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Traditional, with additional music and lyrics by Monvelyno Alexis
Arranged by Markus Schwartz, Monvelyno Alexis, and Bobby Raymond
Minis Azaka (Minister of Agriculture) is a praise name and aspect of the Lwa (Vodou spirit/energy) Azaka Mede, an agricultural spirit known for his folk wisdom and "country" dialect.
The piece begins with a short drum solo in the Djouba rhythm, the traditional rhythm for Zaka. The drum is laid on its side with the drummer sitting astride. While playing with their hands, the drummer simultaneously applies pressure to the drum head with the heel of their foot to change the pitch. This technique is found in drumming styles throughout the French Antilles, such as Guadalupe and Martinique. In fact, Djouba is called Matinik in some parts of Haiti.
| Minis Azaka Elou e | Minis Azaka Elou e | ||
| m’rele anmwe | I cry for help | ||
| Minis Azaka Elou e | Minis Azaka Elou e | ||
| Kannòt an mwen vle chavire | My canoe wants to flip over | ||
| Minis Azaka Elou e | Minis Azaka Elou e | ||
| Toné, Souple! | Please! | ||
| Minis Azaka Elou e | Minis Azaka Elou e | ||
| Kannòt an mwen vle chavire | My canoe wants to flip over | ||
| Move tan bare mwen | Bad weather, bad times are blocking me | ||
| Men fatra sou wout mwen | Look at the garbage in my path | ||
| Lanjelis kouvre mwen | The dusk is falling | ||
| Gad grangou nan vant mwen | My belly is hungry | ||
| Kote Djehova? | Where is Jehovah? | ||
| Kote Danbala? | Where is Danbala?* | ||
| Kote Ala? | Where is Allah? | ||
| Kote Ayida? | Where is Ayida?* | ||
| Kote Jezi Kri? | Where is Jesus Christ? | ||
| La Vyej Mari? | The Virgin Mary? | ||
| Kot Sent Espri? | Where is the Holy Spirit? | ||
| Kote Simbi?* | Where is Simbi?* | ||
| Men grangou nan vant mwen | The hunger in my belly | ||
| Lanjelis kouvre mwen | The dusk is falling | ||
| Men lafen kouvri nou | The end is enveloping us | ||
| Ipokrisi bare nou | Hypocrisy is blocking us | ||
| Kote Desalinn? | Where is Dessalines? | ||
| Kote Toussen? | Where is Toussaint? | ||
| Kapwa Lamò? | Capois La Mort? | ||
| Kot Wa Kristof? | Where is King Christophe?* | ||
| Ayisyen nan dlo | Haitians are drowning | ||
| Dyaspora nan dlo | The Diaspora is drowning | ||
| Bel Maman-n nan dlo | My beautiful mother is drowning | ||
| Jakmel nan dlo | Jacmel is under water |
* Danbala, Ayida, and Simbi are Lwa or spiritual energy forces in Haitian traditions. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Capois La Mort (François Capois), and Henri Christophe were all prominent freedom fighters of the Haitian Revolution.