Music from Saramaka: A Dynamic Afro-American Tradition

Retreating to the inland forests of Suriname to escape harsh conditions on slave plantations, small communities were founded upon diverse African heritages and newly emerging cultural practices. The Saramaka, who eventually became one of the largest Maroon (runaway slave) groups of this area, have a musical repertoire that employs a multitude of languages, gourd instruments, hand pianos, and drums. In this collection of music recorded from 1967 to 1976 by Richard and Sally Price, the songs of the Saramaka people convey a narrative of struggle, determination, and cultural survival. Liner notes include musical analysis, lyrics and translations, and photographs of the artists and instruments.

Track Listing

101	Matjáu baai (Axe Calls) - Tree-Felling Songs	Saramaka man, Pikílío region	10:59
102	Adunké	Elderly Saramaka woman, Pikílío region	00:55
103	History in Song	Saramaka man, Pikílío region	01:45
104	Apúku djómbo (The Forest Spirit Jumps Up)	Saramaka man playing papái bèntá, Pikílío region	02:19
105	Djebikese kulé butá dí kándu (Djebikese Runs to Place the "Protective Charm")	Saramaka man playing papái bèntá, Pikílío region	02:33
106	Gádu tumáo (Drumming for the Forest Spirits)	Saramaka man playing papái bèntá, Pikílío region	02:11
107	Komantí tumáo (Drumming for the Komantí Gods)	Saramaka man playing papái bèntá, Pikílío region	01:10
201	Sĕkĕti Songs: Two Songs of Despair	Saramaka women	02:00
202	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song of Disaster and Song of Love	Saramaka women	02:21
203	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song of Quarrel	Saramaka women	01:24
204	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song of Rejection	Saramaka male singer and chorus, Upper River region	01:19
205	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song of Resignation	Saramaka male singer and chorus, Upper River region	01:45
206	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song for a Maiden	Saramaka male singer and chorus, Upper River region	01:40
207	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song about a Parrot	Saramaka boys	00:51
208	Sĕkĕti Songs: Song of a Foreign Land	Saramaka children	00:54
209	Sĕkĕti Drumming: The Flight of the Hummingbird Dance	Saramaka drummers	01:57
210	Sĕkĕti Drumming	Saramaka drummers	02:29
211	Sĕkĕti Drumming: Bandámmba Dance	Saramaka drummers	01:19
212	Apínti: Talking Drum	Tribal chief's apínti (talking drum) player at council meeting	04:22