Stichting Keti Koti Tafel

Updated: 09/07/2018

Solution provider

Netherlands
A new tradition to engage in an structured and facilitated intercultural dialogue about the traces of slavery and our shared colonial history in our personal lives today. The event revolves around a reconstructed slave meal, specifically developed rituals, and songs of our enslaved ancestors.

Aiming to establish connections between black and white citizens in post-slavery Netherlands, where relations are still marred by -overt and silent- racism and polarization, we have developed an innovative dialogue method: the Keti Koti Dialogue Table (KKDT). Building on rituals and dialogue methods from different cultural traditions, we have created dialogue method that is characterized by the following ingredients:


Safe space: The combination of the structured dialogue, rituals, meaningful music and sharing of a symbolic meal together provides a safe space where intercultural dialogue can take place.


Rituals: The interaction builds upon the intimacy that grows from the rituals involved in the KKDT such as the mutually ‘rubbing away’ each other’s imaginary pain with coconut oil. The direct physical interaction between black and white in this ritual works conducive to the dialogue which follows


Structured dialogue: The balanced and targeted structure of the guided dialogue sessions guarantees the participants have equal time listening, talking and reflecting, stimulates deep listening and avoids debate or discussion.


Carefully framed dialogue questions: focus on tangible personal experiences and emotions rather than opinions and concepts fostering compassion and empathy between the participants

The foundation currently operates in the larger cities of the Netherlands, but has, on multiple occasions introduced the concept abroad, in the USA and Germany. The foundation aims to get people involved nationwide, now focusing on the remaining larger cities in the Netherlands, by hosting events and by encouraging and supporting people in hosting their own Keti Koti dialogues.

Simultaneously, the foundation is actively involved in developing and establishing new forms in which intercultural healing takes place.

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