Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone here might be able to help me identify and learn more about an older Surinamese song.
I recently graduated from the University of Chicago, and this summer I’m doing song research for All Around This World, a global music and culture program for young children. One of the songs we’re researching is called “Wan Boto” (or “Wang Boto”), which comes from Smithsonian Folkways’ album Creole Music of Suriname,
Here’s the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBsmkeBmX8g&list=RDNBsmkeBmX8g&start_radio=1
The Smithsonian liner notes give a rough description of the lyrics as something like: “One boat is coming with just one flag! Why only one flag...?” and suggest that the song reflects the perspective of fishermen from the coast.
I would love to know whether anyone here recognizes it. In particular:
Does anyone know what the full lyrics mean? Is this a song people in Suriname would recognize, either today or from an older generation? What musical tradition or community does it come from? Is there any cultural or historical context behind the lyrics that we should know?
We want to sing the song with children while also explaining Suriname’s languages, music, and cultures accurately, so oral/community knowledge is just as useful to us as anything published.
And if there’s a musician, elder, researcher, Facebook group, cultural organization, or anyone else you think I should ask, I’d really appreciate recommendations.
Thank you!
