On a Monday evening in Paramaribo, Suriname, hundreds of people from across the country gathered to honor the extraordinary life and enduring cultural legacy of iconic Surinamese actor, filmmaker and media personality Borger Breeveld, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 82.
Organized jointly by Breeveld’s family and the Office of the President of Suriname, the event, titled *Celebrate Borger*, centered not on mourning his loss, but on celebrating his unparalleled contributions to Suriname’s cultural identity and national life. The tribute opened at the Paramaribo Congress Hall, where guests ranging from immediate family and close friends to fellow artists, senior government officials and ordinary admirers gathered to share personal recollections and professional reflections, before moving to Independence Square for a communal screening of *Wan Pipel*—the 1970s classic film that cemented Breeveld’s place in Suriname’s cultural history.
Breeveld died on August 10 in the Netherlands, where he was cremated three days later. In keeping with his final wishes, his ashes were transported back to his home country of Suriname for the tribute. During the Congress Hall portion of the event, attendees were invited to file past the urn holding his ashes and pay their respects, concluding the moment with a long, standing applause to honor his memory.
Speakers throughout the evening offered intimate, varied perspectives on the man behind the public persona. His brother Hans Breeveld shared personal anecdotes from their shared childhood and adult lives, while media commentator Clif Limburg highlighted Breeveld’s far-reaching impact on Suriname’s media and communications landscape. Enver Panka reflected on the profound personal influence Breeveld had on his own career and growth, while his daughter Romy-Angele Breeveld described her father as a multi-talented, warm, playful and constantly surprising person, thanking the Surinamese public for the outpouring of support extended to the family following his passing.
Live music, a core part of Breeveld’s life and work, formed a centerpiece of the tribute. Aisha Breeveld performed Bob Marley’s *Three Little Birds*—a song she recalled singing together with her father on countless occasions. Additional performances came from Hans Breeveld, Carl Breeveld, Nisha Madaran and Bryan Muntslag, weaving personal and cultural connection through the evening’s program.
Suriname President Jennifer Simons joined the tribute, alongside senior cabinet members including Education, Science and Culture Minister Dirk Currie and Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister Raymond Landveld. In her remarks, Simons emphasized the inseparable tie between Breeveld and the cultural soul of Suriname, noting his name is “inextricably linked to the soul of Suriname.”
Breeveld first rose to national prominence as an actor in the 1970s, when his lead role in *Wan Pipel* turned him into a household name across the country. He went on to appear in another landmark Surinamese production, *Kon Esi Baka*, but his contributions extended far beyond the screen. A skilled communications specialist, he spent decades working in media, and dedicated much of his later career to mentoring and supporting young emerging artists and creatives across Suriname.
Simons remembered Breeveld as an approachable, sharp-minded public figure who held uncompromising standards for craftsmanship and perfectionism. She also highlighted his enduring joy for life and remarkable ability to retain his energy and optimism even through challenging circumstances, noting “For me, he is someone who stayed forever young.”
After the conclusion of the Congress Hall program, attendees moved as a group to Independence Square for the final segment of the tribute: a free open-air communal screening of *Wan Pipel*, the film that forever tied Breeveld to one of the most important chapters in modern Surinamese cultural history. Attendees were invited to light small candles in Breeveld’s memory during the screening.
Event organizers expressed satisfaction with how the tribute unfolded, noting the evening stayed true to its core mission: it was not merely a farewell to one of Suriname’s most beloved public figures, but a joyous, collective celebration of a life well-lived, a groundbreaking body of work, and a cultural legacy that will shape Suriname for generations to come.
