by Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO — “It is a moment when Surinamese and their children in America celebrate their roots, pride and interconnectedness together. It is a reminder of a shared history, but also of passing on language, culture and family stories to the next generation.” Meredith Simson, chairman of the Suriname Family Day Committee (SFDC), disagrees the True Time about the Sranan Dey in New York, United States.
The SFDC is the organization behind Sranan Dey, which is being held for the fiftieth time this year. For many, this event also means a return to their identity. “In a country where you switch between two worlds every day, Sranan Dey feels like coming home, recognition and community at the same time,” Simson tells the newspaper. For her, it is a celebration of origins with great emotional value: a moment of memory, identity and solidarity within the diaspora.
“In a country where you switch between two worlds every day, Sranan Dey feels like coming home, recognition and community at the same time”
Meredith Simson
Program
On the occasion of the golden jubilee, a three-day program is being set up under the motto: ‘A wins’ pe yu de en tan … wi e tan Srananman!’ With this, the Surinamese diaspora in the United States celebrates half a century of cultural preservation, community building and historiography. The anniversary program is built around the original pillars of the event: sports, live music and community spirit.
The celebration starts on July 31 with a cultural evening that is entirely dedicated to traditional Surinamese cultural expressions and heritage. Rupaa, Line Dance Istika, One Chance Brassband, Wai Folo, The Chinese Culture & Art Center of Suriname and Real Char by Kariñha Melody of the organization Stichting B’Art, Culture & Sport Empowerment led by Bianca Graskamp from Suriname will perform, among others.
The next day a major football tournament is held in tribute to the original Kwakoe idea in which sport and community are central. The official Pre-Sranan Dey Party takes place in the evening. The musical interpretation is provided by the Surinamese Hindi pop formation Showtime and the Kaskawi formation Opmaat from the Netherlands, led by Romario Panka.
The traditional family day is held on the final day, August 2, and includes authentic Surinamese dishes, traditional games, children’s activities, face painting and surprise performances.
Deep historical roots
The history of the Surinamese community in New York goes back further than 1976. Shortly after the Second World War, Surinamese settled in the American metropolis. Although there was no Sranan Dey in its current form at the time, Surinamese New Yorkers already met regularly. Organizations such as the Suriname American League and later the Suriname American Federation formed important foundations for the community.
The start of Sranan Dey in 1976 was therefore not a new beginning, but a logical continuation of an already active and close-knit Surinamese community in New York. The first edition of Sranan Dey was held in New York in 1976. Inspired by the original Kwakoe idea in the Netherlands, Sranan Dey has grown into the oldest continuous Surinamese diaspora event in North America, with the aim of preserving and transferring Surinamese cultural heritage to future generations.
