Name: Celebrating & Remembering Keti Koti
Start: 2026-06-29T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-06-29T13:30:00+02:00
Location: Speakers' Corner & Atrium

How does history still shape our lives and society today?

Keti Koti, meaning “broken chains” in Sranantongo, marks the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the former Netherlands Antilles on July 1, 1863. After more than 200 years of slavery — during which the Netherlands transported around 600,000 Africans to its colonies — freedom was declared. Yet formerly enslaved people were forced to continue working for low wages for another ten years, until 1873.

Keti Koti is a moment to remember the suffering and resilience of our ancestors, and to celebrate freedom. At the same time, it reminds us that the legacy of slavery and colonialism is not just history. Its impact is still visible today in inequality, representation, social structures, and the ways people shape their identities.

In this lunch lecture, we explore how this past continues to influence our present. Through historical context and personal stories, we reflect on what it means to grow up with histories that are often only partly told or not told at all.

What to expect

Together with speakers and artists, we explore the ongoing impact of colonial history. Through conversation, art, and personal stories, we reflect on how these histories remain visible today and how they can inspire change.

Art, storytelling, and activism play an important role in this process. They not only confront injustice, but also help us imagine more inclusive futures. In this sense, protest is not only an act of resistance, but also an act of creation.

After the lecture, we will share the traditional dish Heri Heri in the Atrium, and Tailors & Wearers will demonstrate how to fold the traditional angisa.

Speakers

Demi Vreden (moderator), Mitchell Esajas, Nicchelle Buyne, Roland Colastica and Tailors & Wearers.

Programme

Registration

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

Sign up

Demi Vreden is moderator, spoken word artist and founder of Faluma. Demi is building a platform that connects young people from the Afro-diaspora community in the Netherlands. Faluma emerged from her own search for a community where she could fully be herself. What started as a personal desire is now growing into a space dedicated to creating a lasting voice for Black people.

Mitchell Esajas is a co-founder of New Urban Collective, a network for students and young professionals from diverse backgrounds with a focus on the Surinamese, Caribbean and African diaspora. Mitchell studied Business Studies and Anthropology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2016 he co-founded the Black Archives in Amsterdam, a cultural center based on a unique collection of books, documents and artefacts documenting the histories of Surinamese and Black people in the Dutch context. The Black Archives develops exhibitions and public programs based on the collections and urgent societal issues.

Nicchelle Buyne is a queer Surinamese-Dutch dreamer, poet, and doer. As a spoken word artist, she has shared her work at events such as Read My World, Mensen Zeggen Dingen, and Poetry International. Nicchelle is involved in various social projects. These include, for example, the video series "Verborgen Verhalen" about the traces of the colonial past in The Hague, as well as Sranan Identity, a project where Surinamese-Dutch youth learn about their culture together. She also loves sleeping in, crafting, and warm weather.

Roland Colastica, also known as Roy Colastica, is a Curaçaoan drama teacher, storyteller, theatre maker, writer, and documentary filmmaker. For decades, he has been dedicated to culture, education, and heritage in Curaçao and beyond. He gained recognition through large-scale theatre productions, international performances, and an extensive literary oeuvre in both Papiamentu and Dutch, including Fireworks in My Head (Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd). In recognition of his contribution to the arts, he received the Cola Debrot Prize in 2006 and was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2010. Through his work, he brings together storytelling, language, and cultural identity, with a particular focus on the creativity and potential of young people.

Tailors & Wearers explores Afro-Surinamese traditional dress through craft, anthropology, and photography. At the heart of their work is the kotomisi and the rich tradition of the koto and angisa, dating back to the 19th century. The foundation researches, preserves, and shares knowledge about this culturally significant dress through education, presentations, and projects. Representing three generations, they offer a contemporary perspective that highlights the layered meanings of the koto for a wider audience.