"Keti Koti" - Commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Amsterdam on July 1st

“Kinderen uit de Maasstad”: Surinamese children celebrating in traditional dress

Keti Koti (“Breaking the Chains”) is the annual celebration and commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch colonies on July 1st. Since 2002, this event has been celebrated in Amsterdam, mainly in the Oosterpark. In 2010, the celebration will again take place in the Oosterpark on July 1st.

With performances by Surinamese, Antillean and Dutch music groups, the Keti Koti Festival contributes to the broader recognition of the abolition of slavery. After the resounding success of last year, it is expected that the festival will attract more than 20,000 visitors.

A Native Surinamese and Creole group playing Creole music during Keti Koti 2009 in Amsterdam

The Keti Koti Festival begins with a large-scale parade called the “Bigi Spikri” (“Big Mirror”), featuring orchestras and brass bands. The parade starts at 12:00 at the Stopera (City Hall) and ends in the Oosterpark, where the national commemoration takes place at the National Slavery Monument.

Honoured guests include Dutch Minister André Rouvoet, the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, the ambassadors of Suriname, Ghana and South Africa, and the mayor of Amsterdam.

Controversy

There is some controversy among Black communities in the Netherlands about the official commemoration date. For the Surinamese community, July 1st is also the official commemoration day in Suriname. For the Antillean community in the Dutch Antilles, however, the official commemoration takes place on August 17th.

The name of the commemoration also differs. In the Antilles it is called the “Tula Commemoration”, rather than “Keti Koti”.

Links

• Keti Koti: www.ketikotiamsterdam.nl
• NINSEE – National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (Dutch): www.ninsee.nl
• NINSEE (English): www.slavernijverleden.nl