Keti Koti lunch lecture sheds light on the legacy of slavery

Around Keti Koti, staff and students of THUAS came together in Speakers’ Corner for a lunch lecture on the lasting impact of the colonial past. Guided by moderator Demi Vreden, the programme focused on historical context, personal stories, art and connection. 

A conversation about history and freedom 

During the lunch lecture, Vreden spoke with Mitchell Esajas, Nicchelle Buyne, Roland Colastica and Patricia from Tailors & Wearers. Esajas is an anthropologist, curator and social entrepreneur. Through his work, he brings attention to colonial history and anti-racism. Buyne is a spoken word artist, poet and maker. Her work explores themes such as identity, memory and society. 

Colastica also shared his experience as a writer, teacher and actor. He has published stories, poems and children’s books, and has performed on international stages. Patricia spoke on behalf of Tailors & Wearers about the importance of Afro-Surinamese fashion heritage. The foundation works to keep the history and meaning of traditional clothing visible and accessible, with special attention to the koto, the traditional costume, and the angisa, the folded headscarf. 

Learning from the past 

According to Esajas, it is important for educational institutions to pay attention to Keti Koti. He emphasised that the legacy of slavery is still present today, for example in inequality, education, the labour market and racist ideas. 

“That is why, in my view, it is very important for educational institutions such as THUAS to pay attention to this history. So that we can learn from the past and do better in the future.” 

This story belongs to everyone 

Buyne also stressed that this history concerns everyone. She hopes that the staff and students who attended the lunch lecture experienced that the colonial past and the history of slavery are not separate from today’s society. 

“I hope they learned and experienced that this story belongs to everyone. That colonial history and the history of slavery concern us all.” 

Buyne also valued the fact that time and space were deliberately made for the lunch lecture. “Together, we showed that this matters. That it deserves attention.” 

Closing with Heri Heri and angisa 

After the lecture, participants gathered in the main hall for some delicious, traditional Heri Heri and Tailors & Wearers gave a demonstration on how to fold the traditional angisa. The event ended with connection, culture, and shared stories.