Cesária É… Read Full Bio ↴This is a wrong tag for Cesária Évora. Please correct!
Cesária Évora (pronunciation in IPA: [sɨ'zaɾiɐ 'ɛvuɾɐ]) (born Mindelo, São Vicente Island, Cape Verde, 27 August 1941), is a Cape Verdean popular singer. Nicknamed the “barefoot diva” for her preference for performing without shoes,[1] Évora is perhaps the best internationally-known practitioner of morna.
Dicography
* La Diva Aux Pieds Nus (1988)
* Distino di Belita (1990)
* Mar Azul (1991)
* Miss Perfumado (1992)
* Cesária (1995)
* Cabo Verde (1997)
* Café Atlantico (1999)
* São Vicente di Longe (2001)
* Voz d'Amor (2003)
* Rogamar (2006)
Morabeza
Cesaria Evora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Num leque radioso
Ceu di mindelo infeita'
Cu sê vistido luminoso
Ceu visti de azul
Bordado di oro
Mindelo de norte à sul
Gente di Mindelo
Nô abri nôs broce
Nô pô coraçon na mon
Pa nô bem da'l um abraço
Um abraço de morabeza
Dess povo de Sâo Vicente
Ess home de alma grande
Di rosto sabe e contente
The first two lines of Cesária Évora's song Morabeza set the scene with a stunning image of the rising sun, which is described as appearing like a radiant fan. The sky over the city of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, is also portrayed as being decorated with bright clothing that reflects the light of the sun. This suggests that the people of Mindelo are just as vibrant and full of life as the natural world around them. In the following lines, Mindelo is depicted as a city draped in blue and gold, with everyone dressed in their finest clothing, decorated with flowers. There is a sense of pride and joy in these lines and a feeling of celebration, as if the community has come together to embrace their shared culture and identity.
The second half of the song focuses on the people of Mindelo themselves. They are described as welcoming and warm, with open hearts and a desire to embrace others. The phrase 'broce' can be translated as 'arms,' suggesting that they are literally opening their arms and hearts to those around them. The term 'morabeza' which is repeated in the refrain, refers to the Cape Verdean concept of hospitality, which is seen as central to the country's cultural identity. There is a sense that this sense of warmth and generosity is not just something that the people of Mindelo possess, but is emblematic of Cape Verde as a whole. It is this spirit of community, kindness, and hospitality that gives the people of Mindelo their joie de vivre.
Line by Line Meaning
Sol disponta'
The sun rises
Num leque radioso
In a radiant fan
Ceu di mindelo infeita'
Sky of Mindelo, unblemished
Cu sê vistido luminoso
With its luminous dress
Ceu visti de azul
Sky dressed in blue
Bordado di oro
Golden embroidery
Mindelo de norte à sul
Mindelo from north to south
Visti di gala e flor
Dressed in gala and flowers
Gente di Mindelo
People of Mindelo
Nô abri nôs broce
We open our arms
Nô pô coraçon na mon
We put our hearts in our hands
Pa nô bem da'l um abraço
To give them a hug for their wellbeing
Um abraço de morabeza
A hug of hospitality
Dess povo de Sâo Vicente
From the people of Sao Vicente
Ess home de alma grande
This man of great soul
Di rosto sabe e contente
With a face that knows contentment
Contributed by Stella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.