The Ocean is Yemanja’s

Terra Brasilis! We have land on sight
Our land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird cries
Our grooves, full of life
On our skies, the starlight
Our land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird cries

Axé!
Oshalá!
Odoya Yemanja!

Euphoria baffled by yoruba cries
Ossaim granted passage. His precious red trees
But when he saw his people, the God melted in tears
Chains aren’t right adornments to heirs of kings and queens

Heirs to the burden of creation,
Pride of the mother of the Earth
Sun and Moon nurtured from their breasts
Legacy held by Dandaras, Marielles

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

Salve Yemanja, rainha do mar
Proteja os filhos de Ogum, Orixa
Senhora do mundo e daqueles que nem por um segundo
Desistem de lutar
Sou preta da Bahia, tambor de Candomblé
Sou filha da rainha, mãe das ondas ela é
Minha terra tem palmeiras, tem belezas, tem guerreiras
Tem um povo que tem muito a cantar

The conquerors, and in disgust I use this word
Their pale arrogance, still denying that our world
Was given shape by the wombs of Sheba, Yemanjá and Iara
And all dark skinned women tortured by time

Descendants of Oxum,
Beauty draped in gold
The treasures of Africa run through Brazilian blood
But what is land, if not a part of the Aiyê?
Plains, mountains and valleys
Inspiration to poems of black fishermen

Silenciaram nossa voz
América Latina, Pindorama
Protestar é terrorismo onde bala queima roupa de criança

Travesti, kamikaze
Me recomponho, entre escombros
Toque no meu corpo ou quase
Mas jamais apagarão o que componho

Agora o sangue que cai não é nosso
Agora paga o preço
Vocês provocaram o ódio
O revide vem do gueto

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

Paguem por cada
Vida arrancada
Pelo sangue na calçada
Cada Travesti assassinada
Pelas almas suicidas que encerraram sua própria jornada

É foda memo
Não tem como não ficar cansada
Quando levantamos flores
Vocês nos respondem com rajada

Vandalismo é resposta
Pra esses patrimônios
Sobre senhores de engenho
Levantemos estátuas
Para Laura e Dandara
Juntes venceremos!

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

And he did. And he still does.
It’s hard not to lose hope
But giving up is far worse

Guard me from the sea
Been here for so many years
Today I feel adrift
My voice, taken by my fears

Let me succumb to your embrace, oh my dear mother
My land has sunken. The seafloor: my only ship.