Video: (Dutch) Surinamese Creole And Hindu Poetry in Jazz Blues and Rap - 'Silence of the unspoken Word'

Dobru (page of the book)

The 'Silence of the unspoken Word' is a Dutch music project which celebrates the poetry of 3 great poets of Suriname, Trefossa , Shrinivási and Dobru. The project is put together by guitarist/songwriter Dave MacDonald who was inspired by the significant oeuvre of these poets.

The music is sung in Surinamese or Sranan Tongo (the English-Dutch creole language), Sarnami (the Surinamese variant of Hindi) and Dutch. It's performed by established artists, young singers and rappers.

Video

Freedom, a poem by Dobru



Kavi Aur Shab (the poet and the word) by the Surinamese Hindu poet Shrinivási.



Video: Neti (Night), a poem by Trefossa.



I added a my own English translation for this song/poem Neti (confident that I will remain faithful to its spirit).

Neti Wan krara koti, ne pis-pis gowtu, Den fadon fadon, na dungru gron. Wan krara koti, ne pipit gowtu, Den laj na loktu sote. D’e brentji brentji, d’e spentji spentji D’e pinji pinji den aj M ‘e opo mi ede, mi ati e firi, Wan fin prisiri, fu tru Wan krara koti, na dusun stari Fadon na djari, den lolo g’we. Chorus Den lolo g’we

Night A chain is broken, now pieces of gold They fall down on the dark ground A chain is broken, now raw gold nuggets They fill the whole sky They blink, they shine, they wink They squeeze,  squeeze the eyes I lift my head up, my heart feels, a pure delight, for sure A chain is broken, now  thousands stars,  fall down in the garden, they roll away. Chorus They roll away