Songs In A Strange Land

Songs in a Strange Land visualizes the stories of hope and resilience, providing a glimpse of these traditions during the years of slavery, with the code language hidden in work songs.

Project description:

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

Sailed the enslaved with their ships

They rowed and saw the sun set below the horizon, the moon’s reflections ripple on the water

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

They transported trade goods into town,

Surrounded by the scent of coffee and tabacco, they made their way through the current

The rivers of Suriname, on the rivers of Suriname

They sang a melodic sequence of call and response

Their songs of resilience and sorrow broke the silence of the night

On these rivers of Suriname

Dawn brought them hope for better lives

And their songs still echo on the rhythm of the water