AFRICA BRASIL (ZUMBI) by Jorge Ben Jor, English translation by Joel Sattler (poem) by Joel Sattler on AuthorsDen

AFRICA BRASIL (ZUMBI) by Jorge Ben Jor, English translation by Joel Sattler
by Joel Sattler → (All Poetry by Joel Sattler)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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. Note: this is not an exact translation, but is meant to be sung to the original melody. Zumbi [pronounced “Zoombie”] was the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares runaway slave refugee colony in Alagoas, Brazil that also harbored fugitives and deserters. Born a free man in 1655, captured and sold into slavery at the age of six, baptized by his missionary owner, he learned Portuguese and Latin and the Bible. Escaping at 15, he returned home and became a military leader and renowned warrior. When the local governor offered freedom to the colony, Zumbi distrusted the Portuguese and refused to accept the offer while other Africans remained enslaved. He took over leadership of the quilombo and ruled for 15 years until the Portuguese military destroyed the central settlement of Cerca do Macaco with an artillery assault. The colony fell, Zumbi went to ground and led a rebellion for two years, evading capture until betrayed by one of his followers. He was beheaded by the Paulistas, and his head taken to Recife and displayed as a warning to all other slaves. The date of his execution, November 20 1695, has become the equivalent of our Martin Luther King Day.... .
AFRICA BRASIL (ZUMBI) by Jorge Ben Jor, English translation by Joel Sattler New title: “When Zumbi Comes” Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo So here’s a meat market for men An auction of Africans Up on the block there is a princess up for sale Captured with all her kin and all her tribe Chained in carts and just barely alive I want to see I want to see I want to see I want to see Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo Here come the slave plantation men On one side, kings of sugarcane The other side is the coffee overlords you sit in the middle, watch the pain See them unloading the cotton in big bales Cut down by blacks who work under the sword I want to see I want to see I want to see I want to see To see just what happens When Zumbi comes for vengeance Zumbi’s the Lord of Terror The Dictator of Disaster When Zumbi comes at last then Zumbi will be their master Zumbi’s the Lord of Terror The Dictator of Disaster When Zumbi comes at last then Zumbi will be their master I want to see I want to see When Zumbi comes When Zumbi comes Angola, (I want to see, I want to see) Congo, (I want to see, I want to see) Benguela (I want to see, I want to see) Monjolo, (I want to see, I want to see) Capinda, (I want to see, I want to see) Nina (I want to see, I want to see) Quiloa, (I want to see, I want to see) Rebolo (I want to see, I want to see) Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjolo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo Who will run when Zumbi comes? Who will run when Zumbi comes? ________________________ Original lyrics in Portuguese: Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjolo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo Aqui onde estão os homens Há um grande leilão Dizem que nele há uma princesa à venda Que veio junto com seus súditos Acorrentados em carros de boi Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjolo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo Pois aqui onde estão os homens Dum lado, cana-de-açúcar Do outro lado, um imenso cafezal Ao centro, senhores sentados Vendo a colheita do algodão branco Sendo colhidos por mãos negras Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver quando Zumbi chegar Eu quero ver o que vai acontecer Zumbi é senhor das guerras Zumbi é senhor das demandas Quando Zumbi chega, é Zumbi quem manda Zumbi é senhor das guerras Zumbi é senhor das demandas Quando Zumbi chega, é Zumbi quem manda Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Eu quero ver Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjolo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo Angola, Congo, Benguela Monjolo, Capinda, Nina Quiloa, Rebolo My version is based on a recording by Jorge Ben Jor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db2_TWq7nfs =================================