Césaria Évora │ A Magnificent Singer

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am pleased to present the great singer Césaria Évora, from Cape Verde.  Césaria is well known internationally, but is largely unknown in America, which is a shame because she is such an awesome singer, and performer.  By-the-way, Césaria always performs with bare feet, that is why she is also known as the "barefoot diva".  The video below is an excerpt from a concert sponsored by Heineken, that she gave in the year 2000, at the Teatro Alfa in São Paulo, Brazil.  In it Césaria sings the hauntingly beautiful "Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha (Cape Verde Greets You)", that was composed by the late Manuel de Novas, the Poet Laureate of Cape Verde.  For those of you who are interested, the lyrics are a creole combination of Portuguese and Cape Verdian dialects.  Unfortunately, Césaria Évora passed away on December 17, 2011,  in São Vicente, located in her native Cape Verde.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha

Composed by Manuel de Novas

 Tcham canta, m'bem
Traze boses
Um aroma daquel pais
Cabo Verde terra querida
Qu'nos tu quere na coracon

Cabo Verde manda mantenha
Se benson nun bes d'sodade
Pa tud ses fidj' na terra longe
El d'zem pan fla boses
Ma se ragos tem quel calor
Pa tud ses fidje
Ku mesm' amor

 Cape Verde Greets You

(English Translation)

Let me sing

I have come to bring you

The aroma of this country

Of our precious Cape Verde

Loved by all

Cape Verde greets you

With a kiss of nostalgia

It sends its blessings

To all its children scattered

Throughout the world

It sends you word

That it's bosom

Offers the same warmth

And the same love

To all its children