Poetry International x Skrifi present: Eline Marengo & Koloku

This year, Poetry International and the Skrifi Foundation from Suriname have launched an exciting new collaboration focused on talent development. Through this initiative, both organizations aim to support the artistic growth and international visibility of emerging Surinamese poets. 

In March, an intensive week of workshops took place in Paramaribo, where a group of promising young poets immersed themselves in writing, performance, and poetry theory. The week concluded with a celebratory presentation by all participants. From this showcase, two standout voices were selected to perform on the international stage of Poetry International. 

Meet Eline Marengo and Koloku: two emerging poets who left a strong impression with their powerful performances and distinctive styles. Now, for the first time, they are performing in the Netherlands. In this program, the audience will get to know them and their work, as they share their poetry and talk to host Jennifer Muntslag about their inspirations, creative journeys, and perspectives on language and identity. 

Eline Marengo

Eline Marengo is a poet, performer, and designer from Suriname. She began writing at a young age but rediscovered her voice after a long break, partly thanks to an encounter with spoken word artist Zulile Blinker, who encouraged her to share her work. Since then, she has been active in the Surinamese poetry collective Kokolampu, where she is committed to fostering talent and promoting literary exchange.

Her poetry explores themes such as identity, heritage, spirituality, and connection to nature. She writes in multiple languages—including Dutch, Sranantongo, and English—drawing on Suriname’s cultural diversity and her own personal background. Her work bridges individual experience with the broader history of her ancestors, who originated from the plantations La Prosperité and Vierkinderen in the district of Para.

Eline’s texts move between poetic reflection and rhythmic performance. She combines social and spiritual subjects in a voice that feels both intimate and collective. Outside of poetry, she is engaged in dance, music, and architecture. In 2024, following her participation in a poetry workshop week in Paramaribo—where her multilingual and thematically layered work stood out—she was selected to perform at the Poetry International Festival.

Photo: Charlene Fränkel

Koloku 

Koloku is a poet and performer from Suriname. His work centres on themes such as identity, ancestry, spirituality, and social justice. He writes in both Sranantongo and Dutch, and draws deep inspiration from the culture, language, and history of his Afro-Surinamese background. His poetry is rhythmic, vivid, and often written to be performed aloud as well as read.

In addition to addressing social and spiritual themes, Koloku also explores desire, intimacy, and love. His writing moves fluidly between tradition and the present, blending oral storytelling with contemporary poetic forms. His poems reflect influences from the villages of Botopasi and Malobi, as well as the urban landscape of Paramaribo, where he is actively involved in the cultural scene.

In 2024, Koloku was selected to take part in a poetry workshop week in Paramaribo, where his distinctive voice and layered writing stood out. With his work, he aims to amplify stories that often go unheard and contribute to a broader representation of Surinamese voices in poetry.