Maracatu

Batida de bombo

Drumbeat of the bass drum

Estouro de bombas

Explosion of bombs

Batuques de ingonos

Rhythms of ingonos

Cantigas de banzo

Songs of homesickness

Rangir de ganzás

Rattling of ganzás

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estou?

Luanda, Luanda, where am I?

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estás?

Luanda, Luanda, where are you?

As luas crescentes

The crescent moons

De espelhos luzentes

Of shining mirrors

Colares e pentes

Necklaces and combs

Queixares e dentes

Sighs and teeth

De maracajás

Of maracajás

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estou?

Luanda, Luanda, where am I?

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estás?

Luanda, Luanda, where are you?

A balsa do rio

The raft of the river

Cai no corrupio

Falls into the whirlpool

Faz passo macio

Makes a soft step

Mas toma desvio

But takes a detour

Que nunca sonhou

That was never dreamed of

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estou?

Luanda, Luanda, where am I?

Luanda, Luanda, aonde estou?

Luanda, Luanda, where am I?