Opo Strey

Stichting Sankofa Maastricht is organizing a day for young and old in honor of Keti Koti, and Opo Strey will be part of it.
Songs will be performed from plantations and urban environments, originating from Suriname and the Caribbean. The themes range from the lives of the enslaved to those of indigenous communities and Maroons. Some songs tell of flight and resistance, while others serve as an indictment or as a means of preserving humanity under oppressive circumstances.
During the concert, the audience will be encouraged to actively sing along. Between the music, context will be provided about the origins and meaning of the songs. The program is aimed at a broad audience: both people of Surinamese and Caribbean descent, as well as those with a general interest, from young to old.
Opo Strey is a musical research project focused, among other things, on rediscovering (nearly) forgotten songs of resistance from the period of slavery, alongside new work that explores this history. The project aims to provide insight into the musical richness left behind by enslaved African and Indigenous communities, and examines how this heritage can be preserved and passed on to future generations. In doing so, Opo Strey serves both as a tribute to previous generations and as an invitation to give this cultural legacy a permanent place in the collective consciousness of the Netherlands.