Massemba

What a deep night, calunga
In the hold of a slave ship
What a long journey, candonga
Listening to the beat of the waves
Rhythm of a bird's heart
At the bottom of captivity
It's the semba of the world, calunga
Beating samba in my chest
Káwo-kabiesile-káwo
Okê-arô-okê

Who gave birth to me was the belly of a ship
Who heard me was the wind in the void
From the dark belly of a hold
I will descend into your yard
Êpa lightning, axe, and thunder
Êpa warrior's justice

Ê semba ê ê samba ah
The beat of the waves
On the longest nights
Taught me to sing

Ê semba ê ê samba ah
Pain is the deepest place
It's the navel of the world
It's the bottom of the sea
Ê semba ê ê samba ah
In the sway of the waves okê arô
Taught me to beat your drum
Ê semba ê ê samba ah
In the dark hold I saw the flash
Of the world's spin

What a deep night, calunga
In the hold of a slave ship
What a long journey, candonga
Listening to the beat of the waves
Rhythm of a bird's heart
At the bottom of captivity
It's the semba of the world, calunga
Beating samba in my chest
Káwo-kabiesile-káwo
Okê-arô-okê

Who gave birth to me was the belly of a ship
Who heard me was the wind in the void
From the dark belly of a hold
I will descend into your yard
Êpa lightning, axe, and thunder
Êpa warrior's justice

Ê semba ê ê samba ah
The sky that covered on cold nights
My loneliness

Ê semba ê ê samba ah
It's an endless ocean, without love, without brother
Ê káwo I want to be your drum

Ê semba ê ê samba ah
I make the moon shine with splendor and flash
Moonlight of Luanda in my heart

Navel of color, shelter of pain
The first belly bump is massemba yayá
Yayá massemba is the samba that gives

Oh, learn to read
To teach my comrades
I will learn to read
To teach my comrades
To learn to read
To teach my comrades
I will learn to read
To teach my comrades
What a deep night, calunga