Translating songs to summon spirits: Deu meia-noite

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I’m bringing a second ponto of Exu. Pontos are songs sung during Umbanda rituals, usually to either worship the orixás gods or help medium achieve mediunistic trance.


The video below is interesting because it shows a ritual in practice. The medium with a black cape, cane and top hat apparently  channelling the Exu Street Locker with the believers dressed in white clapping and singing.

 


The lyrics in Portuguese and English side to side:


Deu meia-noite - It's midnight

A Lua se escondeu - The moon has hidden itself

Lá na encruzilhada, dando a sua gargalhada - He is at the crossroads, laughing out loud

Tranca Rua apareceu - Exu Street Locker is here


É laroyê, é laroyê, é laroyê - Hail the messenger! Hail the messenger! Hail the messenger!

É mojubá, é mojubá, é mojubá - I salute you!  I salute you!  I salute you!

Ele é odara, dando a sua gargalhada - He is the greatest, filling the room with his laughter

Quem tem fé em Tranca Rua, é só pedir, que ele dá - To those who have faith in the Street Locker just ask for it, and he will give it to you


É laroyê, é laroyê, é laroyê - Hail the messenger! Hail the messenger! Hail the messenger!

É mojubá, é mojubá, é mojubá -  I salute you!  I salute you!  I salute you!

Ele é odara, dando a sua gargalhada - He is the greatest, filling the room with his laughter

Quem tem fé em Tranca Rua, é só pedir, que ele dá - To those who have faith in the Street Locker just ask for it, and he will give it to you


The ponto has three words from Yoruba language:

  • Odara - In Yoruba “o dara” means it is good, it is nice. In the ponto they say that he is odara, so in a free translation I’ve translated as meaning “He is the greatest”.

  • Laroyê - It’s a salutation to Exu. It is said to be in Yoruba and means “the messenger” or “the one who communicates”. I was trying to research the specific words in Yoruba instead of the Brazilian Portuguese adaptation with no success.

  • Mojubá - It’s a way to pay your respects to Exu. Similar to laroyê, I couldn’t find the specific Yoruba words for the origin of mojubá.


This article was written by Eduardo Guimarães and registered in the Brazilian National Library. The content is copyrighted. Reproduction for sale or profit is prohibited. With reproduction without a profit motive is allowed with the consent of the author.


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