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Max Nijman

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Max Nijman
Birth nameMax Reinier Nijman
Also known asSoulman Number One
Born(1941-03-18)March 18, 1941
Moengo, Suriname
DiedJanuary 19, 2016(2016-01-19) (aged 74)
Leiderdorp, Netherlands
GenresSoul, kaseko, latin ballad, reggae
OccupationSinger
Years active1957–2012

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 one of Suriname's icons.

Biography

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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

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Albums
  • 1975 Katibo
  • 1977 Wan Dei Lobi
  • 1978 Ini Wan Dé

References

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  1. ^ a b Samwel, Diederik. "Max Nijman: Surinames soulman number one" (in Dutch). Network Star Suriname. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Surinaamse zanger Max Nijman (74) in Leiderdorp overleden" (in Dutch). Omroep West. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Max Nijman overleden (1941-2016)]" (in Dutch). Network Star Suriname. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  4. ^ Sranan Gowtu Top Notch. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  5. ^ 'Godfather van het Surinaamse lied' Max Nijman geëerd in Paradiso AT5. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ^ Uitvaartplechtigheid Max Nijman te volgen in Nederland Waterkant.net. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
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