for everyone. She received the award in Spice Quest last Wednesday. The writer was selected from a long list of candidates by a jury that consisted of representatives from the Culture Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture but also from the Council Commission of the Language Union in Suriname. Mcleod whose most popular novel Hoe duur was de suiker was turned into a movie and who received an honorary doctorate from the Anton de Kom State University last year was clearly surprised when she realized that she had won the prize.

“I became fond of reading because my mother was very sick. Through reading I escaped that painful reality,” said McLeod as she clearly became emotional. The Surinamese writer who seldom talks about herself also revealed that her brother gave her the idea to start writing because he himself had tried to write a book when they were both still young. “Before that I had never thought about that possibility.” The Ibisprijs which consists of a sum of money and a work of art was given to McLeod by Helen Chang, chairperson of the Council Commission of the Language Union in Suriname, and Roseline Daan, director of the Culture Directorate. The work of art which was donated by Readytex Art Gallery was made by Leonnie van Eert. Chang explained that the Ibisprijs is a prize for Suriname that is supported by the Language Union. The first ever Ibisprijs was awarded in 2022 to Joyce Pereira for her story Ik ben Jermain. Sadly, Pereira has passed away. This year the prize went to a writer who is popular in Suriname and abroad namely Cynthia McLeod. “Cynthia has in her own unique style breathed new life into the Surinamese history for a bigger audience of readers. With her books she has had a huge impact on young people as well as old people. This year a Portuguese version of Hoe duur was de suiker was published in neighboring Brazil. “She is rightfully our cultural ambassador,” said Chang.