Yesterday was the day. I was allowed to give a presentation and demonstration about frizzy hair at Real Sranan. In the context of Keti Koti, the football association had put together a program full of inspiring entertainment.
The invitation was super special for me because my father, Desi Liong-A-Kong, was one of the founders of this club and because my brother Jeffrey, has been in the Marketing Committee for more than a year. I myself was able to make a very small contribution three years ago by being allowed to do the layout of the booklet “60 years of Real Sranan”, but yesterday I walked into the club for the first time in my life and I immediately felt at home.
Not only because my father is also on the black and white photo of the team of founders, but just the atmosphere, the warm people and especially the laughter. I tell you, if Surinamese people laugh, the world cannot end. I always have the feeling that a deep, bubbling Surinamese laugh can save someone from destruction.
I could not have imagined a warmer welcome. Once people heard my name and knew that I was the daughter of Desi (Liong), there was always a smile accompanied by stories. A lot of stories that my dad had often told us, his three children, came to life.
Now I can hardly imagine it, but my father left for the Netherlands by boat after saving 300 Dutch guilders. A trip that I think lasted at least a month. Once there, he worked and studied hard and remarkably enough, his love for football did not suffer at all.
That he could literally get by just as well from the warm Suriname to the icy fields at that time, is beyond me. Back then you had no heating, yes sometimes maybe a stove and when I listen to those stories about the harsh winters, I realize every time again how much he actually endured without realizing it to make it so much easier for me, his daughter.
I was also in good company regarding the program. I was allowed to share the stage with, among others, Aspha Bijnaar, who I admire not only for her beautiful frizzy hairstyles, but also as the author of “Kasmoni” and “Kindje aan de ketting.” I was also able to meet the super talented Zarayda Groenhart, Mrs. Isselt Dankoor who carries the history of the Surinamese headscarves with her and versatile multi-talent Yvonne Ristie who hosted the evening in a pleasant way.
The program ran a little late but I had just enough time to explain the connection between slavery and frizzy hair while the models demonstrated different hairstyles.
Melanta, the Easy Twist out , Anna and her mother the Twist Out and Gail Olf, the Kumba Out . All three had had the Twist Out Hair Creme and the Curl Keeper beforehand and I was at least as curious about the result as the rest of the audience.
All three were surprised at how good the products were. Gail had thought her hair would feel very dry, but nothing could be further from the truth. Anna's mother said she had tried a Twist out before but the result had never been so beautiful and Melanta also thought the products made her hair incredibly soft.
For me it was a super successful evening. Besides Jorgen Raymann , my sponsor, the models and my brother who takes very good care of me since I've been here, my special thanks also go to Director Edwin Lieveld, from whom I received a warm welcome and a beautiful bouquet of flowers, my age-old friend Moreen Dors, a great woman who is always there for me, Guillaume Ellis the treasurer who was so kind to make recordings for me and last but not least the charming Jerry Mcintosch who finally included me in the program.
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