Every heirloom holds a memory, Every legacy tells a story.

Legendary DJ Miss Sunny Jansen, a.k.a. Covergirl Sunny, creative legend, style icon, and inspirational role model for many graciously put together our 7th edition playlist. Reflecting on what Keti Koti means to her, Sunny shares:

“Keti Koti, for me, is both a time to remember and to celebrate. It is a moment to honor those who endured slavery while acknowledging how our colonial past continues to shape the present. Although slavery was officially abolished on July 1, 1863. Read more

Zenzy Blindeling (25) brings together hands adorned with jewellery from different traditions. Rings, shells, beads, charms and gold move across the image, carrying stories from one hand to the next. Each piece holds its own meaning and history. Together, they speak of memory, protection, identity and connection. The hands reflect the many people and communities who carry these traditions forward and add something of themselves along the way. Read more

People often ask which Heri Heri recipe we use at Free Heri Heri. The answer has always been simple: our father's recipe, a family tradition passed down with love and shared with everyone. — Ira Kip, KIP Republic Every year we invite a chef to share their version of Heri Heri. Some of our favourite chef’s have offered their simple but specific way of making Heri Heri, one of them being Nikita Tjon Affo. Born and raised in Suriname, Chef Nikita originally studied Mechanical Engineering but found his true calling in the kitchen. Read more

You might not expect it, hidden among the pastures, just off the A2 from Amsterdam and before entering Utrecht: Lufo. A pioneering family business and cultural bearer that made history. The first company to bring homemade salted meat (cured beef) to the Dutch market. Not because the Dutch market was demanding it, but because it lay at the heart of what was being cooked in Surinamese kitchens, and I too grew up with Lufo. Read More

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Free Heri Heri, we are proud to present our annual accompanying playlist. This compilation of songs is curated by DJ Lynnée Denise, a scholar, writer, and global practitioner of sound, language, and Black Atlantic thought. DJ Lynée Denise joined KIP Republic as an artist in residence and KIP Creator, where she’s extending her listening practice to reach urban youth and develop a more accessible platform for the work she calls “DJ Scholarship.”  Read more

More Than Traditional Dress

You see them everywhere—passing by in every imaginable color and style, each one more vibrant than the last. Some people have no idea what they are, while others grew up surrounded by them. One thing is certain: they are part of a rich cultural history. If you delve into the historical records, you will also find them in several former French colonies. They are worn during celebrations, funerals, milestone birthdays (bigi yari), Srefidensi (Suriname's Independence Day), and especially during Keti Koti, the annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery. Read More

Together with art collector, cultural facilitator, and author Gijs Stork, we trace the family history of his ancestors—Portuguese Jews and French Huguenots who fled religious persecution in France and settled in the Netherlands during the seventeenth century. Families such as L'Espinasse and Taunay were later granted permission to establish themselves in Suriname, where they became colonial plantation owners.Captivated by his own family history, Stork decides to travel to Suriname himself, hoping to experience the country firsthand and to imagine—and better understand—the world his ancestors entered centuries ago. Read more

The Ujamaa Family Tree Sculpture is a powerful symbol of community, solidarity, and collective responsibility. Originating in East Africa—particularly Tanzania—the word Ujamaa is Swahili for family, brotherhood, or, more literally, socialism. During the 1960s, the concept became the foundation of the political philosophy of President Julius Nyerere, who envisioned a society built on cooperation, shared responsibility, and mutual care as an alternative to Western individualism. Read more

On board were around 400 British Indians, mostly men. the first of more than 34,000 migrants from India who arrived in Suriname between 1873 and 1916 through 64 ship transports. Ropar Pirtam, originally from the Azamgarh district, from the village of Farandhi, belonged to the Kohar caste and travelled under contract number FF1568. He was aboard the final ship that departed for Suriname. Pirtam was Andjennie’s great-grandfather. Read full story

Justin was born in London to Caribbean parents with roots in Trinidad and Grenada. Creativity was at the heart of the McKenzie household. Music, art, and creative expression were always encouraged and nurtured. He began learning instruments at a very young age, starting at just four years old—and developed a broad appreciation for music. Art also remained a constant interest throughout his life, even when his education and early career initially took him in a different direction. Read more

By opening the kitchens at the Royal Palace Amsterdam for the preparation of Free Heri Heri For All in the run-up to Keti Koti 2023 and 2024, the King provided an opportunity to engage in conversation and foster connection. Both in 2023 and 2024, independent Chef de cuisine Daniël Adriaan and Senior chef of the Royal Household, Wilco Arts, along with other chefs, volunteers, and staff from the Royal Household, prepared thousands of meals that were distributed to participating organizations in Free Heri Heri for all. Chef Daniël and chef Wilco reflect on a beautiful collaboration and the impact it has made, on both of them. Read more

If you drop the name Angie B in Amsterdam Southeast, everyone knows who you're talking about. She has become one of the most sought after chefs in the city,  earning her stripes by simply staying true to herself. This is a Chef who doesn't have to conform to a standard or framework in which chefs are "supposed" to cook. This has led her to a career where she can stick to whatever she feels is right. Read more