Bolivia Minka at Keti Koti Purmerend: Afro-Andean Memory in Motion
On Saturday, June 28, the city of Purmerend hosted the first edition of the Keti Koti festival—an event dedicated to commemorating the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch colonies. Organized by the Purmerend Committee Against Racism and Discrimination, the festival brought together communities, music, history, and culture in a vibrant afternoon of remembrance and celebration.
“Keti Koti”, meaning “broken chains” in Sranantongo (a Surinamese language), is commemorated every July 1 in the Netherlands to mark the abolition of slavery in 1863. The festival in Purmerend anticipated this national observance with a local program that included speakers, a poet, food from Suriname and Curaçao, children’s activities, and live music.
As part of the artistic program, the Bolivian dance group Bolivia Minka contributed a unique Afro-Andean presence. At 15:15, the group performed the Afro-Bolivian Saya, a dance born from the resistance of enslaved Africans brought to Bolivia’s Yungas region. Rhythmic, spiritual, and powerful, the Saya represents a collective memory of struggle, pride, and resilience. Later, at 16:10, they presented the Tundiqui, a satirical and festive dance rooted in Afro-Bolivian heritage, often used to question colonial power structures through performance and music.
Although Tradición · Cultura · Arte was not officially invited to the event, our team was present to cover and document this important day. The participation of Bolivia Minka served as a bridge between Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin American histories, highlighting the deep and ongoing contributions of African-descended peoples across the continent.
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