Separatore

“JIDKA” (The line)

WORLD MUSIC NETWORK/RIVERBOAT RECORDS

On Jidka (The Line), her musical debut, she explores the divide between Somalia and Italy with a rare sensitivity and gentle humour; mixing acoustic guitars and koras with traditional African beats and contemporary percussion. The result reflects both
one woman’s search for her identity and what it means to be alive in the 21st century, when so many people live in more than one culture.

Saba is joined on djembe, guitar and percussion by long-term friend and collaborator, Taté Nsongan, from Cameroon, on kora Senegalese Lao Kouyate and on vocals Felix Moungara. The album is produced by well-known musician/composer Fabio Barovero, founder of Mau Mau and the Banda Ionica project. As Saba says, ‘we worked to realise a sound which combines past and present, tradition and modernity, with our minds open to a future of increasing cultural mixes.’

Saba wanted a way to tell her story — from the viewpoint of a person of mixed race — and to focus on her identity as something multilayered and with many different influences. She started with her mother tongue — the language she grew up listening to. This sort of Somali is full of slang and Italian words as well (since Italy was Somalia’s colonial ruler). She deliberately didn’t polish this particular style to sound closer to ‘official’ Somali. Her aim was to use the language spoken by her family and to rebuild her story, based on a linguistic reality. She says, ‘I didn’t care about the grammatical correctness — the aim was to let my memories flow and to translate them into the other language very close to me: music.’

Of her music, Saba says, ‘It reminds me of the songs I heard when I was little and recalls a lost world. I wrote some of the lyrics with my mother. The Somali language gives me great satisfaction for the musical and expressionistic sound of the words, but, more than anything else, for the value this reunion represents in my human growth. It feels like I’m moving closer to a part of me that lives in the woman that gave me life: my mother. In the evenings (as she did with her sisters and brothers around the fire), we rediscovered the pleasure of storytelling and I’d fight against her shyness to get her to speak in Somali. Like many people, we were never able to go back to Somalia. This is my return.’

I Sogni

This song tells the story of Wannae, a young woman who leaves Afgoi, her small village, to improve her existence in the big city. She searches for a better life in Mogadishu, but soon misses her home, discovering that happiness lives in small things. The lyrics reflect on people who move to different countries dreaming of better conditions, but often find that it is very difficult to replace what they have left behind. Sometimes, such people live the rest of their life with a bitter sense of loss.

I SOGNI

Magahed waha ahai Wannae

beledtked Afgoi ahai beledt ier

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo io mos sineso

Ido ier ke so tekti

Gurighed a ka tekti

Rieheda a kadati

Wa hillodi gurighed wa hillodi

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo io mos sineso

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo sineso

Xamar wen hauo io nel u nakadei

Adunkeda ua fihanadi higar a baratei

Shakka nolesheda a sinai

Ninka rueheda a sinesei

Ussega ua ke teghi gehelkeda ua ka tegghi

Rieheda a damadi

Wa hillodi beletched wa hillodi

He… Wannae

            de uollundi hullu malondie’

He… Wannae

            mapella amuni i sogni

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo io mos sineso

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo sineso

Wa hillodi gurighed wa hillodi

Wa hillodi beletched wa hillodi

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo io mos sineso

Wabi ier biohoda a sinai

Shamba ambo sineso

Wa hillodi gurighed wa hillodi

Wa hillodi beletched wa hillodi

He… Wannae

DREAMS

Her name was Wannae

Her little village was named Afgoi

A torrent was giving water to the pleople

The ground was offering food and fruits

But she soon left her home

Taking her dreams away

And she missed her place, she missed her place

A little river was giving water to the people

The ground was offering food and fruits

A little river was giving water to the people

The ground was offering food and fruits

Then she came with her hopes in Mogadiscio,

This town became a lighthouse to her

Her world seemed to improve,

She met a boy

A job was sustaining her

And she was sustaining her man

But he soon left her for a better place

Leaving only broken dreams

And she missed her place, she missed her place

A little river was giving water to the people

The ground was offering food and fruits

A little river was giving water to the people

The ground was offering food and fruits

Hoio

This song is based on an ancient Somali lullaby. The central theme talks about a parent being distanced from their baby. Diaspora brings painful separation, and the hope of reunion always lives in everyone’s hearts.

HOIO

Huwaiahua hawarta ma giokto

Covehed a kadatei

Cor io cofire girta

Huwaiahua tarika humahadda

I do i suodato

Nimbo mel kuturte

Mami ami a mama.....

Hawarta ua sonnokkodonta

Ida mel der ma adin

Hawarta habb a cussidonta’

Ida merkesto ua cu fikkiresa

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana

Hoioda

Huwaiahua hawarta ma giokto

Covehed a kadatei

Cor io cofire girta

Huwaiahua tarika humahadda

I do i suodato

Nimbo , nimbo

O mayumbae   

O muan ma sial una 

Ni u tassie 

Na mu rima mi 

E ni u tassie

Hoio mahane hoio a ha

Hoio dei inte’ girta

Boti muana ni sil o may 

Di bandu duka bafudue 

Mikolu ngue mue 

Wenda hilu emanue 

Kokolu tsiau 

Ndangeba 

Kokolu tsiau

Pardonne moi 

Ninga mutsila e

Uru ni ru ae 

O mayumbae   

O muan ma sial una 

Ni u tassie 

Na mu rima mi 

E ni u tassie

Mami ami a mama.....

Hawarta ua sonnokkodonta

Ida mel der ma adin

Hawarta habb a cussidonta’

Ida merkesto ua cu fikkiresa

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana

Hoioda

O mayumbae   

O muan ma sial una 

Ni u tassie 

Na mu rima mi 

E ni u tassie

Huwaiahua hawarta ma giokto

Covehed a kadatei

Cor io cofire girta

Huwaiahua tarika humahadda

I do i suodato

Nimbo mel kuturte

MUM

Lullaby lullaby

You mum is far away

She took her shoes

She traveled from north to south

Lullaby lullaby

History

Is sometimes sweeping her sons away

Throwing them all around 

But your mum will soon come back

She is not so far away from you

She will hold you in her arms again

She is always thinking of you

Here she is, run run and hug her

Here she is run run and hug her

Here she is, run run and hug her

Here she is, run run and hug her

 

In Mayumbae

I left my little child

I’m always thinking of you

With all of my heart

I’m always thinking of you

My little baby,

I left you there

Because, you know, I was just following life

And now I can’t even sleep

Will you forgive me?

Now I’m coming back, I’m on the way

In mayumbae

I left my little child

I’m always thinking of you

With all of my heart

I’m always thinking of you

Lullaby lullaby

You mum is far away

She took her shoes

She traveled from north to south

Lullaby lullaby

History

Is sometimes sweeping her sons away

Trowing them all around 

Hanfarkaan

Hanfar — the Somali word for ‘wind’ — is used in this song as a link to the spirit, due to its strong and evocative effects, which have the ability to enhance our emotions. When the wind blows strongly, it has the power to carry a feeling of nostalgia as we come into contact with someone we have lost. I often feel my father’s hand on the wind, as it comes to touch my face.

HANFARKAAN

Hanfarkaan adiga ma makalesit

Lakin magahadi ua uaha

Hanfarkaan araf dul der ka kena

Nefkisi gahantadi ua uoda

Inti mescian ueggughega ua tauana

Ueggighega o adiga u ektahai

o adiga u ektahai

Tarika uakkana inta cu gira

Hanfarkaan dahadisi ua bufa

Malin laarka ani ua ku fikkira

Uorkahadi kelighesa ua hera

Inti mescian hanfarkaan

Ueggighega ua tauana

Ueggighega ueggighega

Ueggighega o adiga u ektahai

Tarika uakkana inta cu gira

Hanfarkaan dahadisi ua bufa

Malin laarka ani ua ku fikkira

Uorkahadi kelighesa ua hera

Tarika uakkana inta cu gira

Hanfarkaan dahadisi ua bufa

Malin laarka ani ua ku fikkira

Uorkahadi kelighesa ua hera

Hanfarkaan adiga ma makalesit

Lakin magahadi ua uaha

Hanfarkaan araf dul der ka kena

Nefkisi gahantadi ua uoda

Inti mescian ueggughega ua tauana

Ueggighega o adiga u ektahai

o adiga u ektahai

Tarika uakkana inta cu gira

Hanfarkaan dahadisi ua bufa

Malin laarka ani ua ku fikkira

Uorkahadi kelighesa ua hera

THIS WIND

This wind, now you can’t hear its sound

But it’s calling out your name

This wind smells of distant lands

And his breath is bringing your hand to me,

Here to my face that looks like yours

                  My face that looks like yours

This is our story, still living in this wind

I think of you every single day

I miss you

Nothing is left but your words

Blowing in this wind

This wind, now you can’t hear its sound

But it’s calling out your name

This wind smells of distant lands

And his breath is bringing your hand to me,

Here to my face that looks like yours

                  My face that looks like yours

Jidka

‘Jidka’ refers to the line that runs on my belly, which divides it into two parts: a darker side and a whiter one (these strange things happen to half-blood people like me). This line symbolizes, for me, the union of diversities, the example of optimism, confidence and harmony that my parents gave when, against the world, they decided to love each other.

JIDKA

Calosheyda waaxaa maraayo jidka heshiiska

Calosheyda waaxaa maraayo jidka heshiiska

Sidi ilikuwareertadu herka iyo bad ay isku xereso

Biiyo iyo hawo way isla hadlayaan, way is habsiinaayaan

Dagalka ua ka daaleen

Sidi xuduudka ummadda u kala qaybinayso

Walaalo way isgaranaayaan, way isla sciyaarayaan

Dagalka ua ka daaleen

Abahay iyo hoyaday way isla qoslayaan

Abahay iyo hoyaday

Sidi malin xabeen iyo subax ay isku toleso

Sidi jahelka nin iyo naag ay isku kenaio

Some people keep praying, some people keep believing

Feeling safe in the place where they always have been living

Across the line where our fears were born

I’m talking about change and moving on

Calosheyda waaxaa maraayo jidka heshiiska

Calosheyda waaxaa maraayo jidka heshiiska

Dagalka ua ka daaleen

THE LINE

On my belly runs the peace line

On my belly runs the peace line

As the horizon, that keeps the sky and the sea together

Water and air talk and hug each other

Tired of war

Tired of war

As a borderline defines two different people

Brothers can live close to each other

Tired of war

Tired of war

My father and my mother are smiling at me,

My father and my mother

As the dawn, that sews the night and the day together

As love can keep a woman and a man together

Tired of war

Tired of war

Some people keep praying and keep believing

Feeling safe in the place where they always have been living

Across the line where our fears were born

I’m talking about change and moving on

On my belly runs the peace line

On my belly runs the peace line

Tired of war

Tired of war

Tired of war

Le Temps Passe

This song is dedicated to my sister, Tana. After all the changes we have passed through since we left Africa, she still remains my main reference and my best friend.

‘Time goes by, my face will get old, children will grow up, love, jobs and everything may change. Year by year I will cross the ocean of life as a little boat, but you will always be there, my sister, as the moon and the stars alight the fishermen’s course.’

LES TEMPS PASSE

Azman cholef

Les temps passe

Weggighei wa dukodona

Achaim korim

La vie s’ecoule

Sidi don o badda o cu sohodo

Hiddialka io deiah

O jidtka i tussaian a tai

Hiddialka io deiah

O jidtka i tussaian a tai

Azman cholef

Les temps passe

Weggighei wa dukodona

Achaim korim

La vie s’ecoule

Sidi don o badda o cu sohodo

Hiddialka io deiah

O jidtka i tussaian a tai

Hiddialka io deiah

O jidtka i tussaian a tai

Ilma ua koraian

Shekkada wa bedelma io jehelka

Fiennantis ua... Ua gewa

Azman cholef

Les temps passe

Achaim korim

La vie s’ecoule

Teqqa teqqa

Demsilicou delorio dush

Dea se’ kedemdemo’ dashoba

Teqqa teqqa

Demsilicou delorio dush

Dea se’ kedemdemo’ dashoba

Teqqa teqqa

Demsilicou delorio dush

Dea se’ kedemdemo’ dashoba

TIME GOES BY

Time goes by (in Hebrew)

Time goes by (in French)

My face will get old

Life passes (in Hebrew)

Life passes (in French)

As a little boat sailing on the sea

But you to me are the moon and the stars showing always the way

Time goes by (in Hebrew)

Time goes by (in French)

My face will get old

Life passes (in Hebrew)

Life passes (in French)

As a little boat sailing on the sea

But you to me are the moon and the stars showing always the way

Children may grow up

Job may change

Love may loose its freshness

But you to me are the moon and the stars showing always the way

(nursery rhyme in somali)

Teqqa teqqa

Demsilicou delorio dush

Dea se’ kedemdemo’ dashoba

Teqqa teqqa

Demsilicou delorio dush

Dea se’ kedemdemo’ dashoba

Manta

This love song, filled with African fatalistic philosophy, is a hymn to the present time. Past and future often make us anguish, feeling regret for mistakes and fear for what will come. But really we should live only in the present, with the wonderfully urgent need to fulfill.

MANTA

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

I won’t do that

I won’t leave you no more

I will prove that

I won’t do no no no more

I won’t do that

Cause you know all the pain, I’ve been through that

I won’t do no no no more

Uah ma igagiro

Haddi run ehen

Haddi cu gibabin

Haddi cu dafi haddi ka tegghi

Gitka o ku sohodo soccor io sun o eh

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Culli uallahi ua tura

Badda inta ua gifa

Io bio culel uahi

Sidi orahdan o indehei heraio

Manta nefkeiga ua makala

Manta nefkeiga ua arka

Manta indehei an ku hunna

Manta indehei ku hadla

Manta manta manta manta

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

Manta ani ua ku rawa

TODAY

Today I want you

Today I want you

I won’t do that

I won’t leave you no more

I will prove that

I won’t do no no no more

I won’t do that

Cause you know all the pain, I’ve been through that

I won’t do no no no more

I don’t care

If it was not true

If once I betrayed you

If I left you

And if my way is now made of sugar and poison

Today I want you

Today I want you

I swear, I will throw everything away

So that my sea can sleep here

And his water will get warm

Like the sun that is now closing my eyes

Today I want you

Today I want you

Today I finally feel my breath

Today I finally see my breath

Today I finally can eat with my eyes

Today I finally can talk by my eyes

Today I finally feel my breath

Today I finally see my breath

Today I finally can eat with my eyes

Today I finally can talk by my eyes

Yenne Yenne

Our people are dying, look around! Our people are dying!

We can’t assign a role, we can’t say anything.

There is someone with a forked tongue, saying bad things, separating people from people, plotting in the dark. Now that you have obtained all this power, what are you going to do with it?

YENNE YENNE

Don din din din don din don din din din don

Don din din din don din don din din din don

Don din din din don din don din din din don

Don din din din don din don din din din don

Ma pide ma tabe

Beba niò won u ye i bagal bot

Dje a bi podol djol djem djibe

Yina le ma pubi ma ye lo djibe

I tane be bilem to ndap mayagal

I yene ma honhol

Masse ma bot ma mabi mal la

Disbe bongue ye ne ma bide ma tabe mué

Isheg adiga hoga den ma rapta

Hadda uaccana’ uaccana’ 

Oh oooooo yenne yenne yongu

Oh oooooo yenne yenne yongu

Oh oooooo yenne yenne yongu

Oh oooooo yenne yenne yongu

Nin laarko shakka a kawa’

Nin laarko guri a kawa’

Got a faghin haddi faghesit

A derin, cu dahadontit

Uahan u modai gehel ka hadlaio

Merki uodnehega el, bio laan ahai

Uahan u modai detka la hadlai

Merki odkeiga ier ier o gerenai

Our people are tired, sit aroud and please stop fighting

Our people are tired look around our people are dying

I tane be bilem to ndap mayagal

I yene ma honhol , i yene ma honhol

Don din din din don din don din din din don...

Ma pide ma tabe

Beba niò won u ye i bagal bot

Dje a bi podol djol djem djibe

Yina le ma pubi ma ye lo djibe (yenne yenne ye)

I tane be bilem to ndap mayagal

I yene ma honhol , i yene ma honhol

Don din din din don din don din din din don

Don din din din don din don din din din don

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN DUTY

We can’t assign a role

We can’t say anything

There’s someone with forked tongue

Sayin’ bad things

Separating people from people

The one who’s plotting in the dark

Sooner or later will be discovered

 

Tell me, you want all this power,

Now that you obtained it, what are you going to do with it?

Oooooo.....everybody has his own duty

Oooooo......everybody has his own duty

Everybody has his own duty

Like everybody has his home

Don’t dig a hole too big in the ground,

You could fall into it

I thought I could talk of love

When my heart was a dry well

I thought I could talk to people

When my voice was little and trembling

But

Everybody has his own duty

Oooooo.....everybody has his own duty

Oooooo......everybody has his own duty

Our people are dying, look around our people are dying

You should know how to separate your own things from mine

What are you looking in the dark, man?

You mouth and you hands are looking like mine

They can say and then deny, they can write and then erase

Don’t plot in the dark

Soon or later you will be discovered

What can you find in the dark today-man?

Furah

The dream is a place of symbolic transformation — a magic mirror of life that, in popular tradition, is seen as the key to guidance in life, prediction of destiny and an instrument that offers precious hints to our choices. ‘Furah’ is inspired by a dream; it explores numbers and their meanings, which a close friend with numerology experience has helped me to interpret. The numbers in the song carry the themes of ‘beginning’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘power of experience’, while the symbol of a key itself is an object that can open new spaces that can lead to a different life.

FURAH

Bilauo bilauo nambarca cou

Io hauo io hauo nambarca leh

Nolascio nolascio nambarca lammo

Io hoga io hoga nambarca leh

Bilauo bilauo nambarca cou

Io hauo io hauo nambarca leh

Nolascio nolascio nambarca lammo

Io hoga io hoga nambarca leh

Sidi sahib o cu imanaio

Rio amal erca hostis o birkaio

nambarca cou

hoga hoga leh leh

Sidi oitin hunug ier

Hes uodnahadi dahadisi ka helesit

            nambarca lammo

            hoga hoga leh leh

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura    

Sidi sahib o cu imanaio

Rio amal erca hostis o birkaio

            nambarca cou

            hoga hoga leh leh

Sidi oitin hunug ier

Hes uodnahadi dahadisi ka helesit

            nambarca lammo

            hoga hoga leh leh

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura    

Depkan a guwi apsighena

Depkan furah a na si

Uahan girinena gitkehena

Ueh imandono natussi

Ueh imandono natussi

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura

Mugdiga gadashei an kutura

THE KEY

Number one stands for “beginning beginning”

Number six stands for “hope”

Number two stands for “awareness”

Number six stands for “power” too

As a friend that comes to visit you in the middle of the night

As a dream made under a sparkling sky           

As the crying of a newborn child

As the sound of a song left hidden in you heart

We will leave the darkness behind

We will leave the darkness behind

Tonight, the 1st January, I had a strange dream

And this morning I spoke to my woman Eva about it

I saw a big number 6

It looked as a big key

Telling me that this was the year of changing,

Some doors will open their secret if only I find the courage

To turn this key and step into a new life

Let a big fire burn our fears

Let this fire give us the key

‘cause we are looking for our way

Let this fire show the way

We will leave the darkness behind

We will leave the darkness behind

Number one stands for “beginning beginning”

Number six stands for “hope”

Number two stands for “awareness”

Number six stands for “power” too

Je Suis Petite

The dream is a place of symbolic transformation — a magic mirror of life that, in popular tradition, is seen as the key to guidance in life, prediction of destiny and an instrument that offers precious hints to our choices. ‘Furah’ is inspired by a dream; it explores numbers and their meanings, which a close friend with numerology experience has helped me to interpret. The numbers in the song carry the themes of ‘beginning’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘power of experience’, while the symbol of a key itself is an object that can open new spaces that can lead to a different life.

JE SUIS PETITE

Annakka cullighena ua iernahai

Ier ier badan uei korain

Inta cu giro’ inta uodnehen

Uhu sohodsina adunken

Uhu sohodsina petie’

            petie’ petie’ petie’ petie’

Uhu sohodsina adunken

Uhu sohodsina petie’

Annakka cullighena ua iernahai

Ier ier badan uei korain

Inta cu giro’ inta uodnehen

Uhu sohodsina adunken

Je suis petie’

A bi bonmae’

Je suis petie’

Mei mangae’ 

Dulkan cu deshei ua dul kulul io gahal

Ua gahamoisku heren uahan a konin i ga karian (i ga karian)

Gahamas gahamas dakso dig io hid a-ha

Gahamas gahamas dakso dig io hid a humein

Pona nini osala ngai boye

Likambo nini na salaa mpe yo

Mikakatano ezali mabe

Na komi triste 

Mokili mabe o sala gai boye

Mokili mabe pona nini boye

Je suis petie’

A bi bonmae’

Je suis petie’

Mei mangae’  

Annakka cullighena ua iernahai

Ier ier badan uei korain

Inta cu giro’ inta uodnehen

Uhu sohodsina adunken

Uhu sohodsina petie’

Petie’ petie’ petie’ petie’ 

Mukili……..boieho        ma com’e’ triste mae

Je suis petie’

A bi bonmae’ 

Je suis petie’

Mei mangae’

Adunken!

Mukili...boieho ma com’e’ triste ahhhh

Je suis petie’

Mei mangae’

Mukili...boieho

A bi bonmae

Je suis petie’     huuuuuu

Mei mangae’   huuuuuu

Je suis petie’

A bi bonmae’   huuuuuu

Je suis petie’     huuuuuu

Mei mangae’

Dulkaan cu deshei

I AM LITTLE

We are little

But all together we have a great power

Inside our heart lives what makes things happen

What makes a little like me go on

                                   little little little

What makes things happen?

And makes a little like me go on

I am little

You are hurting me

I am little

Little and still innocent

I was born in this land, with big warm hands

Hiding me from what I didn’t know

Those hands soon became dirty of blood and dust

Those hands soon became dirty of blood and dust

Why are you acting like this?

Can’t you see, it’s a very sad situation

The world is so cruel and i am so little

So little and sad

I am little

You are hurting me

I am little

Little and still innocent

We are little

But all together we have a great power

Inside our heart lives what makes things happen

What makes a little like me go on

                                   little little little

Boqoroda Meskin

Based on a traditional Ethiopian wedding song, this is a tribute to my grandmother, who was born in Ethiopia and raised eight children in Somalia. She was a woman of humility who made large personal sacrifices, working in Mogadishu’s hospital helping women give birth. In my mind her memory is linked to the image of the African woman, a sort of ‘Pauper Queen’ who endures many difficulties but faces life with great elegance, power and dignity.

BOQORODA MESKIN

Fiora badan ua ghena ua ghena ua ghena

Fiora badan ua ghena luan a shidda’

Fiora badan ua ghena

Adiga ua cu sina

Nag gahantada hawadena cu gira’

Ilahei mel fian a ku fadisii

Ilahei aktisi ina fadisetit

O ho ho

A ha ha

Hawar awoto io gewer atai

O ho ho

A ha ha

Woman abayo hawar    atai

O ho ho

A ha ha

Boqoroda o meskin atai

O ho ho

A ha ha

Hoio mahane atai

Gitkas den ku maresi maresi maresi

Nagaa ilma delaian gahan sinesi

Hoio culli cu uahaian uahaian uahaian

Luan io gahuo’ adiga ka arfesit

Ilahei mel fian a ku fadisii

Ilahei aktisi ina fadisetit

Depka haloshada ku giro’

Io dig o hawar ka digaio

Boqoroda o meskin eh (boqoroda o meskin eh)

Boqoroda o meskin eh (boqoroda o meskin eh)

Depka haloshada ku giro’

A eeee waving all out for tomorrow

Leaving behind all your sorrow aeo aeoeo eeee

Give to your children a tomorrow

You’re holding our hopes and they won’t fly away

PAUPER QUEEN

I will bring lots of flowers

I will burn incense

I will bring lots of flowers

It is all for you

Woman, in your hand are all our hopes

God gave you a good place where to sit

God wanted you to sit by his side

O ho ho

A ha ha

You are mother, grandmother and little girl

O ho ho

A ha ha

Woman, you are sister and mother

O ho ho

A ha ha

You pauper queen

O ho ho

A ha ha

My sweet mama, i won my battle

You walked that long way

To help other women give birth to their babies

That’s why they were all calling you mama

You were smelling of incense and coffee

God gave you a good place where to sit

God wanted you to sit by his side

O ho ho

A ha ha

You are mother, grandmother and little girl

O ho ho

A ha ha

Woman, you are sister and mother

O ho ho

A ha ha

You pauper queen

O ho ho

A ha ha

My sweet mama, i won my battle

You, pauper queen

With that fire in your paunch

And that blood that makes you mother

You are the pauper queen

You are the pauper queen

Waving it all out for tomorrow

Leaving behind all your sorrow oeo oeoeo eeee

Give to your children a tomorrow

You’re holding our hopes and they won’t fly away

Melissa

The story of Melissa belongs to the many women who escaped from the civil war in Somalia. She crossed the desert on foot, carrying her baby in order to save its life. Her feet were bleeding, but with the goal of freedom in her mind she would never feel the pain. She was unable to quench her baby’s thirst with her tears, so resolved to stop crying. Now she works hard every day in Italy, safe, but still hides her pain.

MELISSA

Melissa hides her pain, she never goes insane

Melissa night and day, she never goes insane

Oh……   oh….

Ida uaha badan cheligheda a sohoti

Lugheda ua dighen lakin

Ma hanunsenenin

Illintati hunugtadi ma habsikartid

Markas a oin a oin…

“where you’re from?” You here it all the time

In this town you’re working day and night

Still believing that someone’s lucky when he’s leaving

No matter where you’re going and how you’re feeling

Thinking of your lover

Thinking of your mama

Thinking of your brother   holy father

You think about the place where you’ve been grown

And you don’t forget where you belong

My baby don’t you cry my Melissa

Yen bot mu le a ke i ton

A yodi ndap ye

Le ke a yen nin lam

Oh safaitsage

To mut a gwe be ngeda

 

My baby don’t you cry my Melissa

Li holos dje li yenele

A bii teda bot ba ba lol lon ipe

To misinga

Ba ti bengeda

A yeki ayele

A yeki aye

Ni longe ye hem le

A gwe be ngeda

Iniu ye aio

MELISSA

Melissa hides her pain, she never goes insane

Melissa night and day, she never goes insane

Oh……   oh….

She walked for miles and miles

Till her feet started to loose blood

But it was just like she was not feeling the pain

She couldn’t give her tears to her baby

“where you’re from?” You here it all the time

In this town you’re working day and night

Still believing that someone’s lucky when he’s leaving

No matter where you’re going and how you’re feeling

Thinking of your lover

Thinking of your mama

Thinking of your brother   holy father

You think about the place where you’ve been grown

And you don’t forget where you belong

Melissa hides her pain, she never goes insane

Melissa night and day, she never goes insane

Oh……   oh….

My baby don’t you cry my Melissa

She’s looking for a new company, new friends

She left her home to find a better life

People are too busy, too intellectual

Nobody really cares for her

My baby don’t you cry my Melissa

She has grown up in a family where foreigners were always welcome

She would like to hear the music loud

But it is not allowed

She always spends her time for others

And se has no time for herself

Huwaiahuwa

This is a soothing lullaby version of the song “HOIO”.

HUWAIAHUWA

Huwaiahua hawarta ma giokto

Covehed a kadatei

Cor io cofire girta

Huwaiahua tarika humahadda

I do i suodato

Nimbo mel kuturte

Hawarta ua sonnokkodonta

Ida mel der ma adin

Hawarta habb a cussidonta’

Ida merkesto ua cu fikkiresa

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana hab hab si

Hoioda uattana

Hoioda

HUWAIAHUWA

Lullaby lullaby

You mum is far away

She took her shoes

She traveled from north to south

Lullaby lullaby

History

Is sometimes sweeping her sons away

Throwing them all around 

But your mum will soon come back

She is not so far away from you

She will hold you in her arms again

She is always thinking of you

Here she is, run run and hug her

Here she is run run and hug her

Here she is, run run and hug her

Here she is, run run and hug her