Cape-verdean born in La Havana, Cuba, in 1985, the precocious talents of Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Cape-verdean born in La Havana, Cuba, in 1985, the precocious talents of Mayra Andrade first reached a world stage in 2001. That’s when the singer won her country’s first gold medal at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Canada. Her crystalline and agile voice has since graced stages on the four continents. In 2006, Andrade released her first CD “Navega”, on the Sony/BMG label.

In June 2001, a young Capeverdean singer, hardly 16 years old, completely unknown until then, won a gold medal at the Plays of Francophonie singing contest in Ottawa Hull in Canada among 35 competitors from around world. Mayra Curado Andrade obtained the first Gold medal for her country during an international singing competition.

This event was huge for Cape Verde , since music is one of the principal exported wealth for this small archipelago of ten islands lost in the Atlantic Ocean 500 kilometers of the coasts of Senegal . The young Mayra, who is today the figurehead of the rising generation of singers of her country, was born in Cuba from Capeverdean parents. Mayra lived in Senegal, in Angola, then in Germany.

At 13 years old, she was already noticed for her voice and her personality. She was selected to sing in Belgium during a conference dedicated to Dalaï LAMA' students. After her victory at the Francophonie in Canada, Mayra did not stop performing. She toured Cape Verde, in particular at Praia and Mindelo.

Then, in the mythical room the "Coliseu Dos Recreios" in Lisbon , she sang alongside Bau, former instrumentalist of Césaria Evora. It is in July 2002 that Mayra is invited for the very first time in France, to the Festival of Jazz of "Rendezvous de l'Erdre". On stage, at the sides of two great ladies of the international jazz, the New-Yorker Sheila Jordan and Armenian Datévik Hovanessian, Mayra obtained an enormous success.

She enchanted the Congress of the City of Nantes during the opening of the 24th International Festival of film of the three continents while singing "a Cappella". Then, it was at the "Festival de la Harpe" that Mayra was the headline for the first time. The invitations began to follow: at the Africajarc Festival, she performed beside Joe Zawinul, Ismael Lo, and Angélique Kidjo. She opened for Césaria Evora at New Morning in Paris, for Enrico Macias in the "Festopale" at Etaples and for the Cuban Ernesto Titos Puentes at the time of the "Festival of Jazz" of Valves.

Mayra imposes consequently her own style. She is astonishingly at ease with Morna, Funana, Coladera, and Batuque while adding a bit of jazz. Her personality and her talent bring a true new breath to the music of the islands of Cape Verde, heir of a mixture of rhythms of Africa, the Old man-Continent.

Juána
Mayra Andrade Lyrics

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Juána bu podi papia també
Dizabri um bokádu ku mi
Fitcha koráji du finka pé
Sima sóka bimbirim
Fitcha koráji du finka pé
Sima sóka bimbirim

Odja Alimánha paredi dja kai

Ánu 2000 sta li ta bem
Témpu bédju dja bai dja bai
Nós tudu sta pa ti manham
Témpu bédju dja bai dja bai
Nós tudu sta pa ti manham

Lésti ku Oésti dja pazigua
Dimokrasiã di nóba vága
Fómi ku duénsa ta kontinua
A-nós nu ta fika ta spéra azágua
Fómi ku duénsa ta kontinua
A-nós nu ta fika ta spéra azágua

Nhu Pulámapa ka sta mininu
Má inda e éta da si asom di grása
A-bo Juána ku sais mininu
Um diâ'l trabádju ta fazê-u falta
A-bo Juána ku sais mininu
Um diâ'l trabádju ta fazê-u falta

Mundu nteru sta na mudánsa
Ningem ka sabi di si futuru
Nós tudu teni bida na balánsa
Pabiâ nem Nhu-rai ka sta suguru
Nós tudu teni bida na balánsa
Pabiâ nem Nhu-rai ka sta suguru

Nós tudu es ánu nu toma bensom
Na Nhu Jom Pálu Sugundu
Na misa grandi pa salvasom
Di tudu pekador na mundu

Na misa grandi pa salvasom
Di tudu pekador na mundu

Overall Meaning

The song "Juána" by Mayra Andrade reflects on the changing world and uncertain future that people face. The first few lines of the song invite Juána to speak with the singer and share her thoughts. The lyrics "Fitcha koráji du finka pé, sima sóka bimbirim" suggest that the singer is trying to listen to Juána's heart and understand her emotions. As the song progresses, the lyrics talk about the changing world, with references to the year 2000 and how the future is uncertain. The line "A-nós nu ta fika ta spéra azágua" implies that people continue to wait and hope for a better future.

Mayra Andrade also refers to the political situation in Cape Verde with the lyrics "Dimokrasiã di nóba vága, fómi ku duénsa ta kontinua" which translates to "fragile democracy, hunger and poverty continue." The song also references the character Nhu Pulámpa who is now a grown man and has lost his innocence. The line "Má inda e éta da si asom di grása" suggests that he is still blessed with grace.

Overall, "Juána" is a reflective and thought-provoking song that invites listeners to think about their emotions, their place in the world, and the changing times.

Line by Line Meaning

Juána bu podi papia també
Juana, you can also speak

Dizabri um bokádu ku mi
Share a word with me

Fitcha koráji du finka pé
Catch the heart of the farm

Sima sóka bimbirim
Like a bimbirim seed

Odja Alimánha paredi dja kai
See the wall of Alimánha fall

Ánu 2000 sta li ta bem
The year 2000 has arrived

Témpu bédju dja bai dja bai
The dark time is gone

Nós tudu sta pa ti manham
We're all for you, tomorrow

Lésti ku Oésti dja pazigua
East and West find peace

Dimokrasiã di nóba vága
Democracy of the new wave

Fómi ku duénsa ta kontinua
Hunger and poverty continue