I don’t know exactly the reason why the Castaldelli family immigrated to Brazil, after so many centuries living in the same place in Italy, but I’m pretty sure it was for the same reason many Italian families immigrated in the late 19 century. To replace the formerly slave labor in the coffee plantations and other crops.
These families, courted by Brazilian and Italian Governments, come to Brazil to enrich and return to Italy. However, many were economically dependent on the plantation’s owners and the dream of return never materialized.
The Celso Viáfora’s song, Dio-Zâmbi, in three languages (Yorubá-African, Portuguese and Italian), depicts it very well. I was touched when I heard the song for the first time. You can listen it here.
Dio Zâmbi
Sinherê, quem vem de lá! axé zâmbi, quem vai daqui!
Benza eu por causa de que vou pra aruanda
Sinherê, quem vem de lá! axé zâmbi, quem vai daqui!
Sinherê, vou conhecer o ylu aiê. vou!
Quando o negro depôs a foice no eito
E foi se alforriar
O café se foi secando ao relento
Ninguém pra cuidar
Quem ficou no lugar
Pra lavourar
Era da cor de sinhá
E sonhava poder laborar, laborar
Enriquecer e voltar
Sono io per te
E tu per me
Siamo noi e dio
Niente più
Tinham força debaixo da pele clara
E os olhos de mar
Sol a pino, um pano posto na cara
Pra não se queimar
Vão pagar pelo pão
Se endividar
No armazém do patrão
Laborar, laborar pra não ver um tostão
Quantos não vão mais voltar…
Sono io per te
E tu per me
Siamo noi e dio
Niente più
Sinherê, quem vem de lá! axé zâmbi, quem vai daqui!
Benza eu por causa de que vou pra aruanda
Sinherê, quem vem de lá! axé zâmbi, quem vai daqui!
Sinherê, vou conhecer o ylu aiê. vou
Dio Zâmbi
Sinherê, who comes from there! Axé zâmbi, who goes from here!
Bless me because I’m going to Aruanda
Sinherê, who comes from there! Axé zâmbi, who goes from here!
Sinherê, I’m meeting the ylu aiê. I’m going to!
When black slave rested the scythe on the field
And went free
The coffee was drying outside in the night
No one to take care
The one who arrived to take his place
To tend the fields
Had the mistress color
And dream of being able to work, work…
Enrich and return
(From Italian) Am I to you
And you for me
We and God
Nothing more
Had strength under the fair skin
And the eyes of the sea
Noonday sun, a cloth covering the face
Not to burn
Pay for bread
Into debt
In the boss’ store
Work, work and not to see a penny
Many won’t return …
(From Italian) Am I to you
And you for me
We and God
Nothing more
Sinherê, who comes from there! Axé zâmbi, who goes from here!
Bless me because I’m going to Aruanda
Sinherê, who comes from there! Axé zâmbi, who goes from here!
Sinherê, I’m meeting the ylu aiê. I’m going to!
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