It is difficult to say which of his songs is the most beautiful. Adjossie, the song about a painful farewell, touches a sensitive chord, while Katibo Negre conjures up colorful images from tropical Suriname of dancing women in beautiful, traditional or otherwise, pangis.
Max Nijman
It's music from my youth. I knew Farawe and Ai Sranan by heart and that skratie, that skratie by Ine Miene Mutte, boy, I can't sit still even now when I hear it.
It touches my Surinamese soul. I recognize that rhythm even in contemporary music and my body always spontaneously starts moving. Now that I listen to Max's music again, I understand where the foundation was once laid.
My father, a music lover, who once played Sek Seki in a band, had all of Max Nijman's albums.
Almost every afternoon I sat next to the record player with the cover in my hand singing along to the words while the LP played. You had to be careful with dancing because the needle could jump and scratch the record if you stamped too hard on the wooden floor of our Bruynzeel home.
When I saw the message I was sad at first. Newspaper articles about this great artist were spontaneously shared via social media. On Facebook his most played songs were posted. All known media shared his history and slowly but surely my sadness changed into gratitude and joy.
Moengo's son was not just loved, he was even knighted to the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star. Through his music, Max Nijman will live on as one of the founders of Surinamese Kaseko music.
For his contribution I am grateful to him like so many other Surinamese. His songs will always stir emotions in me and that skratie will always and everywhere make me want to dance.
Jorgen Raymann & Sylvana Simons present today, Monday 25 January, the farewell of Max Nijman. In the pop temple of the capital, Paradiso, the musical tribute starts at 20:00 and will be enhanced by numerous vocalists such as Denice Jannah, Oscar Harris, Ed Rust, Patrick Tevreden accompanied by Trafassi. The concert is freely accessible. Due to the enormous crowds on and around the Leidseplein, visitors are advised to use public transport as much as possible. Doors open at 19:00. This farewell meeting lasts until 23:00
The Godfather of Surinamese song will be accompanied with state honors to his final resting place in Suriname on Saturday, January 30
Grantangi Mr. Max Nijman.
Thanks to Roy Ristie who posted the message about the concert on facebook.