Every year on July 1, Amsterdam comes together to commemorate Keti Koti, a festival that celebrates the abolition of slavery. This poignant day marks the moment when the last enslaved people were freed, in 1873. It’s a history that, while seeming distant, is still strongly felt by many today. But what goes on during the festival and what kind of activities can you expect? Here’s all you need to know.
Keti Koti Festival: 2024 Edition
Keti Koti is a Surinamese concept that means “Broken Chains”. For its part, the Keti Koti Festival is a time for collective remembrance of the past’s injustices. It also celebrates freedom, equality, and unity.
The 2024 program promises many different activities. You’ll be able to dance to incredible musicians or see a featured exhibition which addresses the intertwined histories of Suriname and the Netherlands. And of course, you can’t miss the Caribbean market with flavorful Surinamese and Antillean food!
Here are some of the festival’s highlights:
Bigi Spikri Parade (11am-12pm): A fun and colorful parade in traditional clothing and music to commemorate & celebrate the abolition of slavery. Route: Waterlooplein – Oosterpark.
The Mirror Tree: The Mirror Tree will be located on Museumplein next to the Boni Tula Tent. Festival visitors will be invited to reflect on questions, quotes and symbols, leave a comment or engage in conversation together. Topics for discussion include the past of slavery, freedom and the future. Visitors will also be able to leave a card and/or post a message on social media under #spiegelboom.
Root Riders ft. Mo Ali (5:50-6:35pm): Rootsriders is known as one of the best Bob Marley tribute bands in the world. Over the years, the band has grown into a permanent fixture in the Dutch live circuit. Don’t miss it!
La Rouge (7:15-7:50pm): La Rouge is an African musician with roots in the Netherlands that fuses traditional African music with beats and other African music sub-genres. The songs of La Rouge are known for their upbeat rhythms, lyrical melodies, and lyrics that frequently discuss love, identity, and ethnic pride.
There will also be lots of workshops, conferences, games and reading sessions! You can have a look at the full program here.
Please note that the National commemoration of the Dutch slavery past will be held at Oosterpark at 2pm. On the other hand, this year, due to the expected higher turnout and the limited capacity in the park, the Keti Koti Festival will take place on the Museumplein and not, as usual, in the Oosterpark.
See you there!
📍 Museumplein, 1071 ZB Amsterdam
📍 Osterpark: 1012 AA Amsterdam
📆 July 1 from 1 pm to 11pm
🎟️ Free!