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.
Navega
Mayra Andrade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Regrésu tom nsértu tenê-m kurasom ku dor!
Alê-m li xintádu, na kais di bu partida
Xintidu angustiádu i lágrimas di amor.
Má ku tudu fé m-ta djobi seu,
M-ta pidi Deus pa bránda már
Pa bu navega kaminhu di vólta
Ku bóti karegádu pa um diâ más diskansádu.
Um véla pa kada noti...
Obi som di nha búziu, bem pa mi
Ka bu bai más lonji ki si...
Oh már! oh seu!
Trazê-l pa pértu-mi!
Dixâ-l p-e bem brasâ-m!
The opening line of Mayra Andrade's song Navega, "Oh vida di már, vida di piskador" translates to "Oh life of the sea, life of the fisherman." The song talks about the longing of a fisherman who's been away from home for a long time and wants to go back to his love. He's been away for so long that he's grown old and weary, and his heart aches for the love he left behind. He's begging for God's help to navigate his way back home, and he's willing to bear the burden of his boat's cargo for a day's rest.
The song takes a romantic tone as it describes the fisherman's love for the woman he left behind. The sight of the woman's candle burning every night signifies her deep love for the fisherman. He longs to have her embrace him and feel the warmth of her lips, assuring him that she won't leave him again. The lyrics express a deep sense of longing, heartbreak, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh vida di már, vida di piskador
Oh life of the sea, life of the fisherman
Regrésu tom nsértu tenê-m kurasom ku dor!
I return home with my heart and body in pain
Alê-m li xintádu, na kais di bu partida
I sit alone, at the dock of your departure
Xintidu angustiádu i lágrimas di amor.
Feeling anguished and crying tears of love
Má ku tudu fé m-ta djobi seu,
But with all my faith I will do my best for you
M-ta pidi Deus pa bránda már
I'll ask God to bless the sea
Pa bu navega kaminhu di vólta
For your return journey
Ku bóti karegádu pa um diâ más diskansádu.
With the boat loaded for a day of rest
Mudjer di piskador ku se sánta na altár
Wife of the fisherman with her candle at the altar
Um véla pa kada noti...
A candle for every night...
Obi som di nha búziu, bem pa mi
The sound of my kiss, come to me
Ka bu bai más lonji ki si...
Don't go farther than this...
Oh már! oh seu!
Oh sea! Oh beloved!
Trazê-l pa pértu-mi!
Bring him back to me!
Dixâ-l p-e bem brasâ-m!
Tell him to come and embrace me!
Contributed by Elliot F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Júlio Fortes
Album Adorável, que veio de St. Étienne, França a meu pedido, na semana em que foi lançado. Oferecido pela minha sobrinha Sadia Youssouf, ainda criança, que mais tarde veio a ser Pianista e cantora. Portanto tem um significado muito especial para mim. Dos primeiros fãs em Lisboa. Gratidão Mayra. Beijinhos Grandes. .
Luiz Fernando R. Lopes
Muitíssimo obrigado, Daniel! Uma preciosidade esse trabalho da Mayra Andrade. Por favor, UPa também os outros discos dela em modo full album pra gente, parceiro!
Abraços
Marlucy Gomes
my fav album from her... grow up on this , it brings so many good memories nd I glad I found it
D Z
Un trabajo extraordinario, maravilloso !!! Felicidades !!! Saludos desde España !
Jardineiro, O
linda, que voz
Salsongoza Band
Precioso álbum!!
Rubens Abreu
originalidade total!!!!
Miguel Moura
muito bonito, ela é liiinda
Leo di Brito
Muito bom esse album.
Estilo misturado da gota serena!
ME chamou atenção essa morena bunita, num esécial pra mestre Dominguinhos.
Ela , Yamandu Costa e Hamilton de Holanda.
Sonzera
Voz forte a dela. bonita
Régis Silva Candido Xavier
Vou correndo pra ver!