Dark, forgotten, or forbidden pages: it takes a long time for the colonial history of the Netherlands to penetrate our collective memory. But history has many forms of transmission, of which stories are the most powerful. They are passed down from one continent to another, from generation to generation. And then captured with imagination and creativity in literature, music, and language. Thus, these stories belong to everyone.
The Winternachten Festival afternoon program Stories that Connect explores the Dutch colonial history in our literature, language, and music. Prominent Surinamese authors Astrid H. Roemer and Tessa Leuwsha talk respectively with Maria Vlaar and Fiep van Bodegom about the meaning of 150 years of abolition of slavery for themselves, their country, their family, and their books. Both have published new books in 2023: Astrid H. Roemer’s novel Dealers Dochter and Tessa Leuwsha’s The wild journey: searching for the resilience of Suriname.
Writer and poet Babs Gons performs spoken word. Authors Tessa Leuwsha and Daphne Huisden read from their contributions to That we sang (2022, published by Das Mag), the collection in which twenty prominent writers today advocate for a Caribbean author from the past who has personally inspired them.
Singer Angel ArunA performs her own work and poetry by poet and singer-songwriter Raj Mohan in Sarnámi. Additionally, soprano Lucretia Starke and countertenor Arturo den Hartog perform, accompanied by six musicians from the Holland Baroque ensemble, including their version of the Surinamese song Lolo mi boto.
After the talks and performances in Zaal 1, a brief after-program follows in the theater foyer with contributions and recitations by Rabin Baldewsingh, writer and since 2021 National Coordinator against Discrimination, and by Britney Lindo, writer and spoken word artist. Presentation by Sarita Bajnath.
