Stichting Skrifi x Poetry International: Poetry -Week Suriname

March 05, 2025

Suriname has produced excellent poets such as Michaël Slory, Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout and Robin ‘Dobru’ Raveles. Poetry offers a powerful means to draw attention to social issues, to enrich programs in terms of content and to promote both Dutch and Sranantongo. With the Poetry Week Suriname, Poetry International and Stichting Skrifi want to offer a stage, both in Suriname and the Netherlands, to a new generation of Surinamese poets.

From March 24th to March 29th 2025, Stichting Skrifi and Poetry International are organizing a week of lessons with lectures, in-depth workshops and a closing presentation for Surinamese poets aged 18 to 40. During this week, you will discuss the history of Surinamese poetry with, among others, Nederlandica Hilde Neus. Writer Jeffrey Quartier will provide writing assignments and feedback, while Spoken Word performer Zulile Blinker will offer pointers on performing your work.

At the end of the week, after a performance on March 29th, two participants will be invited to perform at the Poetry International Festival in June 2025 in Rotterdam. A selection of their work will be translated into English and, where necessary, into Dutch. In addition, the poets will have the opportunity to explain their poetics in an interview and will be introduced to Dutch literary professionals during the festival, such as poets, writers, translators, publishers, and editors.

Practical information:

When: 24th until 29th of March

Where: Paramaribo, Suriname

Times: Monday - Friday, 18:00 - 20:00 and Saturday, 19:30 - 21:00

Registration and questions:

For your registration we ask you to send your name and age, and a selection of at least three poems to info@skrifi.com. Also take into account your availability during the lesson week (24 - 29 March 2025) and during the Poetry International festival (12 -15 June) in Rotterdam. 15 participants will be selected from the registrations.

The Poetry Week Suriname is made possible by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Suriname and Literatuur Vlaanderen.