Téra Lonji [English translation]

I come from a faraway land

Oh, a land far from here

I have walked the earth

But I never found such a lovely place

I am a child of the rocks

That the East Wind flung into the sea

Inside me there are ten islands

Cape Verde, Cape Verde

Over there in my faraway land

People’s laments were countless

Conscience proclaimed it was time

And one of its voices was Cabral

We are children of the rocks

That the East Wind flung into the sea

Our inner selves are wholly insular

Cape Verde, Cape Verde

Palan as usual is waiting for the rain

Tchico, Nhela are playing uril1

Tufuka just sold her fish

Today Benta arrived in Lisbon

Filicianu cried in longing

Beny just won the lottery

Our lives are akin to the tides

With each year hope is born

Of seeing the rain come after sowing

So that life can go on smoother, sweeter so

For those who love this land

1. Uril is a traditional West African board game played with seeds.