"Bella Ciao" is a famous antifascist song. As a mass movement, fascism preys on the fears and hopelessness of people to turn them into supporters of extreme-right political projects centered around the violent subordination and extermination of people considered "enemies" or "inferior".
As the closer of Madame X, an album thematically centered around domination and oppression – and also rebellion – the free-flowing vibe of this song feels like a breath of fresh air, a moment of overcoming despair and feeling hope again.
The singer is Kimi Djabaté and the language sung is African Creole. I was able to find an Italian translation of his parts which I translated into English. Certainly something is lost on translation but it seems to deal with the history of imperialism and colonialism in Africa.
Sometimes...
It fills up day by day
What do you say?
He was bored
To collect
German man
They use man
And stunned
I'm not careful
God fired
What do you say?
What guys
--
And I read it well
And your every mother
And I read it well
And your every mother
And your every mother
And your every mother
Your mother reads
I don't hesitate
And there she said
And your every mother
And that's not all
--
And that's not all
And your every mother
And that's not all
And your every mother
Or as she wanted as she wanted Allah
And just like me
Pretty
The bad guys hurt
Or move there Allah
How and how
As before Allah
And your every mother
And every ray
And your every mother
--
Or mom read
I don't hesitate
And every mulatto life
Made in the prison bathroom
And everyone is like mom
Everyone gives tomorrow
And everyone is like mom
Leave your girlfriend
And mom reads
Ooooh oooh
How is your girlfriend
She could die later
He might die later
Oooh how
Like lightning
--
With my mom and many
It hurts my mom
That's my wall
It came as it did
In battle Africa
In battle
She knew each other
You’re a god for this, thank you so much.