Karin Amatmoekrim, Niña Weijers and Frank Nellen have been nominated for the E. du Perron Prize 2022/23. Tilburg University announced this on its website. The biennial E. du Perron Prize is intended for writers or artists who identify and break through boundaries to stimulate mutual understanding between different population groups. This year the jury consists of Aly van Berckel, Eline Peeters, Sander Bax, Ad Backus and Odile Heynders.
Amatmoekrim has been nominated for What kind of country do I actually live in? The jury writes:
“In this beautiful, very clearly written biography (also defended as a dissertation at the University of Leiden), Amatmoekrim describes the life and work of Anil Ramdas (1958-2012) from the moment of his birth in Paramaribo until his self-chosen death. Ramdas was a public intellectual; he wrote, made television programs and was strongly present in the social debate. His position was critically analytical, his words were sharp and effective and he was able to notice and analyze multiple perspectives. Amatmoekrim tells the story of his life and thus also the colonial history of Suriname and the Netherlands. Ramdas became a representative of the postcolonial criticism of the Dutch complacent culture. His novel Badal (2012) was a stunning self-portrait shows his many sides, talents and roles, and describes the tragic figure that Ramdas was in all his courage.”
(www.tzum.info)
