Popular dancehall artiste gunned down in Suriname
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Monday, June 13, 2005
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname’s most popular dancehall singer/performer ‘Papa Touwtjie’ (Johan Touwslager) was shot dead last week in an altercation with his two brothers.
The tragedy took place in Geyersvlijt on the outskirts of the capital Paramaribo.
It is alleged that the two elder brothers got involved in a quarrel with a younger sibling, which escalated and resulted in the shooting. According to eyewitnesses, the elder brothers chased after the younger one, when one of them, a security officer, fell to the ground and in a brawl lost his service revolver to the younger brother, who fired a couple of rounds at his assailants.
Both men sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospital. On arrival at the hospital, Papa Touwtjie was pronounced dead. His brother, who sustained gunshot wounds to the leg, was treated and warded at the medical facility.
So far no arrests have been made. The suspect fled the scene with the gun still in his possession.
In 1994, the now deceased artiste rose to fame with a cover version of Jamaica’s Terror Fabulous’ hit song ‘Gangster’, after serving time for petty crimes. He subsequently became a dancehall/reggae icon in Suriname and influenced a lot of young artist in the dancehall/reggae scene.
Some three weeks ago he released his latest CD and cemented an exclusive deal with a local retailer, reportedly the best contract any Surinamese artiste had ever closed with a reseller.
‘Papa T’, as he called himself lately, was extremely popular among the youth and underprivileged people in the Surinamese society. In his songs he took a stand against poverty, other social problems, the hardship in jail and real life and the judicial system, which he characterized as unjust and unfair to poor people.
The late artiste was often the centre of controversy with his protest songs, strong language and lyrics against the political establishment.
After the news of his death broke, scores of friends and fans came out to his home for a vigil.
Papa Touwtjie’s dream was to perform at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica.
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