by Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO — The Surinamese music world has lost a striking musician. Steelpan player Winston Archer, better known as “Biga”, died on Sunday at the age of 66 after a short illness. On May 1, his children passed away Facebook known that his health condition was worrying. Archer was in intensive care and his condition was described as serious and uncertain, with calls for prayers.
The death hits fellow musicians hard. His music buddy Ernst Flu, with whom he founded the band Big by Nature and also played together in All Sound, had not seen the news coming. “We were supposed to perform together on May 2,” he says excitedly. Flu hopes that fellow artists will pay Archer a fitting musical tribute.
“We still had performances planned, but God has the final say”
Keyboardist and arranger Sonny Khoeblal also remembers him as an exceptional entertainer. “Saucepan was really his thing. That made him unique in Suriname. Not only with his playing, but also with his smile, he touched many. He was a pleasant man with an infectious laugh.”
For Asgar Koster, the death was also unexpected. “We still had performances planned, but God has the final word. This is a great loss for his family, friends and certainly for us as fellow musicians,” he writes. Facebook. “I had never experienced such a steelpan player – incredibly skilled and musically strong.”
Clarens Joey Amatmoekri also emphasizes the impact Archer has had: “Not only as a music colleague with a big heart for music, but also as someone who was always there for others. He has helped shape me into the musician I am today.”
Archer was one of the few musicians in Suriname who mastered playing the steelpan and actively passed on this knowledge. In addition to steelpan, he also played drums, keyboard and guitar. He is also the father of the famous dancehall DJ Archa. With his death, Suriname not only loses a gifted musician, but also an inspiration who left a lasting impression in the music world.
