Nha Sibitchi [English translation]

Every morning, at dawn

That old cock sets about singing out of tune;

And that monkey, with its big ears and little head,

what a nuisance!

Antony is a real half-wit:

Bilita cheated him well and good,

Cyprien cast a spell on me

But when he sees me, he still asks me if I’m well.

But deep in my heart I carry my jet-black pearl1

To protect me, my pearl of jet…

Yet another day of toil awaits me,

A day that I’ll spend ploughing this land

Burnt by the sun

And drenched by the rain.

When faced with gossip

The best answer is to live in hiding:

There is no need to put such rumours to paper,

Everyone already knows your life in detail.

Antony is a real half-wit:

Bilita cheated him well and good,

Cyprien cast a spell on me

Smiled and asked me if I was well.

But deep in my heart I carry my jet-black pearl

To protect me, my pearl of jet…

Fonga is there, carrying her buckets of water on her head,

As for Armando, he is still at Rui Vaz, with her,

Talking of Domingas, there would be a great deal to tell:

As soon as she gets out of bed, she sets to wailing and moaning!

Tanha is busy with her commemorative ceremonies and songs

And José, having hit his wife, lost both his reason and his rights.

1. "Sibitchi" is the creole term for "azeviche", a Portuguese word that means "jet-black pearl". It's a sort of amulet traditionally worn as a necklace on the countryside of Santiago island, in Cape Verde. It is meant to protect the bearer from bad luck and curses.

• Artist:Mayra Andrade
• Album:Navega (2006)