Commemorating and celebrating the abolition of slavery

“This is our next step. Recognition alone is insufficient. If we really want to be a police force for everyone, the steps taken after the recognition are equally important. Steps on the road to recovery.” These words were spoken by Janny Knol, Commissioner of the Netherlands Police, during the commemoration and celebration of the abolition of slavery at the Netherlands Police Academy in Apeldoorn.

This event concluded the Keti Koti anniversary year. It took place in the atrium of the main location of the Netherlands Police Academy. A conscious choice to make the commemoration and celebration as open and accessible as possible. 

At 10:00 a.m., the event was kicked off by Melvin Jubitana. Cher Cruden offered a libation, also known as a drink offering. She blessed the event and offered the libation to honour the ancestors. On behalf of the Netherlands Police Academy’s Executive Board, Manon Bodoux welcomed the guests and talked about her personal connection with the subject. She also emphasized the importance of commemorating and celebrating the abolition of slavery in police education.

Speech by Janny Knol

The speech of Commissioner Janny Knol was in the same vein. “This is why I think it’s great that the commemoration is held at this location, as we still have much to learn about our shared history, a history that always flowed from the white pen.”

Knol concluded with a wish for the future, a wish emphasizing that we, as police, have taken a step in the right direction, but that this is no more than a first step. “Where the history of slavery is concerned, we, as police organization, have moved from denial to recognition, which was a major step. A major step that will allow us to take the next one on the road to recovery and reconciliation.

Storytelling and music

After this speech, Hannah Namale struck a chord with the guests by her storytelling, with a personal account of her family’s history and present. “My son felt left out and was determined to get a comb to straighten his hair.” In addition, there was a spirited performance by Kunta. With their tambú, which is an instrument as well as a musical style and a dance, they even managed to get a number of colleagues out of their chairs to dance. The traditional lunch offered room for several dialogue sessions to discuss varying points of view. One of the topics broached was: ‘The celebration of Keti Koti / Kadena Kibra is just as important as the celebration of Liberation Day.’

The commemoration and celebration were brought to a festive conclusion with music.