ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ibeyi - Musical duo
Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz have created a minimalist sound that merges elements of their heritage with their love of modern music.

Why you should listen

The twin sisters of the French-Cuban electronic-soul duo Ibeyi, Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz, were born in Paris but lived in Havana for the first two years of their lives before moving back to Paris. Their father was the famed Cuban percussionist Anga Díaz, a member of the Buena Vista Social Club. The sisters' music is a bewitching conflation of influences and storylines.
 
While firmly rooted in their Afro-Cuban culture and history, their second album, Ash, features samples of a speech given by former First Lady Michelle Obama and of a song by the Bulgarian choir Les Mystères des Voix Bulgares, the vocal stylings of the Spanish hip-hop artist Mala Rodriguez, a contribution on bass by Meshell Ndegeo-cello and an excerpt from The Diary of Frida Kahlo, among much more. This capacity to absorb the complexity and diversity of the world and transmute it into a vast array of emotions is the musical signature of the twins -- "Ibeyi" means twins in Yoruba, one of the three languages in which they sing (the others being English and French).

More profile about the speaker
Ibeyi | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal>NYC

Ibeyi: "Valé" / "River"

Ibeyi: Valé / Fleuve

Filmed:
99,341 views

Mariant la culture traditionnelle Yorouba à une écriture moderne, Ibeyi, le duo électro-soul formé de deux sœurs jumelles, joue pour nous deux chansons : « Valé » et « Fleuve ».
- Musical duo
Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz have created a minimalist sound that merges elements of their heritage with their love of modern music. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
(MusicMusique)
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(Musique)
00:19
(SingingChant) NaomiNaomi DiazDiaz:
You were bornnée underen dessous de a starétoile.
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(Chant) Naomi Diaz :
Tu es née sous une étoile.
00:25
In the skyciel, she livesvies now.
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Elle vit dans le ciel.
00:31
ProtectingProtection you,
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Elle te protège,
00:34
night after night.
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nuit après nuit.
00:40
(SingingChant) Lisa-KaindLisa-Kaindé DíazAZ:
Listen to the lullabyBerceuse
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(Chant) Lisa-Kaindé Díaz :
Écoute la berceuse
00:45
everychaque time life seemssemble to hurtblesser.
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chaque fois que la vie fait mal.
00:52
So closeFermer your eyesles yeux,
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Ferme les yeux,
00:55
just closeFermer your eyesles yeux.
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ferme simplement les yeux.
00:58
Our voicesvoix will hugcâlin you,
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Nos voix vont t'embrasser,
01:01
musicla musique be our armsbras.
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la musique incarnée par nos bras.
01:04
The starétoile will shineéclat
and enlightenéclairer your night.
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Ton étoile va briller
et illuminer ta nuit.
01:12
You are lovedaimé,
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Quelqu'un t'aime,
01:14
little girlfille, you are.
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petite fille, quelqu'un t'aime.
01:17
I betpari you'lltu vas be strongerplus forte
when the day is back.
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Je suis certaine que tu seras plus forte
quand le jour viendra.
01:25
(SingingChant) IbeyiIbeyi: WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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(Chant) Ibeyi : Waye waye lo mio,
01:28
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
01:31
WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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Waye waye lo mio,
01:34
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
01:37
WayaWaya kalamefakalamefa,
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Waye kalamefa.
01:39
aremuHervé,
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aremu,
01:41
wayawaya kalamefaokalamefao.
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waya kalamefao.
01:45
(SingingChant) NDND: If one day you want to crycri,
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(Chant) ND :
Quand un jour tu voudras pleurer,
01:50
look at the starétoile,
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regarde l'étoile,
01:53
I know she's proudfier
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je sais qu'elle est fière
01:57
of who you've been
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de qui tu as été,
02:01
and who you are.
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de qui tu es devenue.
02:04
(SingingChant) LKDLKD: Then runcourir
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(Chant) LKD : Après, cours
02:07
into laughingen riant armsbras
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dans des bras accueillants
02:11
and shineéclat
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et brille
02:14
as brightbrillant as you can.
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d'autant de feux que tu peux.
02:18
You've been lovedaimé --
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Quelqu'un t'a aimée —
02:21
(SingingChant) NDND: You still are.
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(Chant) ND : Tu l'es encore.
02:24
(SingingChant) LKDLKD: Our voicesvoix will hugcâlin you,
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(Chant) LKD : Nos voix vont t'embrasser,
02:27
musicla musique be our armsbras.
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la musique incarnée par nos bras.
02:31
The starétoile will shineéclat
and enlightenéclairer your night.
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L’étoile va briller
et illuminer ta nuit.
02:38
You are lovedaimé,
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Quelqu'un t'aime,
02:40
little girlfille, you are.
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petite fille, quelqu'un t'aime.
02:44
I betpari you'lltu vas be strongerplus forte
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Je suis certaine que tu seras plus forte
02:46
when the day is back.
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quand le jour reviendra.
02:51
(SingingChant) IbeyiIbeyi: WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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(Chant) Ibeyi : Waye waye lo mio,
02:54
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
02:57
WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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Waye waye lo mio,
03:00
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
03:03
WayeWaye kalamefakalamefa,
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Waye kalamefa.
03:05
aremuHervé,
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aremu,
03:07
wayeWaye kalamefaokalamefao.
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waye kalamefao.
03:10
WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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Waye waye lo mio,
03:13
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
03:16
(A cappellacappella) WayeWaye wayeWaye lolo mioMio,
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(A cappella) Waye waye lo mio,
03:20
wayeWaye kalamefakalamefa.
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waye kalamefa.
03:23
WayeWaye kalamefakalamefa,
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Waye kalamefa.
03:25
aremuHervé,
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aremu,
03:26
wayeWaye kalamefaokalamefao.
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waye kalamefao.
03:32
(ApplauseApplaudissements)
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(Applaudissements)
03:50
LKDLKD: OK, so for the nextprochain songchant,
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LKD : Pour notre prochaine chanson,
nous avons besoin de vous.
03:52
we need you.
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03:53
Do you want to singchanter?
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Vous avez envie de chanter ?
03:55
(AudiencePublic cheersa bientôt)
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(Encouragements)
LKD : Je ne vous entends pas.
Vous avez envie de chanter ?
03:56
LKDLKD: Oh, come on. Do you want to singchanter?
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03:58
(AudiencePublic cheersa bientôt)
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(Encouragements)
04:00
(DrumbeatBattement de tambour)
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(Rythme au tambour)
04:03
LKDLKD: It's really simplesimple.
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LKD : C'est simple.
04:05
It's just --
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C'est juste ceci —
Quand nous disons :
« Au gué de ton fleuve »,
04:07
if we say, "Come to your riverrivière,"
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04:09
you say, "washlavage my soulâme."
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vous dites : « Je lave mon âme ».
04:10
(SingingChant) IbeyiIbeyi: Come to your riverrivière,
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(Chant) Ibeyi : Au gué de ton fleuve,
04:12
washlavage my soulâme.
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je lave mon âme.
04:13
Come to your riverrivière. SingChanter: "washlavage my soulâme."
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Chantez : « Je lave mon âme ».
04:16
Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:18
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:19
IbeyiIbeyi: When we say,
"come to your riverrivière," you say?
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave --
Ibeyi : Plus fort !
04:21
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my --
IbeyiIbeyi: No, louderPlus fort.
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04:23
Come to your riverrivière --
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:26
IbeyiIbeyi: Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:27
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:28
IbeyiIbeyi: SingChanter it! Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:30
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:31
(MusicMusique)
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(Musique)
04:42
IbeyiIbeyi: Go, go, go, go --
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Ibeyi : Va, va, va, va ...
04:44
Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:45
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:46
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:48
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:49
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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Ibeyi : Au gué de ton fleuve,
je reviendrai laver mon âme.
04:55
Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
Public : Je lave mon âme.
04:57
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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04:58
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière --
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I : Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
05:00
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
05:01
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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Ibeyi : Je reviendrai au gué de ton fleuve
laver mon âme.
05:07
CarryTransporter away my deadmort leavesfeuilles.
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Emporter mes feuilles mortes.
05:10
Let me baptizebaptiser my soulâme
with the help of your watersdes eaux.
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De tes flots, je baptise mon âme.
05:14
SinkÉvier my painsdes douleurs and complainsSe plaint,
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Dans tes flots, je noie mes blessures,
05:17
let the riverrivière take them,
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et le laisse les emporter,
05:19
riverrivière drownnoyer them.
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les noyer
05:20
My egoego and my blamefaire des reproches --
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Mon ego et ma culpabilité —
05:22
let me baptizebaptiser my soulâme
with the help of your watersdes eaux.
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De tes flots, je baptise mon âme.
05:26
Those oldvieux me'sde moi, so ashamedhonteux,
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Ces anciens moi, si honteux,
05:29
let the riverrivière take them,
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que les flots les emportent,
05:30
riverrivière drownnoyer them.
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que les flots les absorbent.
05:33
Hey --
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Hey —
05:34
(MusicMusique)
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(Musique)
05:42
IbeyiIbeyi: Go, go, go, go --
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Ibeyi : Va, va, va, va...
Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
05:44
Come to your riverrivière --
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05:45
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
05:46
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière --
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I : Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
05:48
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
05:49
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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Ibeyi : Je reviendrai au gué de ton fleuve
laver mon âme.
05:55
Come to your riverrivière --
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Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
05:57
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
05:58
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière --
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I : Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
Public : Laver mon âme.
06:00
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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06:01
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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Ibeyi : Je reviendrai au gué de ton fleuve
laver mon âme.
06:06
Go, go, go, go --
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Va, va, va, va —
06:08
CarryTransporter away my deadmort leavesfeuilles.
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Emporte mes feuilles mortes.
06:10
Let me baptizebaptiser my soulâme
with the help of your watersdes eaux.
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De tes flots, je baptise mon âme.
06:14
SinkÉvier my painsdes douleurs and complainsSe plaint,
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Dans tes flots, je noie mes blessures,
06:17
let the riverrivière take them, riverrivière drownnoyer them.
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et le laisse les emporter, les absorber.
06:20
My egoego and my blamefaire des reproches,
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Mon ego et ma culpabilité
06:22
let me baptizebaptiser my soulâme
with the help of your watersdes eaux.
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4136
De tes flots, je baptise mon âme.
06:26
Those oldvieux me'sde moi,
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Ces anciens moi,
06:28
so ashamedhonteux,
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si honteux,
06:29
let the riverrivière take them,
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que les flots les emportent,
06:30
riverrivière drownnoyer them.
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que les flots les absorbent,
06:31
Come to your riverrivière --
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Au gué de ton fleuve,
06:33
NDND: Hey, louderPlus fort.
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ND : Plus fort !
Ibeyi : Au gué de ton fleuve,
06:34
IbeyiIbeyi: Come to your riverrivière --
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06:36
LKDLKD: SingChanter out.
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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LKD : Chantez !
Public : Je lave mon âme.
06:38
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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Ibeyi : Je reviendrai au gué de ton fleuve
laver mon âme.
06:42
Go, go, go, go --
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Va, va, va, va —
I : Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
06:43
IbeyiIbeyi: Come to your riverrivière --
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06:45
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
06:46
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière --
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I : Je viendrai au gué de ton fleuve
06:48
(AudiencePublic) WashLavage my soulâme.
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Public : Laver mon âme.
06:49
IbeyiIbeyi: I will come to your riverrivière,
washlavage my soulâme again.
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4856
Ibeyi : Je reviendrai au gué de ton fleuve
laver mon âme.
06:54
Go, go, go, go --
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Va, va, va, va —
06:56
(A cappellacappella) WemileWemile OshunOshun,
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(A Cappella) Wemile Oshun,
06:58
OshunOshun dedeDede alawedealawede.
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Oshun dede alawede.
07:02
WemileWemile OshunOshun,
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Wemile Oshun,
07:04
moolowomoolowo belerubeleru yalodeyalode moyewedemoyewede.
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moolowo beleru yalode moyewede.
07:09
WemileWemile OshunOshun,
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Wemile Oshun,
07:11
OshunOshun dedeDede alawedealawede.
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Oshun dede alawede.
07:15
WemileWemile OshunOshun,
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Wemile Oshun,
07:18
moolowomoolowo belerubeleru yalodeyalode moyewedemoyewede.
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moolowo beleru yalode moyewede.
07:26
(ApplauseApplaudissements)
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(Applaudissements)
Translated by Claire Ghyselen
Reviewed by Serge Brosseau

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ibeyi - Musical duo
Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz have created a minimalist sound that merges elements of their heritage with their love of modern music.

Why you should listen

The twin sisters of the French-Cuban electronic-soul duo Ibeyi, Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz, were born in Paris but lived in Havana for the first two years of their lives before moving back to Paris. Their father was the famed Cuban percussionist Anga Díaz, a member of the Buena Vista Social Club. The sisters' music is a bewitching conflation of influences and storylines.
 
While firmly rooted in their Afro-Cuban culture and history, their second album, Ash, features samples of a speech given by former First Lady Michelle Obama and of a song by the Bulgarian choir Les Mystères des Voix Bulgares, the vocal stylings of the Spanish hip-hop artist Mala Rodriguez, a contribution on bass by Meshell Ndegeo-cello and an excerpt from The Diary of Frida Kahlo, among much more. This capacity to absorb the complexity and diversity of the world and transmute it into a vast array of emotions is the musical signature of the twins -- "Ibeyi" means twins in Yoruba, one of the three languages in which they sing (the others being English and French).

More profile about the speaker
Ibeyi | Speaker | TED.com

THE ORIGINAL VIDEO ON TED.COM

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