Song - "Libey" (My Heart) by Bereket Mengesteab

Bereket sings romantically for Eritrea as a young weyzerit (Miss) raised in places throughout the country that he describes artfully and nostalgically. The song was released during the dark days of the armed struggle where many Eritreans like himself were living in exile. It embodies the longing for home many were feeling at the time. He starts by singing how his heart wants to leap and go to “her.” He describes his longing for “her” by asking how she was doing, if he could come (not go) to her or she would to him. He names many places where this “girl” that he longs for grew up and describes their scenery, their gift of nature and a glimpse of who lived there and raised his beloved.

Listen to it here: Libey - by Bereket Mengesteab

My Heart, My being
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

Neck like the palm tree of the Great Barka
Orange of Aqurdet, raised in Tekreret
Mango of the irrigated lands, a palm tree by the river bank
May I come to you or will you be here for me?

My Heart, My being
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

The girl of Sahel, raised in Qarura
Raised in Nakfa, raised by its Red Sea
Raised in Semhar, raised in Merara
How do you do Miss [Weizerit] Eritrea?

My Heart, My being
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

[The girl of] Seraye, that of Tekela
Lemon of Mai Ayni, Orange of Alla
Papaya of Ginda’e, Guava of Embatkala
Honey is your nature, that drips from the rocks

My Heart, My being
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

The daughter of Mogoraib, the daughter of the willows by the River
Her father is Tekeze, my flower of Keru
The girl of Sawa, the girl of ______
Raised in Sawa, Raised in my Togoruba
Daughter of the horseman, the swift camel rider

My Heart, My being
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

My Heart, My eyes
My Heart leaps and takes off with you

Your lush hair sways like the banana leaf
You are mandarin of Durfo, blood orange of Weyna
The smell of the orchard, the luring trail of sweet fragrance
your pleasant flavor, like the salt of Salina

Neck like the palm tree of the Great Barka
Orange of Aqurdet, raised in Tekreret
Mango of the irrigated lands, a palm tree by the river bank
May I come to you or will you be here for me?

The girl of Nakfa, raised in Qarura
Raised in Shahel, raised in Qarura
Raised in Semhar and its Red Sea
How do you do Miss [Weizerit] Eritrea?

The girl of Seraye, the evergreen palm tree
The girl of Hamsien, they crowned you queen
The girl of Red Sea, my sparrow, my bird
The girl of Akele, the neck of “br’lé”
perfect with no blemish, Sahel’s daughter
You are diamond, my pearl The daughter of Barka, “they ulilate for you?”
The girl of Beni Amir, they call you the daughter of the Amir [prince]
The girl of Kunama, they are amazed by your elegance