A couple of weeks ago, Tamar Celis shared this kåntan Chamorita with our practice groups. The story behind this song is actually quite sweet: Tamar gave her father a “homework assignment” to make a kåntan Chamorita, and this is what he sent back! Not only is this a delightful song about preparing Chamorro food, but he also uses some older words that we may not hear too often. And it’s also a lovely example of the Chamorro tradition of impromptu musical storytelling about the activities and relationships that make up the fabric of Chamorro life. I so appreciate Tamar’s generosity in sharing this song with our group and allowing me to post it here on the blog.

You can also find Tamar on her YouTube channel, Tamar Agupa’, where she shares her own journey to becoming a Chamorro speaker. If you are looking for inspiration to become a speaker – especially if you have tried several times before – I highly recommend watching her videos. Tamar is honest, approachable, and refreshingly candid about her process, which makes her journey both relatable and motivating.

As always, this post includes the Chamorro song lyrics, an English translation, and language notes for the kåntan Chamorita “Håfa Fina’tinánas-mu?” by Mick Celis. Happy listening!

Continue reading “Håfa Fina’tinánas-mu? by Mick Celis – Kåntan Chamorita Lyrics and English Translation” →