Translation Database

Edgar Cairo

Edgar Cairo (1948–2000) moved from Surinam to the Netherlands in 1968. He studied in Amsterdam and made his debut with 'Temekoe' (1969), a novella written in Sranantongo, which he rewrote in Dutch ten years later as 'Kopzorg' (1979). He published novels, short stories, novellas, plays and poetry and was also known for his performances as a poet.

Hans van den Boogaard

Edgar Cairo

Temekoe

‘Trees that don’t grow in step with the forest become isolated, wither, die.’ This line is emblematic of the novel Temekoe (1979) by the Surinamese author Edgar Cairo, which has recently been republished. It tells the story of a complex father-son relationship, while at the same time painting a portrait of a society after the abolition of slavery, which continues to leave profound psychological wounds.

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