Keti Koti One of the most important holidays in Suriname is "Keti Koti." The words mean "break chains." Keti Koti celebrates the day of July 1, 1863 when the Dutch slave owners set their slaves free. Slaves were brought from Africa to work in the sugar cane fields of Suriname. What a wonderful day it was when they were set free. Today that day is remembered with beautiful koties.

A "koti" is the dress that the slave women wore in the town of Paramaribo. It was a colorful dress with many layers of fabric. A traditional koti can be a very hot piece of clothing to wear in the tropics of South America. But on July 1st you can see many women of all ages wearing koti costumes to celebrate their history and culture. It is a day when more than half of Suriname's population revels in their African heritage.