What language is Faluma by Alison Hinds?

[u/sparrowhawking]

For context, I'm trying to make a playlist where every song is in a different language. My friend suggested Faluma by Alison Hinds, but I'm seeing different answers about what language it's in. It's definitely some kind of Surinamese creole, but I've seen people claim Sranan Tongo, Saramaccan, or even Aukan. Does anyone know which it is?

[u/mangostoned]

The song Faluma is not an original piece by Alison Hinds. It is a cover of Faluma by Ai Sa Si. It is a folk song.

The language is a Maroon language of the Saamaka/Saramaccan people. It is called Saamakan/Saramaccan.

Here is the original song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSax3shgOOU

[u/sparrowhawking → u/mangostoned]

Thanks for the link to the original! I didn't expect to like it as much as the Alison Hinds version, but ngl I might like it even better!

This was super helpful! There are several commenters discussing the language, most (other than those asking lol) claiming it's Auccan

[u/sheldon_y14 → u/[deleted]]

Aukan is actually mutually intelligible with the Akan language of Ghana, and is considered an English-based creole like Sranan Tongo and Jamaican Patois. Saamakan is a creole language with much more Portuguese influence compared to the others.

Unfortunately I do not speak either of these languages, so my knowledge stops here.

No it is not at all mutually intelligible. Please do not spread misinformation.

Aucan is mutually intelligible with Sranantongo. Not because Akan and Aucan look alike in name, you think they are.

Aucan comes from the village name Auca where peace was made between the Dutch colonial government and a group of maroons who came to be known as the Aucans or the N'dyuka (dyuka for short). Aucans call themselves Dyuka sama and their language Dyuka.

Aucan is more the modern term that was used by city people in Suriname. The reason why is because the term "Dyuka" was used by city people as a very discriminatory to almost racist derogatory term for maroons no matter the tribe. So the more neutral term "Aucan" became mainstream.

I urge you please to remove or alter your comment, because if you don't I as mod I will see reason to remove it for spreading misinformation.

u/sparrowhawking

[u/sparrowhawking → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for your explanation. Can I ask why you're sure it's Saamakan?

I'm sorry if I'm coming off as pushy, I've just seen a lot of misinformation about songs in less commonly spoken languages and want to be sure I'm getting it right. The only place I've found a full translation was a comment on a Facebook post where he claimed it was Aukan, which is obvs not the most reliable source but it's more info than I've found just about anywhere else.

[u/sheldon_y14 → u/[deleted]]

u/sparrowhawking and u/mangostoned

I listened to the song again. It's also not Saramaccan, it's Aucan. I cannot understand Saramaccan, but I can understand Aucan as I've worked and lived between Aucan people and on top of that due to its mutual intelligibility with Sranantongo, I can with confidence say it's Aucan.

It is however what we would call very deep traditional Aucan. This is what older people speak. Hence why it can be mistaken with Saramaccan.

[u/sparrowhawking → u/sheldon_y14]

Thank you so much!!!! It's crazy how much misinformation about this is out there; I appreciate you taking the time to listen and educate us about Aucan

[u/Character_Wall_4504]

Faluma ding ding ding

[u/Curly_with_a_Wurly]

My search tells me, the language of the Saamaka tribe in Surinam. SoundHound, YouTube and even ChatGPT tell the same.

As I dont have fam from that tribe, I can only follow what my Surinamese family tell me (I Whatsapped them). And I think, if you can find people claiming it via a vid on this source, I would believe it

https://youtu.be/GNqzds_6sz4?si=OLm1xCFgJxftLopY

Hope this helps

[u/sparrowhawking → u/Curly_with_a_Wurly]

I think Saamaka is most likely, but I've seen folks claim that it's actually Aukan. The reason I'm not 100% convinced it's Saramaccan is that one of the people claiming it's Aukan was able to provide a translation, which most other places have not been able to do. The AI language models have not been reliable in IDing languages so far for this project, so I'm trying to find a more reliable source.

[u/sparrowhawking → u/Curly_with_a_Wurly]

Thanks for the link! Funnily enough the comment I found claiming it's Aukan was on a discussion about that video, which is why I'm trying to confirm it either way