Jinkli Nona ~ Lyrics & Meaning

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The meaning of ' Jinkli Nona '
~ according to kodrahkristang (via iG or instaGram)
~ at this link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BgRHwr2FHfm/

The "Jinkli Nona", a song about a man who wishes to wed a beautiful woman, is one of the most well known Eurasian folk songs in the community in Singapore. It is often accompanied with the Branyo, a classic Eurasian folk dance.

The term "Jinkli" is believed to come from the word "Sinhalese", which transitioned into the word "Chingalee" and ultimately to "Jinkli".

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Lyrics:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/keep-kristang-alive/jinkli-nona/975376472483689/


Jinkli Nona

Jinkli nona, jinkli nona
yo kereh kazah
kaza nunteng porta nona
klai logu pasah?

Teng kantu teng
kantu teng falah nunteng
amor, minya amor
amor minya korasang

O nona, minya nona
Ki lonzi bos ta bai
Si yo nungka tomah kon nona
Nungka filu di mai pai

O nona, minya nona
O nona minya korasang
si nona muitu bemfeta
yo jah kai na-a-faesang

Pedra, linya, agu
diamanti di kualidade
jah beng na minya brase
pretu, brangku minya bontadi

O nona, minya nona
yo ta bai pa Telok Mas
inkontrah
floris cherozu
cherah, cherah, kereh mas

O nona minya nona
sa kabelu restah chang
akeli mesmu kabelu
beng marah yo sa korasang

O nona minya nona
yo ta bai fikah soldadu
si teng bos sa furtuna
yo birah fikah kazadu.

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My Comment at:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/keep-kristang-alive/jinkli-nona/975376472483689/ 

I found this YouTube Link to the song Jinkli Nona. I must say that this is probably the best version I've ever heard.


Here are some comments about the song that I'd like to share.

I am not fluent in the Kristang Dialect, knowing only a few words. As to '*Jinkli Nona*' meaning '*Sinhalese Girl*', that's only what I keep coming across to, so I can't say for sure if that what it really means.

What I find interesting is the word-play in the song, very tongue-in-cheek, especially the 2 lines that go "*kaza nunteng porta nona / klai logu pasah*" which sounds like it has a double meaning.

"*kaza nunteng porta nona / klai logu pasah*" literally means "*house no door girl / how to pass*". Without punctuation it opens up many translation possibilities with questions. Questions like, 'Whose house has no door?', 'The boy or girl?'. The word '*passah*' means pass and could actually mean an '*approval*' rather then a '*passage*'.

Possibility 1:
boy has no house, no door, so how to get approval
~ could mean that: '*a boy who is unable to afford a door to his house may not be fit for marriage. But in current times, this analogy could also be easily used for both boys & girls*'.

Possibility 2: 
girl's house has no door, so how to get approval
~ could mean that: '*a girl who has lost her virginity may not be fit for marriage (keeping in mind that virginity was very important in those days). But in current times, this analogy could also be easily used for both boys & girls*'.

I find this song has very deep meaning and lessons to learn from and it's *'probably why it's sung at all Kristang Eurasian Weddings*'.
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Kristang: Nus Kung Nus (Nos Kong Nos)

Own people, like family.

Nus Kung Nus
Nos Kong Nos

Nus = We
Kung = and / with

Nus Kung Nus
= We and / with We
= We and / with Ourselves
= Tahu Sama Tahu (Malay Equivalent)

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