Copyright© 2011, Surinam Designz, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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Eternity, Infinity & Unlimited
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Symbol - Sunrays: in the middle the rays turn to the opposite direction. The turning point in life. The sun comes up, shines and goes under. The same goes for the human body. Men are born, live and die.
Beautiful woman
Balance,Stability & Proportionality
Affection, Devotion & Tenderness
Burning Love
Indestructible love
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Symbol - Endless braided
woodcarving: common on hut gables and often seen on decorative paddles. There are many varieties of the “eternity” symbol.
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Symbol - Star: the beauty
of the star is compared to
a beautiful woman.
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Symbol - Stability: Circle
with an “S” resembling the Yin and Yang. One needs to be cautious but also courageous.
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Symbol - Swirls: with a rim, it means very positive feelings. If it has no rim the meaning has to be interpreted in combination with the adjacent symbols.
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Symbol - Bird: “love spell.” This
bird is to the Maroons "the bird of love". Its tongue is used to prepare love potion.
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Symbol - Four leafed clover:
reflecting four objects with a burning center (campfire).
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Symbol - Interwoven hearts(angular male, round female).
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Symbol - Circle with center: symbolizing a belly with a navel. Here the navel is a symbol of erotic love.
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Symbol - Opposing triangles with interwoven hearts in the middle: Deep, intense love (triangles are here symbolic for the “soul”)
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Symbol - Two boomerang images placed cross wise.
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Symbol - Triangles placed alternately above and under a line: symbolizing the connection between two people initiated by a higher power.
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Symbol - Two coffins: symbolizing a relationship
that will last untill "death do us part."
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Symbol - A looping beam, that is turning
on and on: this never ends
Divine love
Everlasting love
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Symbol - Small holes indicating a swarm of flies, colony of ants etc.
Even though they are small, they are able to accomplish a lot with joined forces (the power of collaboration).
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Symbol - Soursop/ Pineapple: fruit with many seeds able to produce multiple new plants. Multiple multiplication.
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Symbol - Two connected triangles:
portraying kissing lips.
Generosity, Unselfishness & Humanity
Abundance, Bountifulness & Riches
Passion, Lovingness & Intensity
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Symbol - Day star: Perfect beauty. Maroon men use this star to glorify the beauty of their partner.
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Symbol - A small circle within a large circle: The barrel of a gun. Warning not to take unnecessary risks.
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Symbol - Kawri shell: this shell was used as currency (African). It is still believed that a male (short-thick) and a female
(long-small) shell in the purse will provide steady cash flow.
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Symbol - Scepter: a symbol of
authority, power and highness.
Collaboration, Cooperation & Union
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Caution, Watchfulness & Chariness
Wealth, fortune & Plentiful
Authority, Highness & Royalty
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Symbol - Spider: the spider is able to move on any surface and lives in various climates. In stories it is the clever,
sly, and skillful one, that manages to outdo large animals.
Brilliancy, Inventiveness, Genius
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Symbol - Image with many small triangles: thin meshes that require detailed cleaning.
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Symbol - Star: a reminder to always tell the truth. The event of taking an oath is witnessed by men and unseen entities. The unseen are valued more as they know what is in the heart.
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Symbol - Star: A reminder to always tell the truth. The event of taking an oath is witnessed by men and unseen entities. The unseen are valued more as they know what is in the heart.
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Symbol - An arc on top of a pole: a reminder to be respectful, especially to the elderly.
Honesty & Loyalty
Honesty & Loyalty
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Symbol – Lumpy surface:symbolizing the skin of the snake. Snakes shed their skin every year. Men should also renew old ideas, thoughts and attitudes from time to time.
Change , New start & Transformation
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Symbol - Circle with 8 alternately flat and ribbed surfaces: life has many stages. Every time we pass one we become achievers. This urges us to continue to make the best of our lives.
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Symbol - (exotic)Fish scales: “kwi kwi” a delicious fish with a hard rough scale, it can damage the throat if accidentally swallowed.
Don’t judge the book by its cover.
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Symbol - A small diamond in a large one: It is said that an iguana has two genitals, one to multiply and one for sexual pleasure.
This is associated with control,freedom, power, etc.
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Symbol - Branches: refection of
harvest.
Victory, Achievement & Accomplishment
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Acceptance & Tolerance
Power & Control
Prosperity, Success & Luxury
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Symbol - Flat and deep squares
alternately placed: symbolizing a turtle. It is said that one's home reflects its life. The turtle is very confident; therefore it doesn't mind carring its home around.
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Symbol - Stating two arms
with clenched fists: ready to fight.
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Symbol – Rippled surface: clothes
are rubbed clean on the ripples of the washboard.
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Symbol - Connected flat and deep carved diamonds: harmony and unity in general, but mostly related to relationships between family members and spouses.
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Symbol - Wide to narrow images: rodent teeth.
The thick, short teeth of the male symbolize his position in the herd as "leader, protector & provider" while the thin, long female teeth symbolize “a companion &supporter. ”
Security, Safety & Safeguard
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Clarity & Purity
Harmony & Unity
Leader, Protector & Companion, Supporter
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Symbol - Two parallel lines connected by oblique lines: this symbolizes a long and bumpy road.
Patience, Calmness & Endurance
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Symbol - Connected diamonds:
unity is strength.
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Symbol - A spiral image:
this reflects the tail of the ape. The tail is the main body part of the ape. It can even hold the death body on a tree until it evaporates.
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Symbol - Zigzag carved lines:
wherever life takes you, always stay true to yourself.
Teamwork/Coalition/partnership
Survivor & Victor
Sincerity & Straightforwardness
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Symbol - Diamonds placed on equidistant in a line: this can continue indefinitely (go an extra mile).
Perseverance, Persistence & Determination
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Symbol - Sun rays: the sun brings warmth and light that brightens the day. It also indicates a new day, new opportunities, new beginning, the joy of life.
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Symbol - Moon: an vague indication
of the night as a pleasant time.
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Symbol - Triangles and a curved line: this image portrays the teeth and the tongue. The teeth sometimes bite the tongue but they stick together. Close collaboration in which misunderstanding is not excluded.
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Symbol - Spinning elongated
triangles captured in a circle:
life is like a whirlpool, so be careful
Serenity, Peace & Heartsease
Compatibility, Comradeship & Teamwork
Attentiveness, Awareness & Thoughtfulness
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Symbol - Overlapping eye like images with ecliptic lines in the middle: unseen eyes that are watching over us.
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Symbol - High and low cut squares alternately placed in a row: due to the digestive process the boa floats after a large meal; a moderated meal would keep him grounded.
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Symbol - Triangles placed on top of one another with the points facing the middle of the flat side: this symbol was copied from the embroidery of the women. A woman was considered an expert if she was able to embroidere this pattern.
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Symbol – Rows of deep and flat cut triangles alternately placed on top of each other. The carver must be very precise with the measurement in order to create this faultless. Accuracy is the key to create quality.
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Symbol – Notches with a straight and a
diagonal side. Looking after one another. Watching each other’s back.
Moderation, Limitation & Restraint
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Efficiency, Capability & Expertise
Accuracy, mastery & Faultlessness
Companionship & solidarity
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Symbol - Circle with elliptic images on each side. Both images have a line that divides them in two, stating the destroying effect of jealousy.
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Symbol - Endless braided woodcarving: this symbol is like a maze and comes in different varieties. It is sometimes placed on paddles that are used to propose. It is also common on hut gables.
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Symbol -Triangle with on each side a circle: this symbolizes “pipe clay”. Pipe clay that is mainly used during rituals in which Maroons fulfill their obligations to higher powers.
Warning against jealousy, resentment and envy
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Eternity, Infinity & Unlimited
Responsibility, Liability & Dependability
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Symbol - Flat vertical and deep horizontal triangles with the points facing each other: the deep images indicate “secrecy” and the flat ones “openness” stating that one need to show its real personality (true face).
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Symbol - Double edged three sided image: Faultless carved double pattern. Measuring instrument. A person that is able to carve this symbol faultless is considered a very skillful carver.
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Symbol - Double edged three sided image: faultless carved double pattern. If one is able to carve this symbol faultless one is considered a very skillfulness carver.
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Symbol - Triangles in a row: path to an unknown destination. The deeper meaning can be derived from the surrounding symbols. This symbol is often placed on paddles that are used to propose.
Skillfulness, Artfulness & Competence
Skillfulness, Artfulness & Competence
Destiny, Lives journey & Future
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Symbol - Ribbed scale: the shield of an armadillo is hard to break and difficult to penetrate. It is said that it also possesses inner strength (inner and outer strength).
Strength, Capability & Potency
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Symbol - Fish scale: the scale is to protect it, but also shows its identity. This also goes for human beings.
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Symbol - Thin stripe structures: this symbolizes the belly of a snake. Because of the structure of the skin the snake can only crawl forward.
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Symbol - Line of images wide at the bottom gradually smaller to the top: this symbolizes the teeth of the lizard, substantiating the
saying “everything I eat I chew well.” Whatever I do, I do right!
Diversity, Heterogeneity & Multicultural
Integrity, Righteousness & Principle
Progress, Breakthrough & Improvement
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The most important characteristic of the art from the Suriname Maroon are the symbols.
They are branded by Surinam Designz, Inc. as SuMaArt (Surinam Maroon Art). ”Art that speaks without talking”.
Symbols are images, the oldest form of visual communication. They can be seen on Aztec pyramids, Egyptian cave drawings, in tombs, etc. Symbols represent
attitudes, beliefs and emotions and have more significance when the meaning is known to the viewers as they can place an emotional value to it.
The meaningful symbols of the Suriname Maroons are not only unique but they also portray courage, boldness, strength and perseverance ( read more on
SuMaArt). The symbols reflect the oneness of the Maroons with their surrounding (nature and species) and their spirituality. A few of the symbols were partly influenced by images from the modern world.When the Maroons first started to visit the city they copied images that impressd them but explained them but add their own meaning to them. It is unusual that the history, the creator and the origin of symbols are known.
The Maroon symbols are unique but they represent every day life where everyone can identify with. Some of the symbols can be used as affirmations.
These symbols are expressions of the nature of men as spiritual beings!
The images hereafter are photos and animations of the symbols.
Symbols