WILLEMSTAD – Despite soaring heat, around 1,000 visitors flocked to the seventh edition of the Wintertuin Curaçao Festival, which sold out completely on Saturday. The island’s most diverse literary event once again delivered a vibrant program combining poetry, spoken word, book launches, music, performance art, and experimental works.
A Program Full of Highlights
The immersive audio tour Sombra di Pasado earned glowing reviews. Staged in the gardens of Landhuis Vredenberg, the premiere blended fictional storytelling about Curaçao’s slavery past with live performances by actors, bringing the site’s real history vividly to life.
DJ Rozaly captivated audiences with a raw and intimate soundscape performance, mixing local sounds and even a mistakenly sent WhatsApp voice note into his set. Rapper Riën followed with a mesmerizing show, proving her mastery of both rap and traditional seú and tambú styles.
Acclaimed Sint Maarten poet Lasana M. Sekou delivered a theatrical performance and paid tribute to Curaçao’s freedom fighters, while Antwerp city poet Esohe Weyden presented Wij, tussen wateren, a poem inspired by her stay on the island, gifting audiences bookmarks printed with her text.
Emerging Talent and Cinepoetry
Festival stages also spotlighted local emerging writers from creative-writing programs, including Tyson Hill with his book Sigá ku glas di awa, David Heykoop with gritty street tales, and Corinne Leysner, who previewed her upcoming work.
The premiere of winning Caribbean cinepoetry projects blended film and poetry into a bold new art form. Highlights included Two Sides by Cameron Hyman and Daniella Berry (who traveled from Sint Maarten), A wall, a friend & a new beginning by Tamira Koeiman & Alexine Gabriela, and A fading flame ignites a rising spark by Alejandro Marquez, Giscard-Lemarque Johannes & Refael Kariodimedjo.
AI, Art, and the Future of Creativity
A lively panel on AI & Art featuring Tyson Hill, Kyara Lucas, Guenn Ramon Gustina, and Tim Martina sparked debate on plagiarism, the rise of “fast images and fast literature,” and the potential of AI to enhance creativity.
The evening closed with a high-energy performance by Grupo Grik, leaving the audience on a festive note.
A Festival for All Generations
“It’s heartening to see how a daring and diverse program attracts such a wide audience — from curious high school students to older literature lovers,” said festival director Joeri Oltheten. “There is growing interest in innovative culture, and we will continue to develop this festival as a unique platform for stories in all forms.”
The eighth edition of the Wintertuin Curaçao Festival is scheduled for 2026.
