On July 1, Nest will join Free Heri Heri For All, a nationwide initiative by KIP Republic commemorating Keti Koti, the annual celebration marking the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Caribbean. We invite everyone to come together for a free Heri Heri meal and to participate in Tori Fesi, a participatory art project by Faluma. In this growing textile installation, personal stories about freedom are literally woven into the artwork. In Sranantongo, the most widely spoken creole language in Suriname, Tori Fesi means “stories that weave us together.”

Heri Heri is a traditional Surinamese dish made with cassava, sweet potato, plantain, egg, and salted cod. Originally prepared by enslaved people, it is eaten during Keti Koti as a way of commemorating survival, resilience, and freedom. Free Heri Heri For All is an initiative by KIP Republic, founded by sisters Ira and Ayra Kip. Through this project, they aim to raise awareness of the abolition of slavery and create space for remembrance and reflection. By sharing a Heri Heri meal, the past is connected to the present. Each year around June 30 and July 1, KIP Republic distributes free Heri Heri meals at various locations across the Netherlands.

Faluma is a community founded by Demi Vreden that focuses on connecting young people with an Afro-diasporic background in The Hague. The initiative emerged from the need for a space where Black people feel fully seen and heard, and has since grown into a community centred on connection, representation, and queer inclusivity.