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Nota em português: clica aqui. (Inclui poema em português.)
Singer and composer Manuel d’Novas died in the early morning hours today, September 28, on the island of São Vicente. He was 71. Over the course of his long career, Manuel d’Novas penned numerous compositions that went on to become classics in the Cape Verdean repertoire, such as “Nôs Morna,” “Stranger é um ilusão” and “Lamento d’um emigrante.” His songs were sung by the voices of Ildo Lobo, Bana and Cesária Évora, among many others. (News from A Semana.)

♫ ♪ Apocalipse, written by Manuel d'Novas, sung Cesária Évora.

Pa qu'ê tonte maldade nesse mundo
Why there is so much evil in this world
S'nô ta li sô
As we are here only
Pa um sigundo
During one second
Pa qu'ê tonte inamizadi
Why so much enmity
Pa gerá infelicidadi
That creates unhappiness
Pa qu'ê tonte ingustia d'guerra
Why so much torment of war
S'nô podê criá paz na terra
If we can create peace on Earth
M'djor ê pensá
It's better to think about.
Home ta chei di malvadeza
The Humankind is full of wickedness
Sem rispeito pa natureza
Without respect for Nature
Ô Deus valême
My God, help me
Tonte inventá planeta
So many inventions
Tonte cuitod bá maneta
So many poor people die
Sem sês hora tchegá
Before their due times
Monôpol de um cambada
That's a monopoly of a gang
Ê destino di nôs vida
It's the fate of our life
Cada hora um notícia
Each hour there is news
Cada minuto un malícia
Each minute there is guile
Desarmamente ê conversa
Disarmament is just chitchat
Ma banquete ê vice versa
But banquets go on
Ê fortuna num ponta
There's wealth for some
Ê miseria not ponta
There's misery for others
Mundo tá pior cum jogo d'boca
The world is worst than a riot
Ca bô mandame calá boca
Don't tell me to shut up
M'ta d'zê verdade
I'm telling the truth
No titá vivê d'boxe d'amiaça
We are living under threat
Num flagelo pa tud raça
It's a scourge for every people
Mundo podia ser ôte cosa
The world could be different
Vida podia ser cor d'rosa
The life could be nice
Si nôs tud pôdia juntá môn
If everybody would joint hands
Cu Deus e amor na coraçon
With God and Love in the heart
Ma Bíblia ta flá na Apocalipse
But the Bible tells about the Apocalypse.
Ma Bíblia ta flá na Apocalipse.

Other morna of Manuel d'Novas, sung by Ildo Lobo: ♫ ♪ Nôs Morna.
The picture is a detail of a sculpture by Nild e Ró (Interart 96) on a wall of Mindelo.
Location: 16.8891269, -24.9872285.