Suriname marked a significant milestone in its history with the launch of the commemorative book ‘Onafhankelijk: 50 schrijvers over 50 jaar Srefidensi’ on Saturday at Spice Quest. The event brought together writers, guests, and enthusiasts to celebrate fifty years of Surinamese independence through this literary project. The initiative, conceived in September 2023 by editor Kevin Headley and publisher Menno Hartman (Uitgeverij Van Oorschot), builds on the success of the 2022 anthology ‘Prakseri,’ which exclusively featured Surinamese authors. The positive reception of ‘Prakseri,’ which provided writers with book contracts and visibility in Surinamese and Dutch media, inspired this more ambitious follow-up. ‘Onafhankelijk’ features fifty authors reflecting on five decades of independence through stories, essays, and opinion pieces, each offering a unique perspective. Headley, alongside Sylva Koemar of Schrijversgroep ’77, curated the contributions and oversaw the production process. During the launch, Headley emphasized the importance of amplifying Surinamese voices: ‘Suriname is often talked about, but rarely with Surinamese people. This anthology gives space to our own stories, insights, and visions for the future.’ The evening included presentations by five authors—Jerry Egger, Maggie Schmeitz, Nita Ramcharan, Audry Wajwakana, and Marciano Zalman—and concluded with a poem by Stefanie Parisius. The first copy of the book was presented to Dutch Ambassador Walter Oostelbos. ‘Onafhankelijk’ is a collaborative effort by Stichting Skrifi, Uitgeverij Van Oorschot, the editorial team, the writers, and all contributors, supported by the Dutch Literary Fund and the Dutch Embassy in Suriname. The book is now available in bookstores across the Netherlands and at Atlantis Books and More in Suriname.