‘Don’t-Forget’ Stories

Suriname photographer Matte Soemopawiro tells the live of Javanese descendants in Suriname who staunchly preserve their ancestral traditions.

March 2, 2011

A woman and a man sit with their legs stretched out on a mat. Three middle-aged women are busy covering their bodies, wearing only a piece of batik cloth, with a concoction made of rice flour and turmeric. The man is grinning widely when the makeup woman is rubbing his back with the substance. The couple is the would-be bride and groom. This is part of a series of marriage rituals they have to go through before sitting in the bridal chair.

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