23/4: Heropening TBA — opening expo Echoes of In*dependence
After a memorable period at Bijlmerplein in Zuidoost, we are returning to the place where it all began. The Black Archives was founded in 2015 in the Hugo Olijfveld Huis of association Ons Suriname on the Zeeburgerdijk, and after a much-needed renovation of the building, we are going back to our roots. The building has been restored, the collection has a better home, and there is space for exhibitions and events. On 23 April, we open the doors with the launch of Echoes of In*dependence.
Echoes of In*dependence: Onvertelde verhalen van bevrijding, extractie & solidariteit
Cabo Verde and Suriname celebrated fifty years of independence last year. Congo celebrated sixty-five years of independence. Ghana played a pivotal role in the independence movements. The exhibition Echoes of In*dependence examines what independence truly means. Because for many former colonies, the reality remains: the flag changed, but the colonial structures stayed in place. Foreign companies often still profit from the natural resources of these countries, and economic inequality persists.
The exhibition shows how liberation movements in Africa, the Caribbean, and Suriname were connected to one another. We honor women who played a role in this struggle but remained underrecognized for too long, including Andrée Blouin (Congo), Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout (Suriname), Hannah Kudjoe (Ghana), Josefina Chantre (Cabo Verde), and others. The echoes of this struggle continue to resonate in contemporary movements for justice, underscoring the necessity of international solidarity today.
Artists from the African diaspora, Suriname, and the Netherlands have been invited to create new work in dialogue with one another and with The Black Archives. Invited artists Moreiya, Munganyende, Maurice Dharamapal, Nana Agyemang, Zulile Blinker, Ruth-Rachel Blinker, and Tania Christina bring historical stories into dialogue with the present through their unique works.
Come celebrate, listen, and experience. With a libation, a panel, a reading by Zulile, an artists tour through the exhibition space, and music by Rotational
When? Thursday 23 april 2026
Where? Zeeburgerdijk 21, Amsterdam Oost
Time? 19.00 – 22.30 uur (doors: 19.00)
Entrance? On a donation basis. (If money is an issue, your bills come first. But if you have some room, every contribution helps! Spaces like TBA are key to our culture, and without your support, we can do less.)
Language? English and Dutch
Echoes of In*dependence: Onvertelde verhalen van bevrijding, extractie & solidariteit
Cabo Verde and Suriname celebrated fifty years of independence last year. Congo celebrated sixty-five years of independence. Ghana played a pivotal role in the independence movements. The exhibition Echoes of In*dependence examines what independence truly means. Because for many former colonies, the reality remains: the flag changed, but the colonial structures stayed in place. Foreign companies often still profit from the natural resources of these countries, and economic inequality persists.
The exhibition shows how liberation movements in Africa, the Caribbean, and Suriname were connected to one another. We honor women who played a role in this struggle but remained underrecognized for too long, including Andrée Blouin (Congo), Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout (Suriname), Hannah Kudjoe (Ghana), Josefina Chantre (Cabo Verde), and others. The echoes of this struggle continue to resonate in contemporary movements for justice, underscoring the necessity of international solidarity today.
Artists from the African diaspora, Suriname, and the Netherlands have been invited to create new work in dialogue with one another and with The Black Archives. Invited artists Moreiya, Munganyende, Maurice Dharamapal, Nana Agyemang, Zulile Blinker, Ruth-Rachel Blinker, and Tania Christina bring historical stories into dialogue with the present through their unique works.
Come celebrate, listen, and experience. With a libation, a panel, a reading by Zulile, an artists tour through the exhibition space, and music by Rotational
When? Thursday 23 april 2026
Where? Zeeburgerdijk 21, Amsterdam Oost
Time? 19.00 – 22.30 uur (doors: 19.00)
Entrance? On a donation basis. (If money is an issue, your bills come first. But if you have some room, every contribution helps! Spaces like TBA are key to our culture, and without your support, we can do less.)
Language? English and Dutch