Fussing and Fighting?

[Ranking Glasses]

There are endless tunes about fussing and fighting and the reasons for this infighting are wide ranging and complex. However, there is very little mention of the co-operation that often takes place. A great example of this is "pardna" which I imagine is derived from "partner" or "partners". It's a very simple but effective way for poorer people to raise and save money. A responsible person is the "treasurer" and a group of people (usually made up of family or friends) give the treasurer a fixed sum of money every week. This is known as throwing your pardna. Each week one of the group is given all of the money in rotation which they would refer to as collecting their "pardna draw". This is how my parents and many others raised some of the money to come to the UK and how they saved for years once they were here.

Does anyone know of any tunes which mention pardna? To take things further, I think we should set up a B&F pardna club. Because I have a responsible job in a bank I could be the treasurer and every week you would send me £20 by PayPal. Then, one of you would collect your pardna draw each week to buy tunes with.

What do you think?

[Mick Sleeper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPp0UtZtisY

[Dubba]

This practice is also very common in the pakistani community, where they are referred to as "comittees". My mum has been a member of one of these for as long as I can remember. Many a time she's tried to get me on board, but I'm far too financially ill - disciplined and would have ruined my mums good name by defaulting! Generally these work well and are based on a high level of mutual trust amongst members. However I did hear of one a few years ago where the treasurers crack head sons made off with over £ 100,000!

[Ranking Glasses]

Yes, there have been cases where the treasurer has run off with the money so it's always best to do it with family / close friends.
The only tune I can think of which specifically mentions pardna is this one by Nicodemus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAOZnODDZVA

"Me can't take me mother in law,
She nyam (eat) off me one pardna draw".

This one and "Jah King of Kings" are 2 of my favourite Nicodemus tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiWbYeQS6qA

[Apostle]

Actually, I like the idea of this.
At the other hand setting up a b&f pardna would be difficult since we don't know each other in person, we're not even in the same country.
Quite easy in that case to run off.

[Ranking Glasses]