Simia Literario

Simia Literario, founded in 2001, is an intergenerational writers collective for (Dutch) Caribbean word artists, open to all languages with special attention to Papiamentu/o

Awa Archives

Awa Archives is a community-based digital oral archive of water poetics from the ABCSSS islands with a focus on Papiamentu/o. Awa Archives was born as a project of Simia Literario, to strengthen intergenerational relations among islanders in the diaspora, and to archive collective knowledge of the (Dutch) Caribbean poetic/literary tradition by hosting workshops where participants read aloud, recorded, and creatively reflected on water poetics from the ABCSSS islands. Working with what already exists, this archive deals with water (awa) as a repository of memories of ocean mythologies, coastal politics, migration stories and agricultural knowledge, as well imaginaries of water as sites of healing, of spiritual cleansing, and of connection among territories. The hundreds of poems have come from the personal and collective archives of Simia Literario members, along with additional research. Poems will be uploaded and updated in accordance with copyrights and audio recordings.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Awa Archives poems were read aloud and recorded and reflected upon in community gatherings across the diaspora. Please reach out to adjust your name, or to be added to this list.

With gratitude to the poetry readers: Nicole Römer, Ichmarah Kock, Ernest Gaari, Taliet Marsman Ruiz, Julian Crestian, Andrea, Gloria Holwerda, Isan van Lamoen, Quinsy Gario, Mikayla Vieira Ribeiro, Joan Leslie, Libèrta Rosario, Corry Paesch, Daniella Britt, Naiky Cijntje, Luis Anibal Villegas, Arshanti Tramm, Tian, Gilia Croes, Jonathan Tjien Fooh, Laura de Vogel, Jaïr van Nes, Michael Thomas, Pheadra Regales, Cornelius Wilson, Noemi Elisa, Naomie Pieter, M Alberto, Amanda T. McIntyre, Adama Keïta, Angelle Stamper

Tech Support: Juli Frodermann & Patri Roa Johansen

Organizers: Mikayla Vieira Ribeiro, Libèrta Rosario, Joan Leslie, Corry Paesch