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Before a slave woman ran away into the jungle from an eighteenth-century Suriname sugar plantation, she wove rice into her hair so that she would have something to plant. Under her breasts and her skirts she hid a piece of cloth, a kitchen knife, some thread or a spoon -anything of practical use that she could successfully carry away into an unknown new life fraught with uncertainty and danger. (Photo above: Miss Alida 2003 is Joan Dogojo.)
This was a time referred to by historians as "the golden age of Suriname" because of the wealth exported in the form of sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco and timber. Plantation life under Dutch colonial rule was hideous for black men, women, and children. The Dutch were such cruel slave masters that, to keep their own slaves inline, American planters threatened them with sale to a Dutchman. Slaves who fled into the jungle were known as Maroons, from the French word marronage, or runaway.
Slavery was abolished in Suriname in 1863. Today, on July 1, the descendents of these Maroons celebrate their independence. This day of dancing, eating, parading and dressing in the traditional koto, is called Keti Koti, from the Sranan Tongo words for "cut the chains".
The koto is a voluminous form of dress designed by slave women to hide their figures from the attention of lustful white planters. A wide tube of cotton fabric is hardened with starch made from the casaba root. It is lowered over the head, and gathered under the breasts where it is tied. The portion of fabric above the tie is rolled down towards the waist. Sometimes additional gathered cloth is worn under the back of the skirt. Over the shoulders is worn a short cape, tied in front. Matching fabric - the anisa - is tied around the head in various styles, sometimes signifying a message or personal statement. A woman wearing such a koto dress is referred to as a "koto misi".
An important part of today's (June 30th, 2003) Keti Koti celebration is the annual Miss Alida contest, held in the evening at the Anthony Neste Stadium in Suriname's capital, Paramaribo. Although Suriname has been free from Dutch rule since 1975, a separate Miss Alida pageant is also held each year in Holland, where many former Surinamers have chosen to make their home.
The Neste Stadium is traditionally sold out, so Suriname's pageant is simultaneously televised; 2003 marked the 13th anniversary of the Miss Alida contest, an opportunity for ten young Creole women to celebrate their heritage by competing for the title. This year's winner is 20-year-old Joan Dogojo. The major sponsor is the Suriname soft drink company Fernandes, which is also the official importer of Coca-Cola.
The ceremonies begin with a cultural dance presentation to warm up the audience. Music provided by a live orchestra features native drums and flutes. The judges are seated at a long table just below the front of the stage, with placards to raise indicating their score after each contestant's presentation. At intermission,
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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave Your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
