Because of this, her vocal response was known as the “Golden Response” (Respond’i oro). Even into her advanced years, she continued to sing and respond to weis largu songs with remarkable consistency. In addition to performing, she was also a composer of these traditional songs.
Her Roots and Family
Petronilia Coco was born in 1915 in Elleboogstraat, Colon—an area the people nicknamed “entrada sin salida” (the dead-end entry). She lived at Ser’i Dòmi 1 until her final day on January 26, 2001.
Petoi came from a family with a deep passion for playing music, singing, and dancing:
● Eugenio Obispo Coco, her father, played the guitar and the kuarta.
● Julian Coco, the famous classical guitarist who lived in the Netherlands for many years, was Petoi’s brother.
● Bubuchi, another brother, was known for his great love of dance.
Her parents used to organize tambú sessions right in front of their home in Colon where they lived.
Early Musical Journey
Petoi was introduced to tambú at a young age. She saw it for the first time at Quinta Leonor “Onze Vlag.” She gained further experience with tambú at the parandas (celebrations) of the late Shi Mari. The very first
A Unique Artistic Style
Petronilia Coco is considered one of the greatest popular responders of all time. She had a unique way of improvising, “crying” (yora), and dragging out the vocal response. Her technique was unmatched; she described her method as “creating a quadrille” with her responses. It was often said that Petoi was even better at responding than she was at leading the chant (pregoná).
In her early days, she sang “blue” songs she grew up hearing. However, for the majority of her career, she sang her own original inspirations. Most of her songs described her own life experiences. Whenever Petoi began singing at a celebration, she would always start with the
weis largu first. During her performances, she demonstrated an incredible ability to vary her voice and “cry” to the beat of the barí (drum).
Traditions and Legacy
A very important aspect of tambú is the hand-clapping (batimentu di man). Petoi strictly maintained this custom; she would clap her hands before beginning to sing.
Petoi produced several recordings. Her first, “Pa bashí ku mi ta” (Because of how empty I am), was sung together with Kolá. Some of her other well-known recordings include:
● Palandran kondená
● Sabi ban kas di bobo
● Mi ta gosa masha
● Prendemi kabo San Juan
● No lubidami
Petoi famously said:
“…I wasn’t born with a wreath, a veil, or shoes on my feet…” Through her “Golden Response,” Petronilia Coco truly elevated the art of Tambú.