Powema Tori To hold our language high

In 2021 the Rotterdamsch Leeskabinet acquired a special collection of Surinamese poetry, compiled by director of the Taalmuseum Fresco Sam-Sin. We proudly present a selection of the beautiful publications here, written in Sranantongo, exhibiting a wide variety of poetic themes and a wealth of imagery.

Surinamese writers and poets have been at the forefront of the movement to emancipate and celebrate Sranantongo. The title of this exhibition was taken from Michaël Slory’s 1986 poem Fu ori wi tongo hei, meaning: 'To hold our language high'. Each poet in this exhibition shows us the use of Sranantongo in its ultimate esthetic form: the poem. The writers assembled here truly honour their language: as a symbol of resistance, connection, and resilience.

Pictured right: poet Guillaume Pool performs at the first 'Powema tori' event where the collection was presented, September 17 2022 at Het Gemaal op Zuid.

Surinamese writers and poets have been at the forefront of the movement to emancipate and celebrate Sranantongo. The title of this exhibition was taken from Michaël Slory’s 1986 poem 'Fu ori wi tongo hei', meaning: 'To hold our language high'.

Dobru (Robin Ewald Raveles, 1935-1983)

Dobru was a politician, a writer and a poet. His poem Wan Bon speaks to the hearts of many people in Suriname. Through the metaphor of 'one tree' Dobru calls for togetherness in the multilingual and multicultural melting pot of Suriname, ending the poem in '[we are] one people'.

Pictured here is an abstract edition of the original cover by Jack Pinas on Dobru's debut poetry collection 'Matapi' from 1965. A matapi (this is a miniature) is used to press fluid out of grated cassava. The remaining moist husk is then baked into bread.

One of the most influential Surinamese writers and poets, Edgar Cairo (1948-2000) wrote the first Sranantongo novel. Temekoe (1969) was an autobiographical work dealing with a father-son relationship. He went on to publish numerous volumes of poetry, plays and novels and was well known for his qualities as a performer, having been strongly inspired by the Creole oral traditions.

Arthur Cairo holds a photograph of his late brother, the poet Edgar Cairo, at Powema tori on September 17, 2022.

Hermine Haman performs the poem Boni Doro by Eddy Bruma, accompanied by dronman Carlo Hoop (September 17, 2022). Watch an exclusive recording of this performance on our YouTube channel below. More information on the historic freedom fighter Boni on wikipedia.

The Faja Lobi is the national flower of Suriname. Hindus brought it with them from India when they migrated to Suriname. The flower is also known as 'flame of the woods' or 'jungle flame'. It is symbolic for love, friendship and happiness.

'Sranan Uma / Na seki fu yu skin / gersi wan palulu / de dansi na in' winti' (Suriname woman / the swaying of your body / is as a palulu / that dances in the wind') (From 'Poewema foe law-kepanki', O.L. Kemble 1974)

The palulu is a flower from the Heliconia family that is native to Suriname. Imagery of flowers is a theme running through many Srarantongo poems.

"a isri kruyara fu / mi boskopu e redi" (Michaël Slory)

Kruyara are wooden boats of Suriname. The word comes from Kali'na, one of the indigenous languages of Suriname. Isri kruyara, 'iron kruyara' is a metaphor for airplane.

"isrifowru took us / away from home" (Paul Middellijn, 1984)

Another poetical way to say airplane is 'isrifowru'. 'Isri' stems from the Dutch 'ijzer' (iron), and 'fowru' from the English 'fowl'.

"Where they bury my kumbat'tei / is where I want to live" (Albert Helman)

Kumbat'tei, now written as kumbatitey, is the 'umbilical cord'. Kumba, 'belly button', comes from the Bantu language Kikongo nkúmba.

Visitors admire poems and related objects. (At Powema tori, September 17, 2022)

The Rotterdamsch Leeskabinet is proud to house this special collection of Surinamese poetry. In collaboration with the Taalmuseum, we will keep updating and expanding it. After the successful first edition of our Sranantongo poetry event 'Powema tori', we are planning to make this a recurring yearly celebration of the Surinamese language with the help of knowledgeable and inspirational performers .

Exhibited books (in order of appearance)

Asjantenoe Sangodare, Sarka; bittere strijd, Amsterdam (Pegasus) 1961. RLK KN 666

Jozef Slagveer, Sibiboesi; powemas, Paramaribo (Eldorado) 1967. RLK KN 647

Gi Kwakoe, Opete, [S.I.]; (s.n.) 1973. RLK KN 693

Michaël Slory, Torent een man hoog met zijn poëzie, Haarlem (In de Knipscheer) 2012. RLK KN 663

R. Dobru, Paradise: poëtry, gedichten, poewema, [S.I.] ; (s.n.) c. 1982. RLK KN 724

R. Dobru, Matapi: powema, Paramaribo (s.n.) 1971. RLK KN 727

Edgar Cairo, Kra: wan bondroe powema foe, Paramaribo (Bureau Volkslektuur) 1970. RLK KN 672

R. Dobru, Wasoema: a prasi for Bigi Dorsi, Paramaribo (Eldorado) 1968. RLK KN 675

R. Dobru, Bar Poeroe, Paramaribo (Drukkerij Inalca) 1970. RLK KN 725

Marac, Broko na boei [bui]: [poewema], [S.I.]; (s.n.) ca. 1975. RLK KN 684

Blaw-Kepanki, Poewema foe Blaw-Kepanki: Surinaamse gedichten met Nederlandse vertaling, Amsterdam (s.n.) 1974. RLK KN 698

Albert Mungroo, Hayka, Paramaribo (Westfort) 1988. RLK KN 676

E. Marko, Faja lobi [S.I.]; (s.n.) ca. 1971. RLK KN 687

Albert Mungroo, Sabana Bromki, Suriname (s.n.) 1991. RLK KN 677

René Mungra, Wan anoe = Handreiking, Amsterdam (Lynx) 1972. RLK KN 645

Blaw-Kepanki, Wroko bari (Gente): [poewema], Amsterdam (Editoryal Antiyano) 1973. RLK KN 644

R. Dobru, Boodschappen uit de zon: gedichten 1965-1980, Amsterdam (Meulenhoff) 1982. RLK KN 723

Michaël Slory, A no tru, san mi e si dapre? A no tru?, Paramaribo (s.n.) 1986. RLK KN 661

Paul A. Day, Trefoe: [gedichten], Leiden (s.n.) 1973. RLK KN 688

Glen Sluisdom, Oen kondre e kré watrai, Paramaribo (Atlas) 1973. RLK KN 693

S. Sombra, Dagwe, Paramaribo (s.n.) 1976. RLK KN 692

Michaël Slory, Konten konten fu esrede nanga fu tamara, Paramaribo (s.n.) 1981. RLK KN 681

R. Grot, Georgette, mi lobi, Paramaribo (Groto Publikasi) 1987. RLK KN 664

Albert Helman, Adyosi (Afscheid): Sranan gedichten, Nederlandse gedichten, vertaalde gedichten, Nijmegen (Stichting Instituut ter Bevordering van de Surinamistiek), 1994. RLK KN 641

Chinua Afanti, Fri Sranan 1975: proza en poëzie, Paramaribo (Shopping Centre Moengo) 1975. RLK KN 673

Appreciate