The global literary community gathered today to honor the life and legacy of distinguished Surinamese author and poet Astrid Roemer, who was laid to rest exactly one week after her passing at age 78. The funeral procession, attended by family, friends, and literary colleagues, proceeded from her final residence at Stichting De Mantel to her burial site at Hodi Mihi Cras Tibi in a solemn ceremony.
Born Astrid Heligonda Roemer in Paramaribo on April 27, 1947, the writer spent over five decades living in the Netherlands and Belgium before returning to her native Suriname several years ago. Roemer established herself as a transformative voice in Dutch-language literature through her powerful explorations of identity, history, colonialism, and women’s experiences.
Her literary career began in 1970 under the pseudonym Zamani with the poetry collection ‘Sasa: mijn actuele zijn.’ She achieved critical acclaim with her groundbreaking 1982 experimental novel ‘Over de gekte van een vrouw’ (On a Woman’s Madness), now regarded as a feminist classic that examines themes of colonialism, race, gender, power, and trauma through distinctly Surinamese and female perspectives.
Roemer’s extensive body of work earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the P.C. Hooftprijs in 2016 and the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren in 2021—making her the first Surinamese author to receive the Netherlands’ highest literary honor. Her international recognition continued through 2025 when the English translation of ‘On a Woman’s Madness’ by Lucy Scott was longlisted for the International Booker Prize.
The author leaves behind a profound literary legacy that continues to influence Surinamese, Caribbean, and Dutch-language literature. Her works remain widely read, studied, and appreciated by audiences and scholars across national boundaries, ensuring her enduring impact on postcolonial and feminist discourse.