8. Ban Wap’é Music: Reno Steba Lyrics: Izaline Calister As appeared on cd ‘Kanta Hélele’ (May 2006) 8. Let’s dance the seú (wap’e) English translation Note: ‘Wapa’ is a special way to dance the seú. The seú is the music traditionally used to celebrate the harvest. You wapa by putting your hands on your hips or throw them up in the air and moving feet and hips in a special way. ‘To wapa’ is ‘wap’e’! In seú-music an important role is played by the ‘kachu’. This is a wind-instrument, made from a cow’s horn, producing the specific ‘ooo’-sound. (I.C.) Nos ta gusta muzik moderno, kadans, ritmo kombiná ma nos muzik di ántes nos no tin ku neglishá Ta fundeshi di nos kultura I nos tin ku realisá, ku ta nos orguyo, esei mester ta Nos ta loko pa balia salsa Bachata ta popular ma dikon nos seú, no ta zona mas regular Ta p’esei mi tei duna un kurso, di kon ta balia seú Bin para den rei pa nos kuminsá Tene kuenta rumannan Ku seú bo tin ku wap’é No bru’é ku merengue Man den zij bo tin ku bali’é Tene kuenta rumannan Ku seú bo tin ku wap’é No bru’é ku merengue Man na laira bo ta gos’é Ora k’e kachu zona - Ban wap’é Ku man na sintura - Ban wap’é Un banda dilanti - Ban wap’é Un banda patras - Ban wap’é Gosando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Dilanti mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Tra’i e kachu mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Wapando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Nos ta gusta muzik moderno, kadans, ritmo kombiná ma nos muzik di ántes nos no tin ku neglishá Ta p’esei mi tei duna un kurso, di kon ta balia seú Bin para den rei pa nos kuminsá Tene kuenta rumannan Ku seú bo tin ku wap’é No bru’é ku merengue Man den zij bo tin ku bali’é Tene kuenta rumannan Ku seú bo tin ku wap’é No bru’é ku merengue Man na laira bo ta gos’é Tur hende ta kanta - Ban wap’é Ku mannan na laira - Ban wap’é Ta wapa mi seú - Ban wap’é Ta gosa mi seú - Ban wap’é Gosando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Dilanti mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Tra’i e kachu mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Wapando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Ta p’esei mi rumannan P’esnan ku no konos’é He e ritm’i seú Ta n’e kachu bo ta tendé Ta p’esei mi rumannan P’esnan ku no konos’é He e ritm’i seú Ta n’e kachu bo ta sintié E kachu ta zona - Oe I tur hende ta kanta - Oe Fo’i djaleu bo ta tende - Oe Ai est’un ambiente - Oe Tene kuenta mi rumannan, or’é kachu ta zona - Ban wap’é Un banda dilanti - Ban wap’é Un banda patras - Ban wap’é Wapando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Dilanti mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Tra’i e kachu mi ta bai - Ban wap’é Wapando mi ta bai - Ban wap’é We like modern music: Kadans and Ritmo Kombiná (popular modern rhythms among Curaçaoan youth - I.C.). But we should not neglect our traditional music. It’s the foundation off our culture and we must realize that it should be our pride and joy. We are crazy for dancing the salsa. The bachata (popular rhythm from the Dominican Republic - I.C.) is also very popular. But why doesn’t the seú sound more regularly. That’s why I am going to give a course off how to dance the seú. Let’s make a line so we can begin. Keep in mind brothers and sisters The way to dance the seú: wap’é Don’t confuse it with a merengue With hands on hips you should dance it Keep in mind brothers and sisters The way to dance the seú: wap’é Don’t confuse it with a merengue With hands in the air you enjoy it. So when the kachu sounds - Let’s wap’é With your hands on your hips - Let’s wap’é With one side in front - Let’s wap’é And one side behind - Let’s wap’é I’m enjoying myself - Let’s wap’é I’m moving forward - Let’s wap’é I am following the kachu - Let’s wap’é I’m dancing the seú - Let’s wap’é We like modern music: Kadans and Ritmo Kombiná. But we should not neglect our traditional music. That’s why I am going to give a course off how to dance the seú. Let’s make a line so we can begin. Keep in mind brothers and sisters The way to dance the seú: wap’é Don’t confuse it with a merengue With hands on hips you should dance it Keep in mind brothers and sisters The way to dance the seú: wap’é Don’t confuse it with a merengue With hands in the air you enjoy it. Everybody’s singing - Let’s wap’é With your hands in the air - Let’s wap’é I am dancing the seú - Let’s wap’é I am enjoying the seú - Let’s wap’é I’m enjoying myself - Let’s wap’é I’m moving forward - Let’s wap’é I am following the kachu - Let’s wap’é I’m dancing the seú - Let’s wap’é So brothers and sisters For those of you who don’t know it The seú rhythm You hear it in the kachu So brothers and sisters For those of you who don’t know it The seú rhythm You feel it in the kachu When the kachu sounds - Ooo Everybody sings - Ooo From afar you hear - Ooo What a blast - Oo Keep in mind brothers and sisters, when the kachu sounds - Let’s wap’é With one side in front - Let’s wap’é And one side behind - Let’s wap’é I’m dancing the seú - Let’s wap’é I’m moving forward - Let’s wap’é I am following the kachu - Let’s wap’é I’m dancing the seú - Let’s wap’é