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.
Kenha ki ben ki ta bai
Mayra Andrade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ma bó bu ca más ki mi
Kel ki bu tem ki mi m'tem
Bu cuda ma m'ca ninguem
Mo na quexada sumara
Quenhe qui falta promessa
Pensado ma dja enganam
Kem e ki bem ki ta bai
Pa toma conta cutel mas ki si
Pa disprezam pa ca manda
Kel ke midjor djo ca toma
Djusticero ca ta dura
Pe ponu cusa na prato limpo
M sta rotchado dimás...
M tem sodadi nha dosa
Si bu xca toma midida
Homi faca mudjer matchado
Ia ia ia
Sta riba tchom di massa pe
Mayra Andrade's song Kenha ki ben ki ta bai speaks about personal struggles and the societal issues faced by Cape Verdeans. The opening line "Dexam labanta pam flau" translates to "I woke up feeling weak," which could represent a feeling of defeat or exhaustion. The next line "Ma bó bu ca más ki mi" means "but you are no more than me," indicating that no matter the struggles one may face, everyone is equal. The chorus "Kem e ki bem ki ta bai" translates to "whoever comes must take care of what they find," suggesting that those who come into a situation or community must take responsibility for their actions and the well-being of those around them.
The verses delve deeper into the societal issues faced by Cape Verdeans, with lines like "Quenhe qui falta promessa" meaning "the promises that were not kept" and "Djusticero ca ta dura" meaning "the injustice is harsh." The song also touches on gender inequality with "Homi faca mudjer matchado" which translates to "men make women matchsticks," suggesting the objectification and mistreatment of women in Cape Verdean society.
Line by Line Meaning
Dexam labanta pam flau
Let me rise up weakly
Ma bó bu ca más ki mi
But you are no better than me
Kel ki bu tem ki mi m'tem
Whoever has what I have, I have
Bu cuda ma m'ca ninguem
What you have, I don't care
Mo na quexada sumara
My face has scars
Quenhe qui falta promessa
Someone who lacks promises
Pensado ma dja enganam
Thinking they have deceived me
Mas e li mé qui nu sta
But here is where I am standing
Kem e ki bem ki ta bai
Who is coming to take care of business
Pa toma conta cutel mas ki si
To take care of matters more important than oneself
Pa disprezam pa ca manda
To disregard and not give orders
Kel ke midjor djo ca toma
The better one won't take it
Djusticero ca ta dura
The righteous one won't last
Pe ponu cusa na prato limpo
Put the cause on a clean plate
M sta rotchado dimás...
I'm feeling too much pain
M tem sodadi nha dosa
I have longing for my own
Si bu xca toma midida
If you don't take action
Homi faca mudjer matchado
A man with a woman who is matched
Ia ia ia
Ia ia ia
Sta riba tchom di massa pe
Standing on a mountain of dough
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@philippebarre5850
Who is listening December 2020.... girl you are bomb
@lenaodo7644
Esse arranjo e essa interpretação são simplesmente incríveis! 🤯
@marleyjake
I've been watching this often, for years. It's one of her best and she's one of the best, none better.
Vpro vrije geluiden make very good videos, none better.
@nitolopes6280
O mundo sem cabo verde não seria o mesmo!
Talento em massa
Ritimo arrepiante
@mariopassos3203
Definitivamente uma das vozes mais completas da actualidade, não para de surpreender, Cantar as mesmas musicas em 4 Idiomas não é para garotas. So mm fã. Que Deus te de muita Saúde e Vida.
@LukeDallert
Her voice is incredible... so strong! And I just can't believe how beautiful her face is... at least as beautiful as her music. :)
@kahuna4264
Luke Dylan m
@kelisyca
Kenha ben ki ta bai 🎼🎼🎼💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾
@gabrielsouza6180
Sensacional!!
Que instrumental meus amigos ! 👏🏼👏🏼
E a Mayra, nem se fala ! 😍❤
Já observaram na perfeição que é o nariz dela ? Rs
Gatissima e talentosa demais!
@karinazsh
Sensacional!!
Estou apaixonada pela voz dessa guria e louca pra conhecer Cabo Verde e sua riqueza cultural