This is the third installment in this series. Because this post has been sitting in my drafts for quite some time now, some of these songs are somewhat old. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good…! Good music doesn’t have an expiration date!

Gafarock featuring Rico Saridin- Wong Jowo
I know that I mostly highlight all things pertaining to the African diaspora. But this song is a very good example of “the Motherland meeting the Diaspora’. However, in this case the Motherland is Indonesia, and the Diaspora would be the Surinamese Javanese community. After slavery was abolished, the Dutch took indentured immigrants from China, India and Indonesia to work on the plantations. This song features recognition of the bond between the Surinamese Javanese community and the Indonesian one. The song is in Javanese, but has English subtitles. I love this song! Especially the part at the end with the traditional Javanese Gamelan rhythm.

Kenny B and ND
When Congo meets Suriname. This is one of my favorite Zouk songs. It’s a love song with Kenny B singing in English and I believe Okanisi, one of the Maroon* languages.

Honorable mention Jannie ft African king – Kong Baka Remix for the Congo/ Suriname connection

Patko featuring Djely Kano Kouyate
Patko is a Surinamese Maroon* who, judging from the video, was probably raised and maybe also born across the river in neighboring Guyane. I don’t know where Djely is from, but judging from her name I’m going to assume that she is originally from Mali or maybe Guinnee? I couldn’t find the information, but please feel free to drop it in the comments if you know.

Poppe- Mi Law
This isn’t necessarily a fusion of music styles, but it is also an example of Suriname connecting with the Motherland. The video was shot in Tanzania, and the song is lovely. I absolutely love that the video was shot in Tanzania. The only issue I have with the video is that it somewhat seems to me as if the people where used as props. I’m sure the intention was good, so I’m not going to harp on it a lot. However, I also could not post the video without saying anything. Mi law means I’m crazy. Poppe is singing in Surinamese that people may think that she’s crazy, but that she’s praying to God (Na Gado mi de begi!)

Orveo Djoe featuring Eugene Main
I actually wanted to only post the second song Gafa. But upon listening to it again, I can’t really place it within the Afrobeats category. It is a good song though, and it used to be my JAM! Both of these songs are Gospel songs. Na Gadu e dwen means God is doing it, and it definitely is Afrobeats. It reminds me a little bit of Dorobucci. Gafa means praise or glorify.

*Maroon: I’ve stated this before on my blog. In Suriname we were taught that Maroon was an offensive word. It stems from the word cimarron which means runaway cattle. Referring to people as cattle is offensive. However, to my knowledge there’s no other word in English to refer to descendants of people who managed to escape slavery.

See also:

When the Motherland and the Diaspora meet
When the Motherland and the Diaspora meet (2)