Fourteen leaves and a cup of water
Michelle Piergoelam
The untangled tales
Er tin tin, sigri tin tin…
Once upon a time, long ago…tales were told that everyone could hear, but not everyone could understand. Numerous tales tell the story of Anansi – a mythical spider who dealt with a tiger that made his life miserable. Although the spider was physically weaker, it was often able to defeat the tiger with cleverness and cunning. Is it really just a myth? These stories, passed along from Africa to Suriname, and told between generations, enabled enslaved people to share their thoughts without slaveholders knowing what was actually meant.
In the same vein, angisas worn by women were not only beautiful textiles: their intricate folds contained hidden stories and wisdoms that could only be read by those who’d learnt to.
Through memories and imagination, The untangled tales visualises stories of the Anansi storytellers and the Angisa-folders, and the ways in which these traditions allow us to glimpse at years of slavery.
Songs in a strange land
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 tobacco, 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
