Music from Aluku: Maroon Sounds of Struggle, Solace, and Survival

The Aluku (also known as the Boni) are survivors. Roughly 8,000 strong, the Aluku are an African American Maroon people whose territory lies on the borderlands of French Guiana and Suriname, in a part of the Amazon basin that extends to the northeastern coast of South America and belongs culturally as much to the Caribbean as to Amazonia. Born out of resistance to slavery some three centuries ago, the Aluku have endured to the present in the face of formidable odds. Today, their survival is threatened once again, as they cope with the assimilationist policies of the French state (of which most Aluku are now citizens), as well as ever-escalating incursions into their territory by multinational corporations and independent gold miners. The fate of their Amazonian rain forest environment—not to mention their cultural and political autonomy—hangs precariously in the balance.

Track Listing

101	Mato: Amígole saté, pínta balúba	Performers at puu baaka ceremony, Kormontibo, French Guiana	02:12
102	Mato: Kidéndele, kidéndele, sani taampu-oo	Sa Buki, et. al.	01:32
103	Susa (Drumming with Vocals)	Performers at kuna pee ceremony, Cottica, Suriname	03:16
104	Susa (Drumming)	Performers at booko dei ceremony, Asisi, French Guiana	02:01
105	Songe: Pe lobi de, mma? (Where Is the Love, Mama?)	Ba Aluwa	01:13
106	Songe (Extended Drumming with Vocals)	Performers at puu baaka ceremony, Cottica, Suriname	09:55
107	Awasa (Drumming with Vocals)	Performers at puu baaka ceremony, Cottica, Suriname	01:10
108	Awasa: Ma Senuwe	Ba Aluwa	02:09
109	Awasa (Extended Drumming with Vocals)	Performers at kuna pee ceremony, Cottica, Suriname	03:23
110	Tuka (Old Style): Dede, dede namo, yee	Papa Bantifo, et. al.	02:33
111	Tuka (New Style)	Performers at booko dei ceremony, Asisi, French Guiana	02:48
112	Tuka (Dondowen): Tonkoli Suku Maite, Molí Mawá	Performers at tuku ceremony, Loka, Suriname	01:32
113	Kumanti (Song Accompanied by Agwado): Mi dasi-oo, Nana-oo, yee	Ba Dakan	00:58
114	Kumanti (Drumming)	Kumanti drummers, Loka, Suriname	00:36
115	Kumanti: Tide ontuo e piki-oo, kugulu man alali	Ba Aluwa	00:53
116	Kumanti (Song Accompanied by Agwado): Suku a sole bamban, obia, pe fu a piki, a piiti nou	Ba Dakan	00:49
117	Tutu (Solo Flute)	Papa Tobu	01:06
118	Agwado (Solo Song with Agwado Accompaniment): Basi Agwado, odi, odi, odi-oo	Ba Dakan	01:26
119	Aleke: Mabula (Mabuya) go na Ndyuka	Group of children, Kormontibo, French Guiana	00:57
120	Aleke: Na so, mi mama, yee, fa wi e begi (alt., kali) a golon wenti, mi mama, yee	A Sa Yeepi	04:37
121	Aleke: Di mi na a moni, fa mi o du-ee? Mi o go koti baana-oo, fu mi go seli a bilo	Ba Lome	02:52
122	Agwado (Solo Song with Agwado Accompaniment): Basia Lomi, yu mu kali Kwaku gi mi	Papa Tobu	02:11
123	Botoo Tutu (Flute Language)	Papa Tobu	00:26
124	Fon Ken (Work Song, for Pounding Sugarcane)	Aluku men and women, Kormontibo, French Guiana	03:00
125	Kwadyo (Solo Song): Asa-oo, papa ngúlinya, ngúlinya	Papa Aneli	00:27
126	Kwadyo (Drumming with Vocals): Adyaini-oo, mi na man	Ba Peson, et. al.	01:13
127	Agwado (Solo Song with Agwado Accompaniment): Alabi, sipi e booko genti e kon	Papa Aneli	02:17
128	Papa (Vodu) (Drumming)	Pap Pwen, et. al.	00:32
129	Papa (Vodu) (Chanting)	Ma Bwi	04:55
130	Papa (Vodu) (Drumming with Vocals)	Ma Yakoba, et. al.	05:50
131	Uman Daguwe	Ma Maidon, et. al.	01:43
132	Songe (Full Ensemble)	Ba Aluwa	02:41