Words:  Francisco Borja da Costa, 1970s
Music:  Traditional Maubere / Abilio de Araujo
Additional harmonies:  Jean-Anne Jones

This medley of two songs comes from the independence struggle of East Timor. The lyrics of both were written by Francisco Borja da Costa, a leader of the Fretilin forces resisting Portugal's colonisation of East Timor who was killed in 1975 on the day his independent country fell to a new enemy, Indonesia.

Foho Ramelau is an invocation of East Timor's highest mountain, Mt Ramelau, which shelters and symbolises the people's resistance to foreign occupation. Consistent with Maubere decorum, Kolelemai is an obliquely framed but nevertheless firm condemnation of the impoverishment brought by foreign rule. It has a traditional Maubere folk tune in two parts, with additional bass and soprano harmonies by the Solidarity Choir's Jean-Anne Jones.

Sá sá ha' a nalo ó batar la fulin, kôlele mai.
Sá sá ha' a nalo ó hare la burit, kôlele mai.
Se se ha' a nalo ó kabun la bosu, kôlele mai.
Se se ha' a nalo ó kosar la maran, kôlele mai.

Kolę lele mai rade kokodelę, kôlele mai.
Kolę lele mai rade kokodelę,
Kôle hele laloi kôlele mai.

Balu dehan ó baruk, balu katak ó beik, kôlele mai.
Balu raak ó baruk, balu katak ó tiak, kôlele mai.

Sá sá sá maka halo, se se se los se, kôlele mai.
Sá sá sá maka halo, se se se los se, kôlele mai.

Eh! Foho Ramelau, Foho Ramelau eh!
Sábé ás liu ó tutun, sábé bein liu ó lolon eh!

Tan sá timur ulun sudur uai-uain?
Tan sá timur oan ata uai-uain?

Tan sá timur oan hakruk bei-beik?
Tan sá timur oan atan bei-beik?

Loke matan loro foun to' o iha ó knuak
Loke matan loro foun iha ita rain.

Hader rai-hun mutin ona lá!
Hader loro foun sa' e ona lá!

Hader kaer rasik kuda talin eh!
Hader ukun rasik ita rain eh!

Why does your corn not grow? Why doesn't your rice sprout? Who causes your empty stomachs? Who causes your never ending sweat? Who is responsible? Who is to blame? Some say it's because your lazy and stupid. Some say it's because your lazy and poor. What is the cause of it? Who is responsible?

Hey, Mount Ramelau! What is higher than your peak? What is greater than your majesty? Why, Timor, is your head forever bowed? Why, Timor, are your children enslaved? Why, Timor, do your children doze like chickens? Why, Timor, do your children doze like slaves? Open your eyes, a new sun is over your village. Open your eyes, a new sun is over your land. Awake! The foot of the mountain is wide. Awake! A new sun has risen. Awake! Take the reigns of your own horse, Awake! Take command of your own land!