sustentu
Di pegam boka stangu
Pa guentam tudu jornada
Na kambar di sol
Ora ki galu dja deta
Ki grilu dja ronka
Sapu ta komesa pupa
Vizinhansa rumadu
Di mas grandi ti pikinoti
Tobi storia dondonu
Di ti lobu ku xibinhu
Refrão:
Sapatinha rubera riba
Sapatinha rubera baxu
I miss the days
When I awoke at cock’s crow
To the dawn serenade
Of the little birds
I remember
Solid breakfasts
That filled your stomach
And set you up for the day
At sunset
When the cocks went to sleep
The crickets stopped chirping
And the toads began to croak
All the neighbors
Young and old, came together
For tales
Telling the story of the wolf and the little fox
Chorus:
There’s sapatinha *
All over the valley
* A variety of bean
Ki Ta Manda E Mi (I Make the Rules)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Ndexabu da um skapulu ti la
Bespa kasamentu la na kaza Ana
Npodu djuda na bolsa oleba
Po txigam kasa djuntu ku vizinhansa
Es dam konta di bo na sala badju
Ta trokola pe ta bai ta bem na fazi tiatu
Homis na fila
Ta spera bes txiga
Pa tra um pesa, da pasada trau pa ladu
Djo mo ta bem odju ragaladu mo xibinhu
Pasu kentadu, sima ku debedu
Txigam pa li, ku kenha ku staba
Si di li 3 mes ntem ki si porta
Bu kre sigui moda
Sima na Europa
Dibaxu nha tetu
Kem ki ta manda e mi
Refrão:
Mi ki ta manda li
Kem ki ta manda e mi
Mi ki ta manda li
Kem ki ta manda
Bu kre subi na mi
Disautorizam
Xam nba ta lembrau ma
Kem ki ta manda e mi
Mi ki ta manda li
Kem ki ta manda e mi
Mi ki ta manda li
Kem ki ta manda
I let you run off to Anna’s
On the eve of the wedding
To help out
But I heard about what happened
I was told how you danced
With steps as if you were on stage
Men stood in line
Waiting their turn
To dance with you
Later, the wise guys will come
Demanding what’s owed them
Tell me who you were with
And what I should I expect in three months
You want to follow the fashion
Like in Europe
But under my roof
I make the rules
You want to be the boss
And defy my authority
But remember
I make the rules
Here, I make the rules
Nha Rainha (My Queen)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Vida sacrifikadu
Ta djobi midjor pa nos
Juventudi perdedu
Ma ku speransa na dios
Ma manham tudu ta midjora
Ma manham nada ka podi piora
Bu ta vivi dretu diskansadu
Pa bus fidju toma kontal bo
Ma goci u tem ki odjas ta bai
Ma spera go n flabu um kusa
Pa tudu tempu me bu mininu
Nka ta trokau ku ninguem
Mama dam asa dexam bua
Ke pam podi da mudjer
Pa tudu tempu bo e nha rainha
Mudjer di nha vida
Mama dam asa dexam bua
Ke pam ser forti moda bo
A life sacrificed
To give us the best
Youth lost
But with hope in God
But tomorrow, everything will be alright
Tomorrow, nothing will get worse
You’ll have a good, peaceful life
Your children will look after you
But for now, they have to leave
But let me tell you something
I’ll be your child forever
I’ll never change you for anyone
Mom, give me wings to fly away
So I can become a woman
You’ll be my queen forever
The woman of my life
Let me fly away, mom
So I can be strong like you
Forti dor (Bitter Pain)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Ar, Hernani Almeida
E komesa na mau atxegu
Npega na dal konsedju
Korasom di mai ka ta ngana
Kel amizadi la e problema
E atxa ma dje da omi
Pa mas ki npapia kual ka t'obi
Nta deta noti nka tem sonu
So katxor uba korasom ba pe
Tudu dia ki dios po na crus
Nrecebi um kexa di nha vizinhus
Bu rapasinhu sta kabesa rixu
Nka tem undi pega mi ke mai ke pai
Tudu dia ki dios po na krus
Nrecebi um kexa di nha vizinhus
Natalinu sta kabesa rixu
Nka tem undi pega mi ke mai ke pai
Refrão:
Ui… forti dor
Djam nkre baba Som Martinhu tudu dia
Ah… si ki dor ta due
Nha rapasinhu pikinoti baxu txom
E debi teni fomi
E sta ku friu
E teni sedi
He began to behave badly
I gave him some advice
A mother’s heart is never wrong
That friendship will cause him problems
He thought he’d become a man
I could talk all I wanted, he didn’t listen to me
I couldn’t sleep at night
At the least bark, my heart raced
Every day that God made
The neighbors complained to me
My boy did just what he wanted
I was helpless, I was his mother and father
Every day that God made
The neighbors complained to me
Natalinu did just what he wanted
I was helpless, I was his mother and father
(chorus)
It’s a bitter pain
I’d like to go to São Martinho every day
Yes, it hurts me, this pain
My little boy is under the ground
He must be hungry
He’s cold
He’s thirsty
Bersu d'Oru (golden craddle)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Ar, Hernani Almeida
Nkori traz di Manuzinhu
Ku si korneta ta bai ta pupa
Ndjuga oru ku Sema Lopi
O ki nganha el ku gaita mi ku ferinhu
Nxinta na ragaz di Nha Nácia
Ki fuliam bensu ki dam konsedju
“Rapasis nobu ka sta di fiansa
Libras bu flas odju na mar kosta pa terá”
(refrain:)
Ole le le
Ami n nanci na bersu d'oru
Olelelelele
N nada na mar di faluxu
Nkori traz di manuzinhu
Ku si korneta ta bai ta pupa
Ndjuga oru ku Sema Lopi
O ki nganha el ku gaita mi ku ferinhu
Nxinta na ragaz di Nha Nácia
Ki fuliam bensu ki dam konsedju
“Rapasis nobu ka sta di fiansa
Libras bu flas odju na mar kosta pa terá”
(refrain)
Katxás botam rabada dodju
E flam mininu hu ka nocenti
Nobertu ka ta da kunfundiu
Me ta kasau ku si minin
Ole le le
Era so um sonhu
Ole le le
Npensa npensa n nanci na bersu d'oru
I ran after Little Manuel
Who was heading off, blowing his trumpet
I played for gold with Sema Lopi
And I won, him with his accordion and me on the ferrinho
I sat in the lap of Madam Nácia
She blessed me and told me
“Don’t trust boys, speak to them
With your eyes to the sea and your back to the land”
Ole le le
I was born into a golden cradle
Olelelelele
I swam in a calm sea
Katxás gave me a strange look
Telling me I wasn’t naive
Norbertu assured me
That I would marry his son
Ole le le
But it was just a dream
Ole le le
I thought I’d been born into a golden cradle
GROGU KABA (The Disappearance of Rum )
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Pamo ki grogu ki ka ta kaba
Pamo taberna keta ka ta fitxa
Pamo ki txuba ka ta kai na txom kram
Homis ta mondu bua ta kai la lugar
Si txuba bem Giliom korpu ta kansal
Si padja nanci kasa Djom eh lugal
Si strubom uam Txiku eh baxu si limaria
Si alambra uatxi tudu omi eh tras di si mudjer
Oh grogu kaba
Pa txuba bem
Jacinta kexam
Ma korpu sa ta duel
Palu sa ta sotal
Tres bes pur dia
Ma kasa dja intristisi
Saku daros dja seka
Fim di mes dja pasa
Dinheru ba so na taberna
Oh grogu kaba
Pa txuba bem
Why do rivers of rum flow?
Why don’t the taverns close?
Why doesn’t the rain pour down
So the men can work in the fields?
But if the rain falls, Giliom will be tired
If the grass grows, Djom will rent his house
If thunder rumbles, Txiku will hide away under his animals
And all the men behind their women
Oh rum, disappear
So the rain will fall
Jacinta complained to me
About her body, black and blue
From the beatings Palu gives her
Three times a day
The house is gloomy
The rice sack is empty
The end of the month has come and gone
All the money remains in the tavern
Oh rum, disappear
So the rain will fall
N'KREU (I Want You )
Paroles & musique Carlos Moreira dos Reis – aka Manu Reis
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Eiii ebo minina dexan flabu un kuza, na modi!
Ebo minina n´gosta di bo na txada
Ebo la ebo minina dexan flabu un kuza, na modi
Ebo minina n´gosta di bo na txada
Hnnn… esten gana odjan dodu
Ma mi ke pilan di xareta
N´sta frontadu na mundo
Ma mi ke pilan di xareta
Makaku fazi quarta clasi sem bai s´kola ma kafila
Pamod e prendi so kopia moda kabra ta golopia
Mi xintadu na nka kabu es bem ku konbersu txeu Pes fazen disgosta di bo
Bo kin kre, bo kin kre, Bo kin kre, Bo kin kre na mundo
Bo kin kre po kaza ku mi, Bo kin kre po to konta mi
Bo kin kre, bo kin kre, Bo kin kre iaia iaia
N´teni fijon na tanboru
N´te kabesa di limaria Minina dja bu dan ku stangu
Dexan ba papia ku bu gentis
Ebo la ebo minina dexan flabu un kuza, na modi
Ebo minina n´gosta di bo na txada
Ebo la ebo minina dexan flabu un kuza, na modi
Ebo minina n´gosta di bo na txada
Hey kid, let me talk to you
Let me tell you how much I like you
Hey kid, let me tell you something
I really like you
They’re trying to drive me crazy
But I won’t let them
They want to push me to the limit
But I won’t break
You can’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs
Or a goat to leap
They came telling lies to put me off you
But it’s you that I want, it’s you that I want in this world
I want to marry you, I want you to take care of me
It’s you that I want
I have tons of beans
I have livestock, ah kid, you really caught my eye
Let me talk to your parents
Hey kid, let me talk to you
Let me tell you how much I like you
Hey kid, let me tell you something
I really like you
Ilia Mundu (World Island)
Lyrics & Music: Fernanda Fernandes
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Pa ka pergunta-m m’é di ki ilia
Di ki rubera, di ki kutelu mi é
Pa ka pergunta-m di ki kratera, di ki planaltu, di ki duna mi é
Ka pergunta-m kal é nha ilia i nha rubera, di ki baía
Pa ka pergunta-m dundi ki N ben, pa undi N anda,
(Pa ka pergunta-m…)
Si N kanta Brava i m’é di Maiu,
Ô Sanvisenti, ô Santanton
Si mi é di Santiagu ki N kanta Bubista,
Saninklau ô Djadi Sal, ô Djarfogu
Pa ka pergunta-m dundi ki N ben, pa undi N anda
(Pa ka pergunta-m…)
Si N obi fadu, si N kanta morna,
Si N badja senba, si N dansa sanba
Si N gosta di rabolu, di Kodé di Dona,
Manel di Nova ô di Anu Nobu,
(Pa ka pergunta-m…)
Pa ka pergunta-m nomi di Nha Santu
Ô nomi di Nha kretxeu
(Pa ka pergunta-m…)
Refrão:
Nha ilia é mundu, nha tera é mar,
Sê verdi é azul
Nha inu é morna,
Nha bandera é pas, nha bandera é pas,
(Nha bandera é pás)
I nomi di nha Santu é Nhor Dés
Nomi di nha kretxeu é Cabo Verde!
I nomi di nha Santu é Nhor Dés
Nomi di nha Kretxeu é Cabo Verde!
Don’t ask me what island
What valley, what hillside I’m from
Don’t ask me what crater, plateau or dune
Don’t ask me which is my island, my basin, my bay
Don’t ask me where I come from, where I was
(No, don’t ask me)
If I sing of the island of Brava, I’m from Maio,
São Vicente or Santo Antão
If I’m from Santiago and I sing of Boavista,
São Nicolau, the island of Sal or Fogo
Don’t ask me where I’m from, where I was
(No, don’t ask me)
If I listen to fado, if I sing morna
If I dance the semba or samba
If I like rabolo, Codé Di Dona,
Manuel De Novas or Ano Nobo
(No, don’t ask me)
Don’t ask me the name of my saint
Or love
(No, don’t ask me)
My island is the world, my land is the sea,
Its green is blue
My anthem is morna,
My flag is peace, peace
(My flag is peace)
The name of my saint is God
The name of my love is Cabo Verde
The name of my saint is God
The name of my love is Cabo Verde
Nta Fasi Kusa (I’ll Do So Many Things)
Lyrics: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida
Music: Elida Sofia Cabral Almeida - Arr. Hernani Almeida
© 2017 Africa Nostra
Nhos bai dam guentis mantenha
Nhos flas ma nhos dexam ku bida
So saudi ki ka sta mutu korenti
Ma fe na Dios otanu nta ba pa nha tera
Djam imbarka bidom
Djam nkumpra nha maleta
Djam manda raboka nha kasa
Es dam noba ma nha starleti dja txiga
Es otanu nha guenti
E dentu nha tera
Oh nta fasi kusa
Oh nta fasi kusa
Oh nta fasi kusa
Vinti anu e ka vinti dia
Oh nta fasi kusa
Ah nta pila mundu
Oh nta fasi kusa
Ka ninguem tadjam
Say hello to my people
Tell them I’m alive
Despite my poor health
But with the grace of God, I’ll come back
I’ve already loaded my container
I’ve bought my suitcases
I’ve had my house repaired
I heard my car arrived safely
Next year
I’ll be back
I’ll do so many things
I’ll do so many things
I’ll do so many things
Twenty years aren’t twenty days
I’ll do so many things
I’ll travel the world
I’ll do so many things
There’ll be nothing to find fault with