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.