Astrid wrote:
<"Quieres milonga ?"/ "No quiero milonga" has nothing to do with a pick-up
line like "Lieben Sie Brahms ?" ("Do you like Brahms?") in Francoise Sagan's
work, it rather means "Do you want trouble?" "I don't like trouble".
Anyone knows why?>
A larger context of the word milonga can be traced to its roots in Uruguay
and Brasil. The word Milonga with origins in Brasil is a Congolese word,
which meant enredos (convoluted affairs), barullo (uproar), malas disculpas
(bad excuses), and to any happy hour meeting which went over the limit.
The Cuban seaman predominantly black served as the unofficial messenger of
customs (music, dance and terminology) between Cuba, Brasil, and the Rio de
La Plata (the sea ports of Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina).
The word Milonga when it reached the Rio de la Plata (Uruguay) was
associated entirely to the blacks' invention. Dancing and music-wise, the
blacks were known as opportune, tireless innovators, and artists. However,
since they had to live in the aggressive environment of the suburb
(Uruguay), where the less witted were taken advantage of, the blacks had to
show their superiority as a singer, most inspiring musician, non-conformist
fighter, dancer, also they were known as stubborn, and feisty, and
biting-back.
Milonga in this sense was synonym of black(s) and their feisty character.
Best regards,
Bruno
