RE-SCORE FAJA LOBBI DOCUMENTARY  W/ FRA FRA SOUND FEAT. SABRINA STARKE  

In honor of 50 years of Surinamese independence, film, music, and dialogue come together in a special event. The poetic documentary Faja Lobbi (1960) by Herman van der Horst will receive a brand-new live musical score performed by the Afro-Dutch collective Fra Fra Sound and vocalist Sabrina Starke.

The live re-score of Faja Lobbi brings the rich diversity of Suriname—tracing the Marowijne River—to life. The original soundtrack by Big Jones is reimagined and expanded with new arrangements, vocals, and compositions.

The film is currently being restored to 4K by Beeld en Geluid, and will have its world premiere during Black Soil in Rotterdam.

After the screening, music journalist Leendert van der Valk will lead a conversation with the artists about music as a cultural bridge and a space for collaboration.

Celebrating their 45th anniversary, Fra Fra Sound blends African and Afro-Surinamese rhythms with modern jazz, infused with deep spiritual energy. The group’s name refers to a people from northern Ghana, symbolizing their mission to keep this cultural heritage alive.

Sabrina Starke is an award-winning Rotterdam-based singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and message of connection. Since her platinum debut Yellow Brick Road, she has released six albums and collaborated with renowned ensembles including the Metropole Orkest. She is also a certified natural nutrition therapist and the founder of ART=MIND.