Ms. Dami is one of the vocalists on the song Uruwei – The Government, which features on the album Umalali: The Garifuna Women’s Project released by Stonetree records.

Ms. Dami loved to sing and dance and was famous for her conch fritters, and many of our guests enjoyed her delicious hudut at Warasa. Below are the lyrics to this poignant (and ever relevant) song.  You can download it from the Stonetree website or stream it here.

Uruwei – The Government

Anihan uruwei ya aü lahayahayan nege lau le lisien (The Government is here, hiring out of love they say)

Nahayaruba gien bumou (I will get a job)

Nahayaruba, wanwa, luba gudemetina (I will get a job for I am poor)

Haliyoun nibadina baume, Nicho (Where shall I take you, Nicho)

Haliyoun nibadina baume, wanwa (Where shall I take you, my dear)

Haliyoun nibadina beiba wabien (Where shall I take you? You had better go home)

Haliyoun nibadina baume Isawelu (Where shall I take you, Isabel)

Haliyoun nibadina baume wanwa (Where shall I take you, my dear)

Haliyoun nibadina beiba wabien (Where shall I take you?You had better go home)

Haliyoun nibadina baume, nirau (Where shall I take you, my son)

Haliyoun nibadina baume, wanwa (Where shall I take you, my dear)

Haliyoun nibadina beiba wabien (Where shall I take you? You had better go home)

The post Ms Dami – Uruwei (The Government) appeared first on Warasa Garifuna Drum School.

This is one of the late, great Paul Nabor’s most iconic songs and a very popular Garifuna song.  It is an example of the paranda style of Garifuna music.  Ronald Raymond McDonald of Warasa used to regularly play this song and others with Nabor and his father’s family group, Umalali, across Belize.  One of the lines says “Lauba la banda habunana (They must have a band at my funeral)”.  Umalali were of course there as Paul Nabor’s favorite group and good friends to play at his funeral after he passed away in October 2014.

Here are the Garifuna lyrics and English translation to this popular Paranda song:

Naguya Nei (I am Moving On)

Nati nuguya merumayatina (Brother, I am ill)
Wanwa nuguya merumayatina (Dear Brother, I am ill)
Balabada naru tura nigabana nay (I have tossed and turned in my bed)
Lau nuragu le hadan hara familia (With this ailment in the presence of my family)
Ayanuhayatina hama namulenu (x2) (I have spoken with my children)
Dame le gia nowen wanwa (Dear Brother when I pass away)
Lauba la banda habunana (They must have a band at my funeral)
Hawagu namulenu naritagua (It is my little ones I’m worried about)
Hawagu nisanigu naritagua (It is my children I’m worried about)

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There are various recordings of the track, and some feature only one or two of the verses.  Likewise in some live performances only one or two of the verses are sung.  Hopefully by documenting more of the known verses we can encourage groups to sing the entire song.

We have included English translation for the Chorus and two of the verses so far.  We will update with the translation of the last two verses when we have it finished – or if any of our Garifuna readers would like to contribute translations, then feel free to comment!

You can purchase this song (sung by Dale Guzman) and more from Stonetree Records, or if you have Spotify access, listen here.

Malate Isien (Worthless Love)

Madayagua harabana luagu tirau noufuri (Sing 2 times) (They have ganged up on my aunt’s daughter)
(Following 3 lines are sung 3 times)
Mabarase ba gia hau, mabarase ba gia hau (Don’t worry about them)
Luagu halugun heiginibu (How they tried to eat you alive)
Laduga heigadi gurigia  (For their love of human flesh)

Chorus (Sing 2 times)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Michiga ba purisima dan le misien ba (Don’t extend a greeting where you are not loved)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Malati dan le misien ba  (It is useless when you are not loved)

Gundabadina luni latigirunina mutu luagu niduun aü (sing two times) (I would gladly agree to be hanged for a crime I have committed)
(Repeat following 2 lines x 2 times)
Buguya haruguti buguya hebenene (You are their grandfather you are their godfather)
Buma hafureindera ligia lagarida bun aü (They learned from you now it hurts you)

Chorus (Sing 2 times)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Michiga ba purisima dan le misien ba (Don’t extend a greeting where you are not loved)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Malati dan le misien ba  (It is useless when you are not loved)

Au gufuruma badina luni hahuluchunina mutu luagu niduru (sing 2 times)
(Repeat following 3 lines x 2 times)
Amuru haruguti, amuru hebenene
Buma hafurendera iweru
Larigien tagarida bun

Chorus (Sing 2 times)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Michiga ba purisima dan le misien ba (Don’t extend a greeting where you are not loved)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Malati dan le misien ba  (It is useless when you are not loved)

Numada rau wau mamada ba ya ubowagu
Tueidugien buguchu luma buguchili
Hagia rugubana bumadagu ubowagu
Ibidie bei mutu le lun bei lagumuchu bau

Chorus (Sing 2 times)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Michiga ba purisima dan le misien ba (Don’t extend a greeting where you are not loved)
Malati isien ganeiwa ruguti (Love that is bought is worthless)
Malati dan le misien ba  (It is useless when you are not loved)

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Lafureidun Aburemei

Waguchi Bungiu, lidan sun fulasu,
Nubi la barueihan woun
Aduguwa la le babuserum
Lidan mua, lidan sun fulasu. (aguyugua la)
Ru ru, ru ru, ru ru…

Translation:

Our Father, God, present everwhere
May your reign come to us. May your
will be done on earth and every where.

During the song everybody holds hands using their pinky fingers while swaying and bending knees to the beat of the song. At certain points of the song there is a bow and then everybody raises their hands together.

The full Lord’s Prayer in Garifuna is as follows:

Wáguchi Búngiu le siélubei (Our Father, who art in Heaven),
inébewalá bíri (hallowed be Thy name),
Nübinlá bidáani lun barúeijan ya uboúagu (Thy Kingdom come),
Adügüwalá bugúndan (Thy will be done),
uboúagu quei ladügüniwa bugúndan (on earth),
siélu (as it is in heaven).
Rúba fein buídurügütu woun lun wéyu le ugúñebei (Give us this day our daily bread),
Ferúdunabei wuríbati le adüga wamáalibei quei ferúduna wamániña ja adügübaña wuríbati woun (and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us),
Mígira báwa lun wáburujan lídoun wuríbani (and lead us not into temptation),
dísegüdarügü báwa luei (but deliver us from evil),
Ladüga anürü le arúeijabei, amürü le Súntibei Gabáfu, amürü le weírigubei lun sun dan. Ítaralá. (For the kingdom, the power, and the glory, are Yours now and forever. Amen.)

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