Culture of Suriname

The term kaseko is probably derived from the French expression casser le corps ('break the body'), which was used during slavery to indicate a very swift dance.

Kaseko is a fusion of numerous popular and folk styles derived from Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Kaseko emerged from the traditional Afro-Surinamese kawina music, which was played since the beginning of 1900 by street musicians in Paramaribo.

In the late 1940s, jazz, calypso and other importations became popular, while rock and roll soon left its own influence in the form of electrified instruments.

Other well known dishes are moksi-alesi (mixed boiled rice with salted meat, shrimp or fish, and any vegetable), rice and beans, peanut soup, battered fried plantain, bara and the original Javanese nasi goreng and mie goreng.