On Sunday, 23 August, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the renewed exhibition ‘NOS: Kaminda Pasado i Presente ta topa’ opened simultaneously in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Through the renewed exhibition, the Slavery Memorial Committee brings greater visibility to the stories of people across the six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom who resisted slavery and oppression. At a later date, the renewed exhibition will also open in Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius.
The renewed ‘NOS: Kaminda Pasado i Presente ta topa’ places a stronger emphasis on resistance: on the people who, long before slavery was formally abolished, claimed their freedom, dignity and humanity in different ways. In doing so, the exhibition tells the history of slavery not solely through the lens of oppression and unfreedom, but also through resistance, courage and the ongoing struggle for freedom.
Stories of Resistance from the Six Islands
The renewed exhibition highlights several heroes of resistance from the history of the islands. Among them are The Saba 14, Maria, Flora, Tula, Thico, Martis di Catalina Janga, One-Tete Lokhay and Thomas Dupersoy.
Special attention is given to the role of women in resisting slavery and colonial oppression. Their stories have long received less visibility, despite the fact that women actively led uprisings, escaped enslavement, mobilised others and, in many different ways, refused to submit to the system of slavery.
The exhibition consists of a series of visual canvases that bring these stories to life. Through QR codes accompanying the exhibition, visitors can also watch videos that explore the history and significance of the individuals and events in greater depth.
Tula takes centre stage at Curaçao opening
In Curaçao, the exhibition was launched during ‘Heroes of Freedom: A Heritage Experience’ at the offices of the Slavery Memorial Committee in Otrobanda.
The evening included the premiere of a new documentary about Tula, created by filmmaker German Gruber Jr. and commissioned by the Slavery Memorial Committee. The approximately 45-minute documentary features several experts on the history of slavery and the life of Tula.
At its heart is the struggle for freedom that Tula began alongside many others on 17 August 1795. The uprising grew into the largest freedom uprising in the history of the Dutch Caribbean, with approximately 2,000 people eventually joining the movement. Tula’s fight for freedom and human dignity became an enduring symbol of resistance.
Following the documentary, a Bou’i Pal’i Tamarein was held. During this dialogue session, attendees reflected together on Tula’s struggle, his significance for Curaçao and the rest of the Kingdom, and the ways in which his legacy continues to resonate today.
From slavery to freedom and beyond
‘NOS: Kaminda Pasado i Presente ta topa’ places these stories of resistance within a broader historical continuum. The exhibition not only reflects on the period of slavery and its formal abolition in 1863, but also demonstrates how the struggle for genuine freedom, equality and self-determination continued long afterwards.
In doing so, the exhibition invites visitors to view the history of slavery from a different perspective: not only by considering what was done to people, but also by recognizing the ways in which they resisted, claimed their freedom and helped pave the way for generations to come.
23 August
The simultaneous opening in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao was deliberately held on 23 August, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This international day of remembrance reflects on the history of the transatlantic slave trade, resistance to it and the struggle that ultimately contributed to the abolition of slavery.
Through the simultaneous opening on three islands, followed by later openings in Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius, the Slavery Memorial Committee aims to connect stories of resistance from across the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and make them accessible to a broad audience.
Exhibition open to the public free of charge
In Curaçao, ‘NOS: Kaminda Pasado i Presente ta topa’ can be visited at the Slavery Memorial Committee, Bèlvedèrestraat 43–45 in Otrobanda.
In Bonaire, the exhibition is on display at the public library, while in Aruba it can be visited at the Archivo Nacional di Aruba.
Admission is free.
