Podcast Bio & Synopsis
Podcast Synopsis
Episode 1 | Ancestral Justice | Kenneth Cuvalay and Derrick Simmons
“Memory has the power to heal a community.” — Michael Blakely
Kenneth Cuvalay sheds light on how the exploitation of African people extends beyond history into the present through the field of archaeology. He reveals how ancestral remains and artifacts—vessels of invaluable knowledge—continue to be treated as commodities, reinforcing colonial legacies. This ongoing injustice is perpetuated by the indifference of both international archaeologists and local and colonial governments, which fail to recognize the priceless significance of African heritage for people of African descent, the African Diaspora, and humanity as a whole.
The significance of St. Eustatius (Statia) and the mission of the Alliance are grounded in community participation, ensuring that African heritage is not only protected but actively maintained. Kenneth reminds us that our ongoing struggle for justice—from local activism to global movements—is sustained by the resilience of our ancestors and the richness of our African heritage.
Episode 2 | Reparatory Justice | Kenneth Cuvalay and Derrick Simmons
“Divided we fall, united we stand.”
Kenneth Cuvalay and Derrick Simmons emphasize the importance of raising awareness about African history—both locally and internationally. They discuss the burden of knowing one’s true origins in the face of enforced colonial narratives, which have erased and devalued ancestral history for generations.
Community activism has led to significant achievements, including: Halting the disrespectful treatment of ancestral remains and sacred sites. Reclaiming ancestral remains and artifacts from the Netherlands, now safeguarded at the Heritage House on Statia. A colonial past has divided African descendants, making it crucial for educators of African heritage to restore ancestral knowledge to the youth. The episode concludes with a powerful call to action: The people of Statia must unite in the pursuit of Nation Building. While colonial forces once divided and conquered, unity will lead to empowerment and self-determination.
Episode 3 | Carlos Lopes and Frederick Calmes
Carlos Lopes: “The battle cry is an alliance of voices.”
Carlos Lopes reflects on the power of collective action, recalling how an online petition—launched to stop unethical archaeological excavations on the Ancestral Burial Grounds—led to the formation of the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance. This movement helped awaken cultural memory in the community, overcoming a long-standing amnesia imposed by colonial history. One of the Alliance’s greatest achievements has been securing UNESCO “Sites of Memory” status for two African Ancestral Grounds on St. Eustatius, ensuring their protection and global recognition.
Frederick Calmes: “In echoes of the past, I found my Blackness.”
Through the Remember Statia Project: Tracing Our Origins, twelve individuals of Statian descent traced their African ancestry through slavery registries, reclaiming their ancestral names and documenting their histories in their own voices. Inspired by their stories, Fre Calmes created twelve powerful visual artworks, translating their journeys into paintings, illustrations, and sculptures.
Fre’s visit to Statia was a deeply spiritual experience, forging a profound connection to the ancestral lands and those who came before him. His artistic journey is deeply rooted in African ancestral spirituality, guiding his multidisciplinary approach to art. The Alliance provided him with a unique opportunity to reconnect with history at its source, emphasizing the importance of honoring the ancestors, reclaiming their stories, and fostering a deeper spiritual connection to the past.
Episode 4 | Petra Ploeg | The Privilege of Being ‘Woke’
In 2021, during the unethical excavation of the Ancestral Burial Grounds, Petra Ploeg recalls feeling a deep and overwhelming anger at the blatant disrespect shown toward African ancestors. Outraged by the audacity of archaeologists engaging in global archaeological looting—disturbing the final resting places of African people despite knowing the painful history of enslavement and exploitation.
In response, the Ubuntu Connected Front launched an online petition, an act that would ultimately lead to the formation of the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance. Petra reflects on the urgent need for people of African descent to reclaim their narratives, amplify their voices, and strengthen the reconnection between the African continent and the Diaspora.
As a white ally in the decolonization movement, Petra acknowledges her privilege and emphasizes the importance of listening, observing, and actively challenging the institutions and societies she is part of. As a librarian, she is committed to decolonizing access to knowledge and dismantling Eurocentric approaches to education.
Episode 5 | marjolijn kok | Collaborative Archaeology
Marjolijn became involved with the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance in 2021 after signing the petition to stop unethical archaeological excavations. Soon after, she was contacted by the Alliance to lend her archaeological expertise, and since then, she has been an active member, advocating for ethical and community-centered archaeology.
Reflecting on her journey as an archaeologist, marjolijn shares how her understanding of colonial history has deepened, especially in relation to its lasting effects on present-day social injustices. She critically examines the colonial tendencies within Dutch archaeology, highlighting how these practices have contributed to the disenfranchisement and marginalization of the local descendant community on Statia.
Marjolijn discusses the Faro Treaty and the Faro Project, initiatives championed by the Alliance that emphasize Collaborative Archaeology—an approach that prioritizes direct involvement and empowerment of descendant communities in heritage preservation. She outlines key guidelines that archaeologists and communities should follow when addressing historical and colonial injustices.
Episode 6 | Annina van Neel | The Road to Our Future Is Through Our Past
Annina van Neel shares her powerful first encounter with the Afrikan Burial Grounds on St. Eustatius in 2021 during the unethical archaeological excavation. Drawing comparisons between the burial sites on St. Helena Island and St. Eustatius, she explores their similarities and differences—both shaped by colonial histories, community relationships with heritage, and the destruction caused by modern industrialization and development.
Annina discusses how these sacred sites, along with the memories they hold, remain vulnerable to exploitation by those in power—whether governments, archaeologists, or developers. She takes us through the journey of creating the feature-length documentary A Story of Bones, which uncovers the history of the African Burial Grounds on St. Helena. The film sheds light on the fractures within the African Diaspora and presents an opportunity for reconnection. Annina reflects on the documentary’s impact—on St. Helena, the African continent, and the global African Diaspora—and how her twelve years of work on St. Helena have profoundly shaped her own African identity.
Her message; Our heritage has always belonged to us. It is time to reclaim it.
Episode 7 | Peggy King Jorde | Revolutionary Acts of Remembrance
Peggy King Jorde shares her powerful journey, beginning with her upbringing in the segregated American South, where her family was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. Later, while working in New York City, she uncovered a shocking reality—the U.S. government planned to construct a building on a burial ground holding the remains of more than 20,000 formerly enslaved Africans.
“What defines us as humans is how we bury our dead. We pray over them, sing over them, pour libations, and say words to honor them. So for every African Burial Ground saved, I remember that despite the horrors of slavery and the sub-human treatment of my ancestors, the ground is forever marked sacred. Because someone dared to reclaim the humanity of a loved one in a revolutionary act of remembrance.” — Peggy King Jorde (2022)
Peggy walks us through the African Burial Grounds that have shaped her work, from her first battle in New York City over 30 years ago to those on St. Helena Island in the Atlantic and St. Eustatius in the Dutch Caribbean. At the heart of each site is the crucial role of descendant communities in shaping their own narratives and memorializing their ancestors. The power to tell these stories must remain in the hands of the people to whom they belong. The past carries an outstanding debt to reparative justice. Memorialization takes many forms, but it must always acknowledge the presence, contributions, and significance of people of African descent in society. More than just physical monuments, true remembrance lies in how we occupy and honor these spaces—how future generations will walk in them, learn from them, and reclaim them.
Episode 8 | Durwin Lynch | Restoring Our Spiritual Ties
The final episode of this series begins with a libation for healing, setting the tone for a deeply reflective conversation with Durwin Lynch.
Born in Suriname and raised in Curaçao, Durwin carries ancestral ties to Africa, India, and China—a lineage shaped by Dutch colonialism. At 18, he moved to the Netherlands to pursue his education, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, all while searching for his deeper purpose. Now a researcher, educator, and mentor, Durwin dedicates his work to healing the lasting wounds of colonialism by merging spirituality with activism. Through his connection with the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance, he continues to guide descendant communities in their journey of spiritual restoration.
“We owe it to our ancestors to carry forward their struggle—they survived so we could reclaim our future. With increased resources, exposure, and consciousness in this generation, we have a duty to decolonize history, education, and identity from a new perspective. The visibility of Afro-Caribbean educators is crucial in shaping narratives that honor our past and empower our future. Continue the conversation. Do not be afraid to stand boldly in who you are and where you come from. The barriers to loving ourselves, our communities, and our heritage must be broken—together”- Durwin Lynch