Notable Surinamese
Fifteen life stories that bring the Surinamese slavery and emancipation past to life — from Maroons and resistance heroes to writers, scientists and politicians.
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Emancipation
Anton de Kom
1898 – 1945
Writer, anti-colonial activist and resistance fighter
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Arts & Culture
Astrid Roemer
1947
First Surinamese winner of the Prize of Dutch Letters (2016)
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Arts & Culture
Edgar Cairo
1948 – 2000
Writer who gave Surinamese-Dutch literary weight
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Politics
Henck Arron
1936 – 2000
First prime minister of independent Suriname
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Politics
Johan Ferrier
1910 – 2010
First president of Suriname (1975–1980)
Read biography →Baron
ca. 1730 – ca. 1789
Former town slave who became strategist of the Boni Maroons
Read biography →Boni
ca. 1730 – 1793
Maroon leader who defied the colonial army for years
Read biography →Elisabeth Samson
1715 – 1771
First wealthy free black woman of Suriname who fought for the right to marry
Read biography →Johannes Alabi
1740 – 1820
Saramaka granman who consolidated the peace treaty of 1762
Read biography →Johannes King
1830 – 1898
Maroon prophet and first Saramaka to record his dreams in writing
Read biography →Joli-Coeur
ca. 1740 – ca. 1789
Boni Maroon leader notorious for his perseverance
Read biography →Kodjo, Mentor en Present
† 1833
The three enslaved men who set fire to Paramaribo in 1832
Read biography →Rudolf van Lier
1914 – 1987
Sociologist and author of the standard work Frontier Society (1949)
Read biography →Sophie Redmond
1907 – 1955
Second female doctor of Suriname and pioneer of public health
Read biography →Tata Colin
ca. 1808 – ca. 1865
Spiritual leader and organiser of the Coronie revolt (1836)
Read biography →Wilhelmina Rijburg ("Maxi Linder")
1902 – 1981
Iconic nightlife figure and pioneer of female autonomy in colonial Paramaribo
Read biography →For teachers and schools
Free downloadable lesson materials for primary and secondary schools on Keti Koti, plantations, resistance and family-name research.
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