Commemorate and celebrate Keti Koti with us!

On July 1, Keti Koti, we commemorate the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles and celebrate freedom. This year's commemoration is also the official start of the Slavery Memorial Year, in which we commemorate and celebrate that Dutch slavery ended 150 years ago. The National Commemoration takes place right next to the Plein Theater in the Oosterpark, where this year King Willem-Alexander will speak.

On July 1, 1863, slavery was abolished by law in Suriname and the Caribbean islands. However, a large part of the enslaved had to work on the plantations for another 10 years. That is why slavery did not really stop for many until 1873. On July 1, 2023, this will be 150 years ago.

For us, this moment is very important to give meaning! As a Plein Theater in Amsterdam East and next to the Oosterpark, we invite you to commemorate and celebrate Keti Koti with us on the eve of June 30.

Keti Koti eve: Twenty years ago and now

In 2003, Berith Danse (theatre maker/director Plein Theater) and producer Guilly Koster (Omroep X) made the theater exhibition Slavernij Moment Nu, which took place at the NDSM in Amsterdam Noord. Now, twenty years later, Berith Danse is directing the theater performance Sporen van Haar in collaboration with José Tojo (Kula Skoro) and a team of performing artists. Among others, José Tojo, Fatou Samb and Bartel Meyburg contributed to Slavernij Moment Nu twenty years ago and now to Sporen van Haar. From October 2023, Black Achievement Month, the performance can be seen in various theaters in the Netherlands!

On the eve of Keti Koti, we are organizing a program with a look back to 20 years ago with the documentary 'Slavernij Document Nu' and a first work-in-progress look at Sporen van Haar. Everyone can join including Free Heri Heri!

17:00 – 18:00 Walk-in

18:00 – 19:00 Eating together with Free Heri Heri

19:00 – 19:10 First work-in-progress presentation of Sporen van Haar
with Dayna Martinez Morales, Alexandra Loembe and Fatou Samb

19:15 – 20:15 Documentary ‘Slavery Document Now’