PARAMARIBO–No selfrespecting medium likes to retract statements, but on Friday night December 30th 2011, DevSur stood corrected. When we previously predicted that the Kawina Festival at Tori Oso would be legendary, we miscalculated and understated by far.

It got going at a modest note around 8.00pm, but as more and more people trickled in, and the line-up of bands upped the pace, it rapidly developed into an event that no description would do justice.

Tori Oso Café and sponsor Parbo Beer had prepared well and this year blocked off a larger part of Fred Derby Street for the party, and even added a second stage for performances, but by midnight Kawina Festival 2011 had surpassed the expectations.

Thousands and thousands of people packed both ends of the event; the bands unloaded tirelessly and whipped the crowd into an indescribable frenzy. Those blessed with the elevated position DevSur and a selected group of friends enjoyed, were dumbfounded at the scenes that we witnessed unfold. Early bands –like Sabaku and Melody Travelers- had set the stage for Aptijt and Corona, to do with the crowd what they’re notorious for. These bands play an almost mesmerizing style of Kawina that has massive young followers, who packed in throngs, shoulder to shoulder at the stage, tighter than canned sardines. But whenever they found space some would erupt in a wild, shameless dance that leaves the imagination nothing to work with. Some onlookers frowned at the frenzy, other shrugged it off. The festival was organized for people to enjoy Suriname’s biggest celebration -Owru Yari- and if that should lead to undescribable scenes than so be it.

Fact was that the fun reigned supreme. “Legendary” indeed did not quite say it. For Kawina Festival 2011 words do not yet exist. What is clear is that the event set the stage for an unforgettable year-end spectacle, an Owru Yari only possible in Suriname. Tori Oso owner Osje Braumuller beamed. “This is our strong point. Next year, we’re making this strong point stronger,” he quipped.