Aiê O Berimbau Aiê
Lyrics, Translations, Music Video and Song Meaning
Aiê O Berimbau Aiê
Song Lyrics
0:02 - Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
Eng: Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
0:14 - O aiê
Eng: O aiê
0:16 - Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
Eng: Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
0:28 - Haviam dois reis
Eng: There were two kings
0:31 - Um reinado uma história
Eng: One reign one story
0:34 - Um defende a Regional
Eng: One defends Regional
0:37 - Outro defende a Angola
Eng: Another defends Angola
0:40 - Oh aiê
Eng: Oh there
0:42 - Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
Eng: Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
0:55 - Rei Ganga-zumba
Eng: King Ganga-zumba
0:57 - Que foi sangue de Zumbi
Eng: That was Zumbi's blood
1:02 - E foi Zumbi Que gritou a liberdade
Eng: And it was Zumbi Who screamed for freedom
1:07 - Ate o fim
Eng: Till the end
1:09 - Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
Eng: Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
1:22 - Era princesa
Eng: She was a princess
1:25 - Mas a corte não queria
Eng: But the court did not want
1:29 - Que Dona Isabel Assinasse a carta de alforria
Eng: That Dona Isabel sign the manumission letter
1:34 - Mas ela assinou
Eng: But she signed
1:36 - Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
Eng: Aiê, aiê Aiê o Berimbau Aiê
History and sentiment behind song
The song references Ganga Zumba, he was a slave who escaped bondage on a sugar plantation and eventually rose to the position of highest authority within the kingdom of Palmares, and the corresponding title of Ganga Zumba. Although some Portuguese documents regard Ganga Zumba as his proper name, and this name is widely used today, the most important of the documents translates the name as "Great Lord."
Zumbi was one of Ganga Zumba's nephews. Zumbi's mother Sabina was a sister of Ganga Zumba, who is said to have been the son of Princess Aqualtune, daughter of an unknown King of Kongo. It is unknown if Zumbi's mother was also daughter of the Princess, but this still makes him related to the Kongo nobility. Zumbi and his relatives are of Central African descent.
The song references Princess Isabel who abolished slavery. Although she signed the “Golden Law” cancelling abolitionism the song praises Zumbi for the freedom.
