Culture of Suriname
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| Culture of Suriname |
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| History |
| People |
| Languages |
| Cuisine |
| Religion |
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Music and performing arts
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| Sport |
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (July 2011) |
Surinamese culture is very diverse and dynamic, and has a strong Asian and African influences. The population is composed of the contribution of people from the Netherlands, Africa, India, China and Indonesia, as well as indigenous peoples who lived in the area, before the arrival of European settlers. About 90% of people established in Suriname have ancestors who come from other countries and regions.
The city of Paramaribo is the heart of this small country and the sounding of their culture.
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Cultural events [edit]
- New Year's Eve
- Chinese New Year
- Holi-Phagwa
- Easter
- Labour Day
- Indian Arrival Day
- Keti Koti
- Javanese Arrival Day
- Indigenous People's Day
- Independence Day
- Christmas
Music [edit]
Suriname is a South American country, a former colony of the Netherlands with strong ties to that country. The country is well known for its kaseko music, and have an Indo-Caribbean tradition.
The kaseko probably derived from the expression "casser le corps" (rest body), that was used during slavery to describe a very fast dance. Kaseko is a fusion of many styles and folklore from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is rhythmically complex percussion instruments including skratji (big drum) and trap drums, and saxophone, trumpet, and trombone occasionally. May be sung solo or in chorus. The songs are typically structured to say and answer, as are the styles of the natives of the area, as winti and kawina.
The Kaseko evolved in the thirties during festivities that used large bands, particularly bands of winds, and were called Bigi Pokoe (big drum music). The following: World War II, jazz, calypso, and other important genres became popular, while the rock music of the United States soon left its own influence in the form of electric instruments.
Indo-Surinamense music [edit]
Indian music arrived with immigrants from South Asia. This included folk music played with the dhantal, tabla, sitar, harmonium and dholak, tassa drums, then even. The music songs were mostly Hindus, called the "bhajans" and the filmi. The singing style tan is unique to the Indian community in Suriname and Guyana.
Sports [edit]
The Suriname Olympic Committee is the national governing body for sports in Suriname. The SOC was established in 1959, and now has 17 members. That includes athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, judo, karate, shooting, soccer, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, and wrestling.
Other somewhat popular sports in Suriname are baseball, softball, beach soccer, beach volleyball, boating, bodybuilding & powerlifting, bridge, cricket, draughts, fishing, golf, horseback riding, snooker & billiards, squash, motorsports, and rallying with the annual Savannah rally of the Surinaamse Auto Rallye Klub (SARK).
One of the most popular sports in Suriname is football. Some of the greatest football players to represent the Netherlands, such as Fabian de Freitas, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Aron Winter, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Stanley Menzo, Henk Fräser, Ryan Babel, Ken Monkou, Edson Braafheid, Boy Waterman, Regi Blinker, Fabian Wilnis, and Eljero Elia are of Surinamese descent. Davids in particular has written his passionate pride in his Surinamese heritage and his love of attending football matches there. There are a number of local heroes in other sports as well, like Primraj Binda, best known as the athlete who dominated the local 10 km (6.2 mi) for nearly a decade, Steven Vismale and Letitia Vriesde. Another notable track athlete from Suriname was Tommy Asinga.
Swimmer Anthony Nesty is the only Olympic medalist for Suriname. He won gold in the 100 meter butterfly at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and he won bronze in the same discipline at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, he now lives in Gainesville, Florida, and is the coach of the University of Florida, mainly coaching distance swimmers.
Multiple K-1 champion and legend, Ernesto Hoost, is from Surinamese descent. Rayen Simson, another legendary multiple world champion kickboxer, was born in Suriname. Remy Bonjasky also a multiple K-1 champion was also born in Suriname. MMA and kickboxing champions Melvin Manhoef and Gilbert Yvel were born in Suriname or from Surinamese descent. Retired female kickboxer Ilonka Elmont, was also born in Suriname. Another notable up and comer kickboxer and K-1 fighter, Tyrone Spong, was born in Suriname. Ginty Vrede, a former Muay Thai Heavyweight Champion who died in 2008 (aged 22), was born in Suriname.
Cuisine [edit]
Surinamese cuisine is extensive, since the population of Suriname came from many countries. Surinamese cuisine is a combination of many international cuisines including Hindustani (India), Creole (Africa), Javanese (Indonesia), Chinese, Dutch, Jewish, Portuguese, and Amerindian cuisines.
The above has ensured that Surinamese cooking has spawned many dishes; the different groups were influenced by each other's dishes and ingredients; this new Surinamese cuisine included roti, fried rice, noodles, pom, snesi foroe, moksi meti, and losi foroe; because of this blending of many cultures, Surinamese cuisine is a unique creation. Basic foods include rice, groundnuts, and cassava fruits such as tayer (Creole) and roti (Hindi). Usually, there is a chicken on the menu in many variations of the Chinese and Hindu snesi foroe, chicken masala to pom, a very popular party dish of Creole origin. Also, salt and meat (bakkeljauw) are widely used. Beans, okra, and boulanger are examples of vegetables in the Surinamese kitchen. For a spicy taste, Madame Jeanette peppers are used.
Besides the dish is also pumping roti (often served with a filling of chicken masala, potato and vegetables), often served on festive occasions with many guests. Other famous dishes are moksi-alesi (boiled rice mixed with salted meat, shrimp or fish, and any vegetable) and the original Javanese fried rice and noodles, which in the Western Hemisphere have developed their own.
Religion [edit]
- Christianity: 48%
- Hinduism: 27.4%
- Islam: 19.6%
- Indigenous religion: 5%
External links [edit]
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