Gimmie Dat Throwback - Les Nubians - Makeda

Les Nubians is an R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985 the sisters moved w...

Les Nubians is an R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985 the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and singing background vocals for various artists worldwide. The duo's debut album Princesses Nubiennes was released by Virgin Records, France, in 1998.



They have become one of the most successful French-language musical groups in the U.S. Best known for their Billboard R&B Top Ten Single "Makeda" and Grammy nominated song "Je Veux D'la Musique" from their second album One Step Forward. Les Nubians were the 1999 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards winners for Best New Artist, Group or Duo and received two NAACP Image Awards nominations in 2000.

The duo executive-produced Echos, Chapter One in 2005 on their label Nubiatik; a joint venture with Triloka Records. The project features artists from France, and the U.S. performing poetry and music from the urban edge. Echos, Chapter One: Nubian Voyager was released in 2006 as a book accompaniment to the CD.



ENGLISH TRANSLATION*

"One wants to make us believe in lost myths
Parts of history are corrupted and re-examined
From Ramses to Mandela,
So many unspoken truths
By being unaware of the original story,
one wanders without goal

Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful
Solomon dreamed of her black skin
I sing to revive the memories
To exhume knowledge
That the spiral of time erases

The Queen of Sheba lives in me
Makeda lives in me.

Let us revive our memory
The history should be changed
History is being deformed by words….No
The knowledge and wisdom are within reach
Listen and pay attention

Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful
Solomon dreamed of her black skin
I sing to revive the memories
To exhume knowledge
That the spiral of time erases

The Queen of Sheba lives in me
Makeda lives in me.

My people dance and sing
They express their joy
Far from ignorance
They show their faith

Blessed with men and values
We repair the errors
Sons and daughters you and me
Ready for the fight

Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful
Solomon dreamed of her black skin
I sing to revive the memories
To exhume knowledge
That the spiral of time erases

The Queen of Sheba lives in me
Makeda lives in me.

*courtesy of askville.amazon.com