Max Nijman
Surinamese singer (1941–2016)
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Max Reinier Nijman (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2016) was a Surinamese singer. His song "Adjosi" ("Adieu"), which sings of the homesickness of Surinamese expatriates, became his signature song, and he is one of Suriname's icons.
Max Nijman | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Soulman Number One |
| Born | Max Reinier Nijman March 18, 1941 |
| Died | January 19, 2016 (aged 74) |
| Genres | Soul, kaseko, latin ballad, reggae |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1957–2012 |
Biography
Nijman was born in Moengo, as the eighth of sixteen children. Gifted with a natural talent, he started singing in English, with cover versions of American soul and R&B artists, and had a breakthrough performance at age 16, singing a Brook Benton song at a football game.[1] He then moved on to singing in Sranan.[2][1]
In 1968, Nijman gave a well-attended farewell performance in Paramaribo (transmitted live on television) and moved to the Netherlands, where he signed to Dureco and released his debut solo-album Katibo in 1975. Besides the title track and "Ai Sranang", the song "Adjosi" became his best known song.[3] He then released the albums Wan Dei Lobi with The Stan Lokhin Band in 1977 and Ini Wan De in 1978.
In 2014, the label TopNotch released a compilation album of Nijman within a series named Sranan Gowtu (Surinamese Gold) devoted to Surinamese artists from the 1970s.[4]
Nijman died in Leiderdorp, Netherlands at the age of 74 on January 19, 2016. A grand farewell ceremony was held at the Paradiso.[5] On January 30, 2016, he was buried in Paramaribo.[6]
Discography
- Albums
- 1975 Katibo
- 1977 Wan Dei Lobi
- 1978 Ini Wan Dé