Minina – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Márcia Cruz, Pcc

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the rich sounds of Cape Verdean music with "Minina" by Márcia Cruz and Pcc. This song offers a glimpse into the beauty of Creole style and the warmth of African rhythms, making it a delightful way to learn about Cape Verdean culture and language.

[English]

Your hair is beautiful, melanin so pure

No flaws at all, a perfect, radiant soul

Whether you’re bold or gentle, you’ve got Creole style

Unique in your own way, a true bad gyal’s vibe

Amapiano or funaná, your glow always shines through

No matter where you go, you’ve got style, you already know

In your own way, you lead the crew

[?]

Oi oi oi oi oi oi, ia ai

Girl, ia ai

Creole queen, ia-a-ai, of Africa

Girl, ia-a-ai

Creole queen, ia-a-ai, of Africa

If you come with your car, with pride, you’ll conquer it all

They’ll tell you, “Come now”

Not even with shoes, not even with clothes

Because your body speaks for itself

If you come with your car, with pride, you’ll conquer it all

They’ll tell you, “Come now”

Not even with shoes, not even with clothes

Because your body speaks for itself

Hard life (hard life)

Hard life (hard life)

Hard life (hard life)

Because a Black woman goes through...

Hard life (wonder)

Wonder, wonder

Because a Black woman is a wonder

Hey! Don’t waste what God gave you

Because what He gave, He can take away

If you [?] what I’m telling you

Don’t let anyone devalue your radiant soul

Black girl, light up, melanin glow

With your dreadlock hair, Black and shining bright

It’s not gold, not diamond, not a meal

But it’s a woman you can’t win with empty words

If you come with your car, with pride, you’ll conquer it all

They’ll tell you, “Come now”

Not even with shoes, not even with clothes

Because your body speaks for itself

If you come with your car, with pride, you’ll conquer it all

They’ll tell you, “Come now”

Not even with shoes, not even with clothes

Because your body speaks for itself

Girl, ia ai

Creole queen, ia-a-ai, of Africa

Girl, ia-a-ai

Creole queen, ia-a-ai, of Africa

From Guinea to São Tomé

Cape Verde, we’re the same

We carry the marks of our struggle

We reign like Cabral

From Guinea to São Tomé

Cape Verde, we’re the same

We carry the marks of our struggle

We reign like Cabral

[Portuguese]

Si kabelu é bunitu, melanina di getu

E ka ten nun difetu, kor di péli perfetu

Si é badia o badjuda, e ten stilu kriola

Diferenti di es, k'un manera di un bad gyal

Amapianu o funaná, di si jetu sénpri e ta da

Ka nporta undi k'e bai, e ten stilu, dja e sabe sta

Di si manera e ta lidera

[?]

Oi oi oi oi oi oi, ia ai

Minina, ia ai

Kriola rainha, ia-a-ai, d'Áfrika

Minina, ia-a-ai

Kriola rainha, ia-a-ai, d'Áfrika

Si bu ben ku bu karu, ku móta pa-u ben koskista-l

E ta fla-u ma nau

Nen ka-u ben ku sapatu, ku ropa

Pamodi si korpu e ka ta mostra-u

Si bu ben ku bu karu, ku móta pa-u ben koskista-l

E ta fla-u ma nau

Nen ka-u ben ku sapatu, ku ropa

Pamodi si korpu e ka ta mostra-u

Mala vida (mala vida)

Mala vida (mala vida)

Mala vida (mala vida)

Pamodi mudjer préta pasa...

Mala vida (maravilha)

Maravilha, maravilha

Pamodi mudjer préta é un maravilha

E! Ka-u disperdisa kel ki Deus da-u

Pamodi el mê ki da-u, dja e pode torna tra-u

Si bu [?] kuza ki N sa fla-u

Ka bu dexa nun kor di péli disvaloriza-u

Minina préta, leti dóxi, xei di melanina

Ku si kabelu dreadlock, préta ki ta brilha

É ka oru nen diamanti nen é ka kumida

Ma é ka mudjer ki bu ta ngana ku garafa xixa

Si bu ben ku bu karu, ku móta pa-u ben koskista-l

E ta fla-u ma nau

Nen ka-u ben ku sapatu, ku ropa

Pamodi si korpu e ka ta mostra-u

Si bu ben ku bu karu, ku móta pa-u ben koskista-l

E ta fla-u ma nau

Nen ka-u ben ku sapatu, ku ropa

Pamodi si korpu e ka ta mostra-u

Minina, ia ai

Kriola rainha, ia-a-ai, d'Áfrika

Minina, ia-a-ai

Kriola rainha, ia-a-ai, d'Áfrika

Di Giné o di Santumé

Kabuverdi nos é igual

E ten markas di vira kol

Nu ta reina sima Kabral

Di Giné o di Santumé

Kabuverdi nos é igual

E ten markas di vira kol

Nu ta reina sima Kabral

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
minina /miˈninɐ/ A2	noun - girl
kriola /kɾiˈɔlɐ/ B1	noun - creole (person of mixed European and African descent)
rainha /ˈʁɐj̃ɐ/ A2	noun - queen
Áfrika /ˈafɾikɐ/ A1	noun - Africa
melanina /melɐˈninɐ/ B2	noun - melanin
préta /ˈpɾetɐ/ A2	adjective - black
maravilha /mɐɾɐˈvilɐ/ B1	noun - wonder
mostra /ˈmostɾɐ/ A2	verb - to show
lidera /liˈdɛɾɐ/ B1	verb - to lead
stilu /ˈstilu/ A2	noun - style
dreadlock /ˈdɾɛdlɔk/ B1	noun - dreadlock (hairstyle)
brilha /ˈbɾiʎɐ/ A2	verb - to shine
mudjer /muˈʒeɾ/ A2	noun - woman
korpu /ˈkɔɾpu/ A2	noun - body
Kabuverdi /kɐbuˈvɛɾdi/ B1	noun - Cape Verde
reina /ˈʁejnɐ/ A2	verb - to reign

Key Grammar Structures

• Si kabelu é bunitu, melanina di getu

  ➔ Conditional clause (if)

  ➔ The word "Si" introduces a condition, equivalent to English "if".

• E ka ten nun difetu, kor di péli perfetu

  ➔ Negation with "ka"

  ➔ "ka" before the verb "ten" makes the statement negative: "does not have".

• Si è badia o badjuda, e ten stilu kriola

  ➔ Present simple with subject pronoun "e" (he/she)

  ➔ "e" is the third‑person singular pronoun; "ten" means "has/has got" in the present.

• Ka nporta undi k'e bai, e ten stilu, dja e sabe sta

  ➔ Negation + relative clause with "k'e" (that/which)

  ➔ "Ka" negates the verb "nporta" (to matter). "k'e" introduces a relative clause "where he/she goes".

• Si bu ben ku bu karu, ku móta pa-u ben koskista-l

  ➔ Conditional "Si" + preposition "ku" (with)

  ➔ "Si" sets a condition, while "ku" links the noun "bu karu" (your love) meaning "with".

• Pamodi si korpu e ka ta mostra‑u

  ➔ Negative progressive "ka ta" + verb

  ➔ "ka" negates, "ta" marks the progressive aspect; together they mean "is not showing".

• Di Giné o di Santumé

  ➔ Prepositional phrase with alternative conjunction "o" (or)

  ➔ "Di" means "from"; "o" joins two alternatives: "from Giné or from Santumé".

• Nu ta reina sima Kabral

  ➔ Present continuous with "ta" + comparative "sima" (as/like)

  ➔ "ta" marks ongoing action "reina" (to reign). "sima" compares the manner to "Kabral".