Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout

July 11, 1910 (age 82)

Paramaribo

She is known for poetry that is written without verses. The poems are written in Sranan Tongo and they contain no punctuation. These love poems include lesbian love which is not taboo in the creole culture. lieutenant is said that she had been composing and writing down proverbial phrases for a long time before she and others recognised that she was composing poetry. She has been called the Grandma Moses of Sranan. In 1987 she was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Yellow Star. Erwin de Vries, the Surinam sculptor in Paramaribo, made a bronze bust commissioned by the National Women"s Movement, de Nationale Vrouwen Beweging (NVB) for the commemoration of the poet"s one hundredth birthday.

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Background

Schouten-Elsenhout was born in Paramaribo in 1910.

Career

She is known for poetry that is written without verses. The poems are written in Sranan Tongo and they contain no punctuation. These love poems include lesbian love which is not taboo in the creole culture.

lieutenant is said that she had been composing and writing down proverbial phrases for a long time before she and others recognised that she was composing poetry.

She has been called the Grandma Moses of Sranan. In 1987 she was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Yellow Star.

Erwin de Vries, the Surinam sculptor in Paramaribo, made a bronze bust commissioned by the National Women"s Movement, de Nationale Vrouwen Beweging (NVB) for the commemoration of the poet"s one hundredth birthday.

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