Keti Koti — What do we celebrate on 1 July? — Stichting Suriname Global Group

Short introductory lesson for grades 5–6 about Keti Koti, the end of slavery and what freedom means.

Introduction

On 1 July 1863 slavery was abolished in Suriname and the other former Dutch territories. On that day people who did not own their own lives — who were only the property of someone else — finally became free. In Sranantongo (a language of Suriname) that day is called Keti Koti, meaning 'broken chains'.

Behind that single day, however, lies a story of hundreds of years: from Africa across the ocean to Suriname, of plantations, resistance, freedom and remembrance.

Exercises

1. What does "Keti Koti" mean in Sranantongo?

Broken chains — a symbol of freedom.

2. In what year was slavery abolished in Suriname?

1863 — but many people were forced to keep working another 10 years under "state supervision".

3. From which continent were most people shipped to Suriname?

Africa — mainly West Africa (today's Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Angola).

4. Write down one thing you find important about freedom.

Own answer. Discuss in class.

5. On surinameglobalgroup.com you can find 477 plantations. Discuss together: why does it matter that we know their names?

Own answer. Suggestion: people worked and died on those plantations, and their descendants still carry those family names today.

⭐ Follow-up activity

Activity: with the class make a 'chain-breaker' poster. Every child writes on a paper link something they do not wish ever to exist again (for example 'bullying', 'war', 'discrimination'). Glue all links into a chain and symbolically break it on 1 July.