La partida al África Adieu, Rachel Levy, Rachel, es al Africa que me vo a ir: me vo a ir al Africa, en un buen lugar, me vo ir al Africa y non vo retornar. Cuando al Africa vo' arribar me vo asentar y v'a escribir, v'a escribir una letra, una letra de amistad, dime si stas preñada, me mandas a avisar. Preñada sto, mi querido, échada en la cama estó, vo a abandonar mi madre, a mi chica creatura, por ir, por ir por ir detrás de ti. Querida, si preñada estás echada en la cama estás. No abandones tu madre, a tu chica criatura, por venir, por venir, por venir detrás demí. Adiós, querido falsador, falsates tú la mi honor, hinchites la mi talia, pudrites mi honor, antes que fue mi tiempo pedrí yo la mi flor.
Departure for Africa Adieu, Rachel Levy, Rachel, it's to Africa that I'm going: I'm going to Africa, to a good place, I'm going to Africa and I'm not going back. When I arrive in Africa, I'll settle down and write and I'm going to write, I'm write a letter of friendship, tell me if you're pregnant, send me word. I am pregnant, my dear, lying in bed, I'm going to abandon my mother, my little baby, to go, to go to follow you. My dear, if you're pregnant, you're lying in bed. Don't abandon your mother, your little baby, to come, to come, to come after me. Goodbye, dear false one, Falsely you took my honor, you have made my waist swollen you have lost my honor, before my time came I have lost my flower.
From Arboleras - De las altas mares, Ecos Sefardies de la isle de Rodas, cd 2, 2009 A common fate for young men who in the beginning of the 20th century, set out in search of their fortune, in this case, to Africa. This is a dialogue between a man who leaves and his girlfriend, who is left pregnant and desperate.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025