Keti Koti festival 2012 - Commemoration abolition of slavery on July 1st in Amsterdam

byAfro-Europe -

Keti Koti (Breaking the Chains) is the annual celebration and commemoration of the abolition of slavery in 1863 in the former Dutch colonies on July 1st. It will be celebrated in the City of Amsterdam in the Oosterpark on Sunday July 1st.



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9 Comments

  1. Daniela GomesJune 30, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    Really nice to see something like this

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  2. Azizi PowellJune 30, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    for sharing this video.

    I had previously happened upon YouTube videos of Surinamese music in the Netherlands, and I featured a few videos of that music in this post on my cultural blog: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/surinamese-music-dance-in-netherlands.html. I appreciate Afro-Europe's comments on that post.

    I published that blog post because I was particularly interested in showcasing the processional dance that is done to that featured (I believe) non-religious music. I'm still interested in knowing if the custom of doing processional line dances to that music is based on any such dance that might have historically been done or is still done in Winti religious observances. I ask this with all due respect to that religion.

    I'm also wondering is the Keti Koti festival is a designated day of the Kwakoe festival or are "Keti Koti" and "Kwakoe" different names for the same festival?

    I ask these questions as a person who unfortunately doesn't speak or read any language but English, and who is just learning via the Internet and particularly via this Afro-Europe blog about the cultures of people of African descent in South America and in Europe.

    Thanks again in advance for any information about these questions.

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    Replies
    1. Afro-EuropeJune 30, 2012 at 2:10 PM

      Hi Azizi, no the Keti Koti festival is a festival by itself, it’s not linked to the Kwakoe festival.

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    2. Azizi PowellJune 30, 2012 at 3:04 PM

      Thanks for that information, Afro-Europe. To clarify, were the Keti Koti festival and the Kwakoe festival first celebrated in Surimane and then brought to the Netherlands?

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    3. Azizi PowellJune 30, 2012 at 3:23 PM

      Oops! Sorry for that typo. I meant to write "Suriname".

      Delete
    4. Afro-EuropeJuly 1, 2012 at 11:08 AM

      The Kwakoe festival was founded in The Netherlands, in Amsterdam South East to be exact, but it's not a festival in Suriname. Keti Koti is a national day in Suriname.

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    5. Azizi PowellJuly 1, 2012 at 2:36 PM

      Thanks for your response, Afro-Europe.

      It's difficult to find information about these and other African Disapora celebrations, which is one reason why your blog is such an important resource.

      Delete
  3. Azizi PowellJune 30, 2012 at 1:54 PM

    I apologize for my poor cut & paste efforts in my previous comment, which ironically I had deleted for typos.

    I meant to write "Thank you for sharing this video."

    Also, while this may be an obvious reflection, it's interesting to see the similarities between the parading customs of African people in the Diaspora. For instance, with the exception of carrying things on their heads, those people parading in the showcased Keti Koti video remind me of the movements of the New Orleans, Lousiana, USA Social Aid & Pleasure Club and parades and the people who join in that parade as the "second line". Here's a link to a compilation video post I did of those parades http://www.jambalayah.com/node/1145.

    (I hope that my posting links to my websites isn't misconstrued. I'm not trying to spam my websites. I'm posting those links to share videos that demonstrate the close similarities between many of the music, dance, and parading customs of Black people worldwide).

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  4. African TvJuly 5, 2012 at 1:14 PM

    This is really nice.Didn't even know about it till i read this,thanks alot for posting.

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