Author and poet Jopi Hart dies at 85 in Curacao

WILLEMSTAD — Curaçaoan author, poet and former teacher Joseph “Jopi” Hart died last Friday at the age of 85. Born in Bonaire, he grew up in Otrobanda, Curaçao—a neighborhood that played a central role in both his life and literary work.

After training as a teacher in Curaçao and studying English in the Netherlands, Hart taught at institutions including Radulphus College and what is now the University of Curaçao. Later in life, he devoted himself fully to literature.

His works, including Entrega, Election Dance, The Yard, Kruispunt, De wooncirkel and Contrasten in kleur, explored social inequality, poverty, crime, political corruption and the lasting effects of slavery.

Hart remained deeply connected to Otrobanda and led walking tours there for many years, sharing stories about its residents, culture, African heritage and history of slavery.

For his social and cultural contributions, Hart was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau. With his death, Curaçao loses an author who consistently used literature to confront the island’s social and historical realities.