The Black Archives: 50 years Srefidensi

• Date: 14 November
• Time: 19:30 - 21:00
• Location: KB nationale bibliotheek

On November 25, 2025, it will be 50 years since Suriname gained its independence.
To celebrate this milestone, we are organizing a series of events throughout November, including this special evening that explores Surinamese independence from multiple perspectives.

Together with The Black Archives, you’ll dive into the history of Suriname’s independence and discover what this legacy means for younger generations today. Unique archival materials from The Black Archives will shed light on lesser-known aspects of this history. The evening concludes with informal conversations and a networking reception.

The program begins with a lecture by Ernestine Comvalius, followed by a discussion with Ernestine Comvalius, Roy Wijks, and Rudy van der Beek. Chévany Kartodimedjo will perform a spoken word piece.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. This event takes place in Dutch.

Speakers

Ernestine Comvalius
Ernestine Comvalius is the former director and co-founder of the Bijlmer Parktheater and the current chair of The Black Archives. Born in Suriname, she studied Social Sciences and has been an activist since the 1970s, advocating against colonial violence, human rights violations, and racism. Today, she writes essays, poetry, and stories, and teaches Creative Writing across various literary genres.

Roy Wijks
Roy Wijks has long been active in anti-discrimination organizations and was involved in establishing the first discrimination reporting center for sports. As a member of LOSON (later SAWO), he worked toward the rehabilitation of Anton de Kom. He is also co-author of Op zoek naar Papa Koenders and gives lectures on this topic. Roy continues to be engaged in social justice initiatives and is active in the Community Working Group Masterplan in Amsterdam Zuidoost.

Rudy van der Beek
Rudy van der Beek is a community builder and co-founder of the Student Association Tribez for Black students in higher education. He trains and coaches young people with bicultural backgrounds in leadership, representation, and digital visibility. Rudy played an important role in the creation of the slavery monument in The Hague and in the educational video series Verborgen Verhalen (“Hidden Stories”) about the city’s colonial and slavery history. He works in Cyber Security and is involved in civic initiatives such as AfroNLstemt and Centrum 1622.

Chévany Kartodimedjo
Chévany Kartodimedjo is a queer spoken word artist and musician with roots in Suriname and Java. Through her words and melodies, she seeks to decipher her life and thoughts, creating bridges between worlds and inviting listeners to engage with the complexity of self-exploration. She also designs culturally inspired clothing for her label @chevskrosi.

Show on map