Suriname folk-lore

[p. 579]

3. Secular Songs.

a) Susa.¹

1 Susa songs, like most of those in this category, are dance songs. The dance is a contest in which two men engage in hostile demonstrations, and the pantomine is that of men fighting with shields and spears. They leap toward each other, the left foot of one dancer parallel to the right of the other, changing until when the song is broken, the one whose foot is on the outside is said to have ‘killed’ his opponent. Once a year there is a ‘Susa play’, when the dancers of a region congregate; the final winner is given a wand, and is called ‘King of Susa’ until the next contest is held, when he is expected to defend his title.

69.

Da - gu la - bu se - ben - tin'
(14 times)

70.

Kɛ - si kɛ - si Zɔn-d'o lįŋ - ga Lįŋ - ga - li
[Kɛs'kɛs - i g'a] (5 times)

71.

Ta yo Zen - fa mąn Ta yo - ye - ye

72.

Gi mi mi G'ą - mą' Ma-yom-be

[p. 580]

 

Gi mi mi G'ą-mą' Mayom-be Gi mi (etc.)

73.

Kɛ-si Kɛ-si g'a wo - wo-yo Kai̯ɛ̨ŋ Ɩ̨ŋ - gi - o
Kɛ-si Kɛ-si g'a wo - wo-yo Kai̯ɛ̨ŋ Ɩ̨ŋ- gi - o Kai̯ ɛ̨ŋ Ɩ̨ŋ - gi - o

[p. 581]

74.

Yo yo gri, yo gri, yo gri, A - ku - ba - o yo gri, yo gri,
yo gri, 'is' A - ku - ba yo go lu - ku, go lu - ku yo gri

75.

Dju-kau- mą - ye Yo - yo - yo - - y - o Dju - kau - mą - ye
yo - yo - yo - yo (etc.)

76.¹

Yo - yo - yo - yo Ka-na dy' yo - yo - yo Ka-na dya-dya

1 The syllables yo-yo-yo have no meaning.

[p. 582]

 

Mik'a fu-tu na Kwa-mi-si Ka-na-dy' yo - yo - yo Ka-na dya-dya