Faccetta Nera

Faccetta Nera (Italian: "Little Black Face") was a popular marching song of Italy's Fascist regime. It was written by Giuseppe Micheli with music by Mario Ruccione in 1935.

History

Italian notice, signed by general Emilio De Bono, proclaming the abolishment of slavery in Tigray in Italian and Amharic. The abolition of slavery was one of the first measures taken by the Italian colonial government in Ethiopia

The hymn is said to have been inspired by a beautiful young Abyssinian slave girl, who was found by the Italian troops at the beginning of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.

Faccetta Nera talks about how the brunette will be taken back to Rome and offered a new life, free from the bonds of slavery. There, the song's narrator promises that her already dark-complected skin will be further "kissed" by the Italian sun, and that she will be introduced to new laws, rulers and customs.

Lyrics

Italian lyrics Se tu dall'altipiano guardi il mare Moretta che sei schiava fra gli schiavi Vedrai come in un sogno tante navi E un tricolore sventolar per te Faccetta nera, bell'abissina Aspetta e spera che già l'ora si avvicina! quando saremo insieme a te noi ti daremo un'altra legge e un altro Re La legge nostra è schiavitù d'amore il nostro motto è LIBERTÀ e DOVERE vendicheremo noi Camicie Nere Gli eroi caduti liberando te! Faccetta nera, bell'abissina Aspetta e spera che già l'ora si avvicina! quando saremo insieme a te noi ti daremo un'altra legge e un altro Re Faccetta nera, piccola abissina ti porteremo a Roma, liberata Dal sole nostro tu sarai baciata Sarai in Camicia Nera pure tu Faccetta nera, sarai Romana La tua bandiera sarà sol quella italiana! Noi marceremo insieme a te E sfileremo avanti al Duce e avanti al Re!

English translation If you look at the sea from the hills Young brunette slave amongst slaves Like in a dream you will see many ships And a tricolour waving for you Little black face, beautiful Abyssinian Wait and see the hour coming! When we will be with you We will give you another law and another king Our law is slavery of love Our motto is FREEDOM and DUTY We will avenge the blackshirts the heroes that died to free you! Little black face, beautiful Abyssinian Wait and see the hour coming! When we are with you We will give you another law and another king Little black face, little Abyssinian We will take you to Rome, as a free person You will be kissed by our sun and a black shirt you will be too Little black face, you will be Roman Your only flag will be Italian! We will march together with you and parade in front of the Duce and the king!

See also

• Second Italo-Abyssinian War
• Giovinezza

External links

• "Faccetta nera" in mp3 Rare original recording of "Faccetta nera" with tenor F. Orlandis