Manspasidei

Sranan Tongo

Alternative forms

• Manspasi Dey

Etymology

Literally, “Emancipation Day”; compound of manspasi (“emancipation”) +‎ dei (“day”).

Noun

Manspasidei

1. Surinamese Emancipation Day, a national holiday in Suriname observed annually on 1 July

   Synonym: Ketikoti

   • 1974 June 29, Fred W. Omskirk Sr., “Manspasi”, in Vrije Stem: onafhankelijk weekblad voor Suriname‎^[1], page 1:

     Ef mi ben sab pe joe grebi de, / mi gran afo, di krodong tjari / kon na Sranan, / so farawe fjoe eegi doti, / biten tédei, Manspasidei / psa hondro jari di keti koti, / mi ben sa saka libi foto, / mi ben sa pari mi eegi boto / f'kon saka kiendie na joe sei.

     [Efu mi ben sabi pe yu grebi de / mi gran afo, di krodon tyari / kon na Sranan, / so farawe fu yu eigi doti / biten tide, Manspasidei / psa hondro yari di keti koti / mi ben sa saka libi foto / mi ben sa pari mi eigi boto / fu kon saka kindi na yu sei.]

     If I knew where yout grave was, my grand ancestor, whom forced labour / brought to Suriname / so far away from your own native soil, / early today, Emancipation Day / hundred years after the chains were broken, / I would have left the city, / I would have paddled my own boat / to come and kneel by your side.