Combinatie XVI

Combinatie XVI is founded in Amsterdam in 1998 by sixteen friends . With Ronnie Nelom aka Biga as the leader, the band produces traditional and religious African Surinam music in a modern style. This style, Kaskawi, is a medley of Kaseko and Kawina music, both African Surinam music. The musicians use traditional handmade percussion instruments as koti, hari, bangi and sek-seki, besides a timbale (or conga), bass drum and other modern instruments as a bass guitar, keyboards or even a solo guitar and trumpet. The group’s specialty is the African Surinam religious Winti music.
Untill now Combinatie XVI performed in the Benelux, New York, Spain and mostly in Suriname. The group has already produced ten albums, of which the latest cd title is ‘Ten na Ten, Yu na wan Bigi Uma’ and the group won the price of best kawina group in both Surinam and The Netherlands several times.
Through the Combinatie XVI Foundation, set up in June 2010, the group tries to promote the African Surinam music and culture to their next generations and also to the world.
Biga: ‘By doing so, we keep our traditions alive. At the same time our music is a tribute to our foregoing generations, of whom we learned everything’.