(Belgium, 1971) is an author, historian and archaeologist, known for his multifaceted contributions to literature and intellectual discourse. He is currently Philosopher Laureate of the Low Countries. Upon his appointment, he published De wereld en de aarde (The World and the Earth, 2025), in which he makes a groundbreaking proposal to radically broaden our thinking—and our politics. For the greatest security issue of our time is not the world with its mutual conflicts, but the earth, which is becoming increasingly disrupted. His oeuvre covers a range of genres, including historical non-fiction, poetry, and theater. Among his best-known works are Congo (2010), about the country's bewildering history, and Revolusi (2020), which places Indonesia's struggle for independence in a global perspective through eyewitness accounts. In addition to his literary work, Van Reybrouck is known as ‘one of Europe's leading intellectuals’ (Tagesspiegel), whose ideas relate to themes such as democracy, climate, and colonialism. He regularly publishes opinion pieces in international publications. 

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was born in Nigeria. He worked as a lecturer and journalist in Nigeria before he moved to England to become the African Writing Fellow at the University of East Anglia. In 2002 he published his first novel, Waiting for an Angel. His writing has won many prizes including the Caine Prize, 2001, and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, 2003. In 2005/2006 he became the Chinua Achebe Fellow at Bard College, New York.
In 2006 he co-edited the British Council's anthology, New Writing 14. His second novel, Measuring Time, was published in 2007, it won the Virginia Library Foundation Fiction Award, 2008. His third novel, Oil on Water, was published in the US in 2011. His anthology, The Granta Book of the African Short Story came out in September, 2011. Habila teaches Creative Writing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he lives with his wife and three children.

(Zimbabwe, 1971) debuted in 2009 with the short-story collection An Elegy for Easterly, followed by her first novel The Book of Memory (2015) and another story collection, Rotten Row (2016). Her new book Out of Darkness, Shining Light tells the story of the perilous, months-long trek made in 1873 by 69 workers to transport the body of the explorer David Livinstone from central Africa to the Zanzibar coast, so it could eventually be buried in England. "I write the history of the black people of Zimbabwe, those about whom nobody ever speaks." Gappah studied law in Zimbabwe and Cambridge, worked as a lawyer, and lives in Berlin as artist-in-residence. She has won many international prizes for her work.

(Iraq, 1971) fled his country in 1998 after completing architecture studies, was given asylum in the Netherlands and settled there legally in 2007. Since then he has published poetry, novels and collections of his columns. He received the 2000 El Hizjra literature award and the 2011 Literature Prize of the European Union. In 2013 he published Liever niet, antwoordt de liefde (Maybe Not, Was Love's Reply), an anthology of refreshing love poetry. His novel Hoe ik talent voor het leven kreeg (Two Blankets, Three Sheets) tells of his experiences as an asylum seeker in the Netherlands. Al Galidi published the short story collection Duizend-en-een-nachtmerries (A Thousand and One Nightmares) in 2017 and a poem collection Neem de titel serieus (Take the title seriously) in 2018.

(Curaçao, 1937) felt attracted to language and culture from a young age already. This interest runs like a thread through her entire career. She always saw it as her special duty to be an enthusiastic ambassador for the ‘Défense et Illustration’ of her native language, Papiamentu. In 1990 she published the collection of poems Resonansia (Resonance). From this, several poems have been included in the standard work on Antillean literature ‘Pa saka kara’, which in Dutch, was published under the title ‘De Kleur van mijn eiland’. As a translator and editor, she has provided a major contribution to both works. In 2010 she published So ku palabra (Alone with words), a poetic, melancholy meditation on her life, her work and the people she has known and loved. Through her translations of literary works (including Dubbelspel (Double Play) by Frank Martinus Arion in 2011), previous publications and organizing and participating in numerous literary events, she has made a major contribution to the development and promotion of the proper usage of the Papiamentu language.

(Curacao, 1966) After having studied and worked in The Netherlands for 14 years, Guineta de Palm returned to Curaçao in 2004. Originally a social worker by profession, she decided to start her own business in order to be able to spend more time on her other profession, that of storyteller. She tells stories that she has written herself, as well as existing stories. She regularly performed as ‘Gini the Clown’ for groups of children; she tells stories and plays all kinds of games with them. Since November 2009, she has presented a radio program on Z68 every Saturday morning: 'Mei ora chikitu ku Gini (‘Little Half Hour with Gini’). Her company Creativity for Children and with Children -Consultative Office - stands for activities that are original, educational and innovative, so that children can get the space to express themselves and have fun doing so. Besides that, Guineta writes educational activity plans, organizes all types of events and can make sure that there is entertainment during events. Storytelling is her great passion. That gives her energy, through it she learns to better understand herself and her community.

(Curaçao) is a writer, poet, illustrator and composer. She made her debut in 2010 with Djis un Pensamentu. Kolekshon di poesia i prosa poétiko, Tomo I, and launched her website www.djisunpensamentu.com. In 2011 she was awarded with the UNESCO Prize Papiamentu (native language-professional category). Cathleen enjoys experimenting with literary styles, language and writing about multiple themes. Her literary work embodies local, social and cultural characteristics and aspects (couleurs locales - past and present). Cathleen obtained her Master degree in Spanish language and Literature at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. She also has a postgraduate teaching degree from this institution and is a licensed translator in Spanish and Dutch. In 2008 Cathleen successfully took up photography, for which she also won a prize. Besides this she dedicates herself to the art of graphic design.

was formed in 1975, when a rock band merged with a youth church choir. From the outset the group has explored the boundaries of the local music of Curaçao, experimenting with voice harmonization, rhythms and musical styles, while aiming to preserve the essence of the local tradition and folklore. The group of eleven dedicated amateurs spends a great deal of time to the rescue of forgotten Papiamentu songs, striving to safeguard the colorful musical heritage of the island with its typical lively rhythms and cheerful songs. Over time Serenada developed its own unique style. ‘A capella’ songs form an essential part of the group’s repertoire, where the members try to mimic the basic elements of instruments and rhythms with words or vocal sounds. Other songs are accompanied by string instruments, such as guitar, double bass, mandolin and cuarto, percussion and traditional instruments like the benta (African bow), the barí, the tambú grandi, the hoe, the horn and the metal guiro. The group has represented Curaçao in several countries of the Caribbean and the world. At home, in addition to countless performances during festive activities, private celebrations and festivals, the group has participated in most official cultural acts. Serenada produced ten albums and a DVD, exposing on each one a variety of traditional standards, as well as new compositions in Curaçao’s national language Papiamentu. For his dedicated work with Serenada, the current musical director, Henri Moen, received the ‘Colá Debrot’ prize, the highest tribute awarded by the government of Curaçao for outstanding cultural achievement.

Born and raised on the island of St. Maarten, she began singing when she was eight years old and dancing at eleven. Her dance career would span twelve years. She was a member of the Reinfeld School of Dance and former lead dancer of the Motiance Dance Company – St. Maarten. In 1989 Merietza left St. Maarten to further her studies on the island of Curaçao. Through the years she has had various solo projects and presentations both locally and abroad, to name a few: various performances for the Dutch Royal family, the 100 years of poetry in Papiamento festival, the Winternachten-Krusa Laman 2005 Caribbean Tour in Curaçao, The Hague International Literature Festival Winternachten 2006, theatrical musical readings of renowned Antillean director and producer John Leerdam: Changá and Claus!, Marinierskapel and Dansorkest performances in the Netherlands, and the Heineken Bonaire Jazz Festival. Currently Merietza is the presenter of the arts and entertainment segment Spotlite on Curaçao’s CBA Television’s Nightly News, host of the daily live talk show New Day and official mistress of ceremony for the Bonaire Heineken Jazz and the Caribbean Gospel Foundation. She performs as an entertainer at various venues locally with her band on a regular basis.

As a journalist, Favell Maduro has reported in Europe and Latin America. Currently he is active in the Caribbean. In The Netherlands he put his efforts into helping Antilleans write and tell more about their past. The radio rubrics Un palabra kla and Makambiá are examples of this. Maduro coordinated these for years. Favell Maduro re-emigrated to his native island of Curaçao after living in The Netherlands for nearly 30 years. As a freelance reporter and presenter, he works for various media. Because of his love for literature, history and culture, he has interviewed several authors during his career. His interest in the development of the human being causes him to be engaged as an intervention assistant, in addition to his work as a journalist. He guides young people in their development toward adulthood.

(Curaçao, 1936) studied Dutch Language and Literature at Leyden University. He lectured at Amsterdam University and from 1975 to 1981 taught at a teacher training college in Surinam. After that he returned to Curaçao to be appointed head of the Instituto Lingkwistiko Antiano. He founded a Papiamento secondary school based on humanistic principles: the Kolegio Erasmo. He writes stories, essays, poetry and novels. His successful debut novel Dubbelspel (Double Play, 1973) is presently being adapted for the screen. Following Dubbelspel the novels Nobele wilden (Noble savages, 1979) and De laatste vrijheid (The last freedom 1995) appeared, which won him the Cola Debrot Prize in 2001. In November 2001 the collection of stories De eeuwige hond (The eternal dog) appeared. His latest novel De deserteurs (The deserters) was published in 2006.