Meet the Maroons

Experience a way of life little removed from West Africa in the Maroon communities descended from escaped slaves.

The Maroons are direct descendants of escaped African slaves who banded together to form their own independent villages. As a result they never assimilated into the culture of the colonisers and many retain languages, religions and lifestyles very close to those of the West African communities to which they can trace their roots.

Maroon settlements were once common across the former slaving areas of Latin America, but today few remain except in the remote forests of Guyana and Suriname where isolation has preserved their culture and way of life.

It’s possible to make a meaningful and culturally sensitive connection with these self-sufficient people when visiting Suriname’s deeper reaches. You can learn about their traditions and customs, and join in a village dinner complete with dancing and drumming.