Sunday 16 April: Writers about slavery and colonialism
Astrid H. Roemer, David Diop, Chika Unigwe, Tessa Leuwsha, Radna Fabias, Neske Beks, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Daphne Huisden and others speak about the meaning of slavery and colonialism now on Sunday 16 April at Theater aan het Spui. With musical contributions by Angel ArunA, Lucretia Starke, Arturo den Hartog, Holland Baroque.
Sunday 16 April 2023 during the Winternachten international literature festival The Hague in Theater aan het Spui, writers and poets will discuss the contemporary meaning of slavery and the colonial past with readings and conversations. In the afternoon (starting at 14:30, Dutch spoken) Suriname takes centre stage, in the evening (starting at 19:30, English spoken) international writers talk about the role of this past on their lives, authorship and books.
The festival day offers inspiration, conversations and encounters full of interviews, stories, poems, spoken word, music, book sales and vegetarian Surinamese food.
Writer Shantie Singh, who curated the afternoon programme Verhalen die verbinden and the evening programme All the World's Excuses for this Winternachten festival day: "It has been 150 years since slavery was finally abolished in Suriname. From 1873, indentured labour, which had already started earlier, increased sharply. What impact does slavery, colonialism and contract labour have on descendants now and how do stories about it live on? What do apologies mean? These are questions we talk about in these programmes with writers Astrid H. Roemer, Tessa Leuwsha, David Diop, Chika Unigwe, Neske Beks and Caleb Azumah Nelson, with plenty of room for stories, poems, spoken word and music too."
In Verhalen die verbinden (14:30-17:00, Dutch spoken), Suriname takes centre stage. Writers Astrid H. Roemer and Tessa Leuwsha recite and talk about the impact of slavery and colonialism on their lives and books; poet and spoken word artist Babs Gons performs; Tessa Leuwsha and Daphne Huisden recite from their contributions to Dat wij zongen - the collection of stories about Caribbean writers published last October; Mariëlle Vavier, alderwoman of The Hague for poverty, inclusion and public health gives a speech.
Singer Angel ArunA sings her own work and poems by Raj Mohan. Soprano Lucretia Starke and countertenor Arturo den Hartog perform Surinamese songs, accompanied by six members of ensemble Holland Baroque. Then, on the foyer stage, spoken word artist Britney Lindo and, including recitation in Sarnámi, writer and National Coordinator against Discrimination Rabin Baldewsingh will perform. Discussion leaders in Zaal 1 are Maria Vlaar and Fiep van Bodegom, and on the foyer stage Sarita Bajnath.
All the World's Excuses (19:30-22:00, English spoken) looks at traces of slavery and colonialism from an international perspective. International Booker Prize-winner David Diop (France), Chika Unigwe (US), Caleb Azumah Nelson (UK) and Neske Beks (Belgium) read from their work and talk about how colonialism and slavery affect their writing and books. Radna Fabias and Astrid H. Roemer read from their work. Singer Angel ArunA sings her own work and poems by Raj Mohan. Discussion leader on the hall stage is Rachida Lamrabet, and on the foyer stage Sarita Bajnath.
Tickets per programme: €7,50 for everyone up till and including 30 years / from 31 years €15 / day ticket 16 April Є20 or optionally including dish of the day €30 / reduced prices for holders of CJP, DenHaagPas, Ooievaarspas.
TICKETS and INFORMATION: click here to go to the Winternachten festival 2023 programma overview.
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