A list of notable Surinamese writers:
"God zij met ons Suriname", or "Opo kondreman", is the national anthem of Suriname. It has two verses: the first in Dutch and the second in Sranan Tongo.
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan is a former politician who served as the 6th President of Suriname.
Cornelis Gerhard Anton de Kom was a Surinamese resistance fighter and anti-colonialist author. He was arrested in Surinam and the protest against his arrest resulted in two deaths. De Kom was subsequently exiled to the Netherlands where he wrote Wij slaven van Suriname, an anti-colonial book. During World War II, he joined the resistance, was arrested, and sent to concentration camps where he died. In 2020, de Kom was added as a subject on the Canon of the Netherlands, a chronological list of fifty key events and people in Dutch history to be taught in schools.
Cynthia Henri McLeod is a Surinamese novelist known for her historic novels and whose debut novel instantly made her one of the most prominent authors of Suriname.
Lodewijk 'Lou' Lichtveld was a Surinamese politician, playwright, poet and resistance fighter who wrote under the pseudonym "Albert Helman".
Michaël Henricus Gertrudis (Michiel) van Kempen is a Dutch writer, art historian and literary critic. He has written novels, short stories, essays, travel literature and scenarios. He was the compiler of a huge range of anthologies of Dutch-Caribbean literature and wrote an extensive history of the literature of Suriname, in two volumes.
James Ramlall, also known as Bhai, was a Surinamese poet.
Chitra Gajadin is a Surinamese author of poetry, drama and prose. Though she lives in the Netherlands and her main literary language is Dutch, her expression of joy occurs when she is reminded of her native country. Gajadin worked as a reviewer for Weekkrant Suriname, in the public libraries, and for some magazines. Her poetry delves into themes of India and Hindu culture, where she describes sensitive and penetrating observances of Hindustani who left Suriname. Her poems display nostalgia for her youth in the district of Suriname and her experiences returning to her homeland after years of absence. As an Indo-Caribbean female poet, her contemporaries are Mahadai Das, Shana Yardan, Niala Maharaj, and Asha Radjkoemar.
Thea Doelwijt is a Surinamese-Dutch writer.
Eduard Johan "Eddy" Bruma was a Surinamese politician, lawyer and writer.
Hugo Pos was a Surinamese judge, writer, and poet.
Theresa Evelyne Leuwsha is a Surinamese Dutch writer.
Bernardo Ashetu was a Surinamese poet.
Wim Bos Verschuur, born Bernard Willem Hendrik Verschuur was a Surinamese politician, activist, artist, and writer. On 30 July 1943, he was arrested and interned for opposing governor Johannes Kielstra; this caused a major scandal in Surinam politics and led to a larger wave of repression against opposition figures.
Marylin Simons is a Surinamese writer and columnist. She is best known for In naam van God en Obia (2002) for which she was awarded the Kwaku Literature Prize, and her youth book Carrousel (2003).
Els Moor was a Dutch-born Surinamese educator, editor and book publisher. She is best known for Fa yu e tron leisibakru, a literary education method for secondary education. Moor was the chief editor of De Ware Tijd Literair, and founder of the Okopipi publishing house.
Lilawatie Hélène Ramjiawan was a Surinamese children's book author. She became known in the 1990s with her short stories for young readers about the girl "Poek".
Johannes Coenraad Kielstra was a Dutch professor and Governor of Suriname from 1933 until 1944. During World War II, he increased his authority and imprisoned political opponents causing the resignation of all elected members of the Estates of Suriname. On 28 December 1943, he was given an honourable discharge by the Dutch government-in-exile. He served as Ambassador of the Netherlands to Mexico from 1944 until 1948.
The history of Suriname during World War II was mainly focused on protecting the bauxite industry and guarding the borders with French Guiana which was part of Vichy France. From November 1941 onwards, 2,000 American troops were stationed in Suriname who transformed Airstrip Zanderij into a major airport, and constructed defensive works. No actual battles took place in Suriname. There was a political crisis in 1943, because Governor Johannes Kielstra used the state of emergency to imprison political opponents.
Saya Yasmine Amores was a Surinamese-Dutch poet, writer, and painter. She wrote under the pen name Cándani from 1982 to 2007. She then used the name Saya Yasmine Amores, which she legally adopted in 2013.
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