Etienne Ys
(Curacao, 1962) was born and raised on the island of Curacao. As former prime minister of the then Netherlands Antilles, he played an important role in shaping the new constitutional relations within the Kingdom. He considers himself fortunate to have been present at the birth of Curacao as an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. His political mantra 'formashon, formashon i mas formashon' ('education, education and more education') still resonates in his work and life. He made his debut as a novelist in 2024 with De barmhartige staat (The Merciful State) in which a king implements reforms in a world dominated by an ancient empire. A battle for an island's future ensues as traditional power and progress collide.
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Book launch: Etienne Ys and Maghalie van der Bunt-George at the Curaçaohuis
With: Etienne Ys, Maghalie van der Bunt-George, Shantie Singh
Curaçao writers Etienne Ys and Maghalie van der Bunt-George will present their debut novels in the Curaçaohuis (Cabinet of the Plenipotentiary Minister of Curaçao) at Prinsegracht 63-65 in The Hague.
They will speak with writer and Writers Unlimited-programmer Shantie Singh and the audience about their work, and the stories and storytelling culture of the island. The book presentation during the Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival The Hague is organised in cooperation with Wintertuin.
Maghalie van der Bunt-George published the short story collection Oro is goud (Oro is Gold) in 2024. The city districts of Otrobanda and Punda, with St. Anna Bay in between, make up the historic centre of Curaçao; Nieuw Nederland is traditionally an immigrant neighbourhood adjacent to this city centre. These colourful places are the setting for the love stories, historical narratives and adventures that reflect the inseparable bond between the people of Curaçao and the Netherlands, rooted in a shared past.
Etienne Ys, former prime minister of the then Netherlands Antilles, made his debut as a writer in autumn 2024 with De barmhartige staat, a compelling novel that outlines a world in which not Europe but West Africa conquered large parts of the western hemisphere. On the island of Botan Po, the king and crown prince want to introduce progressive reforms that include more rights for enslaved white Europeans - but not everyone in the court wants to let this happen just like that.
Shantie Singh is an author, programme maker and moderator. Her origins are layered and connected to three continents in the countries of India, Suriname and the Netherlands. On this, she wrote her debut novel Vervoering (Elation, nomination Inktaap Prize 2016). This was followed by the novel De kier (The crack). In 2024, she published the non-fiction book Na de komma - Hindostanen en de erfenis van kolonialisme (After the comma - Hindustani people and the legacy of colonialism), in which contract labour is a major theme. From this book emerged the theatre performance Her (S)tories, an ode to the women of Hindustani migration history. In 2024 and 2025, this performance will continue to be staged in the Netherlands.
Wintertuin is a Nijmegen-based literary organisation focusing on stories, talent and innovation. Wintertuin sees literature as an art form capable of being an innovative and changing force in society. Wintertuin looks at the world around it with an open mind, looking for new voices, new perspectives, new forms of publishing and for ways in which literary culture can be renewed.
