Celebrating & Remembering Keti Koti

How does history continue to shape our lives and our society today?

Keti Koti (from Sranantongo) literally means “chains broken.” On Keti Koti, we reflect on the struggle and suffering of our ancestors, but we also celebrate the freedom and equality that followed the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. This took place on July 1, 1863, after more than 200 years of slavery. At that time, the Netherlands brought some 600,000 Africans by ship to the Dutch colonies to work on plantations. After the abolition, the enslaved people were forced to continue working for meager wages for another ten years. This ended in 1873.

However, the colonial and slavery past is not a closed chapter. Its consequences remain visible and tangible in societal structures, ways of thinking, and lived experiences.

In this lunch lecture, we explore how this history continues to influence the present: in opportunities and inequalities, in representation and imagery, in social relationships, and in the ways people form and understand their identities.

By combining historical context with personal stories, we make visible the enduring presence of colonial histories within modern society. This lecture is not only about knowledge of the past, but also about what it means to grow up for young people with fragments of history that are often only partially told, or not told at all. These silences exist across cultures and places, yet they are experienced differently depending on context, background, and perspective.

What to expect

Together with various speakers and artists, led by moderator Demi Vreden, we will explore how the history of colonialism continues to impact the present and shapes our daily experiences. We create space for dialogue, exchange, reflection, and engagement. Join the conversation and share and hear personal perspectives and experiences from others.

After the lecture, we will eat the traditional Heri Heri dish together in the Atrium, and Tailors & Wearers will give a demonstration of folding the traditional angisa.

A central theme of this event is the role of activism and education in making these histories visible and meaningful today. Art, storytelling, performance, and other creative practices play a crucial role in this process. These forms offer alternative ways of engaging with complex and difficult histories, not only by confronting injustice, but also by imagining more inclusive futures, challenging dominant histories, and by proposing new ways of remembering.

Protest, in this sense, is not only an act of resistance. It is also an act of creation.

Speakers

Demi Vreden (moderator), Mitchell Esajas and Nicchelle Buyne. More information soon!

Programme

Lunch lecture | 12:00 - 13:00 | Speakers' Corner
Heri Heri & demonstration folding angisa  | 13:00 - 13:30  | Atrium

Registration

Free entry for students, staff, and anyone interested, as always. Please register in advance:

Soon!