The SABI Literature Festival 2026, organized by Stichting Skrifi, celebrated the dynamic evolution of Surinamese literature through an extraordinary evening of multidisciplinary performances in Souposo on Saturday. The event demonstrated literature’s expanding boundaries through spoken word, columns, short stories, musical interpretations, rap, instrumental music, and dance.
A diverse lineup of artists including Julian Anijs, Steve Jabini, Koloku, Iraida Martha Ooft, Kevin Headley, Stefanie Parisius-Sewotaroeno, Enver, Stanley Betterson, Iwan Brave, Ori, Ta2, Crazy G, Rachel Deekman, Tanya Kasan, Sam Blankendal, and Xillan Macrooy captivated audiences with innovative presentations that blurred traditional genre distinctions.
Notable performances included journalist Sam Blankendal’s debut as a spoken word artist, where he creatively connected his presentation to his documentary ‘A dede wroko fu La Prosperité.’ Parliamentarian Stanley Betterson delivered a powerful recitation, while Iwan Brave, editor-in-chief of 10 Minuten Jeugdjournaal, addressed environmental safety concerns with specific focus on Suriname’s traffic behavior patterns.
Rachel Deekman (known as ‘Irre’) merged poetic recitation with contemporary dance, and the rap collective OUD10THIEK (featuring Ori, Ta2, and Crazy G) officially launched their collaborative project with refined wordplay examining contemporary Surinamese life.
Singer Tanya Kasan performed an acoustic set with guitarist Julian Anijs, reimagining her popular songs in an intimate setting. Enver emphasized the cultural significance of Sranantongo, directly appealing to attending Education Minister Dirk Currie to incorporate the language into formal education curricula.
Xillan Macrooy delivered a particularly impactful performance combining vocal artistry with literary recitation, simultaneously promoting his upcoming musical lecture at Spice Quest where he will discuss his book ‘Mensen als zonnen en mensen als manen’ with Sharda Ganga.
The multi-day festival, supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, aims to establish itself as a premier platform dedicated to enriching and innovating Surinamese literary culture. Additional programming includes a lecture on Bea Vianen and Macrooy’s musical lecture across venues in Souposo, Spice Quest, and the Anton de Kom University of Suriname Library.
Stichting Skrifi simultaneously develops infrastructure to promote reading accessibility for all age groups despite challenges including limited funding and shortage of qualified personnel, addressed through strategic partnerships with Surinamese and Dutch organizations for financial support and capacity building.