Total population | |
---|---|
11,000 [1] (2014, est.) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Paramacca, Suriname | 4,300 |
Urban French Guiana | 3,900 |
Languages | |
Paramaccan | |
Religion | |
Christianity, Winti | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ndyuka |
Granman of the Paramaccan people | |
---|---|
Residence | Langatabiki |
The Paramaccan or Paramaka ( French: Pamak [3]) are a Maroon tribe living in the forested interior of Suriname, mainly in the Paramacca resort, [4] [5] and the western border area of French Guiana. [3] The Paramaccan signed a peace treaty in 1872 granting the tribe autonomy.
The administrative centre for the tribe is located in Snesiekondre, [6] but the main village of the resort is Langatabiki which is also the residence of the granman (paramount chief) of the Paramaccan people. [7] The tribe controls 13 villages in Suriname, [8] and the village of Providence in neighbouring French Guiana. [9]
The total population in 2014 was estimated at 11,000 people with 4,300 people living in the tribal areas in Suriname, and 1,000 living in the interior of French Guiana. [1]
The Paramaccans were runaway slaves from the Handtros or Entros plantation who fled around 1830. [10] In 1856, the August Kappler reported that the tribe had established villages near the Paramacca Creek. [11] In 1872, they had signed a peace treaty with the Dutch colony giving the tribe autonomy, [12] and Frans Kwaku, the leader of the expedition to Paramaribo, was officially appointed granman by the Governor. [11] In 1879, a group of about 90 Paramaccans led by Apensa created a settlement on an island in the Marowijne River near the mouth of the Paramacca Creek. The town was named Langatabiki (Long Island). [13] During the Surinamese Interior War, the Paramaccans sided with the Jungle Commando, [14] which resulted in a large migration to French Guiana. [3]
Paramaccan is also the eponymous term for their language, which is English-based [15] with influences from Dutch, African languages, [16] and other languages. It is similar to the languages spoken by the Ndyuka and Kwinti, and mutually intelligible with Sranan Tongo. [17] Paramaccan is the youngest of the Surinamese pidgin languages. [18] The language had an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 speakers in 1991. [19]
Brother Mambo: Finding Africa in the Amazon, JD Lenoir with Phil Ceder (Kutukutu), Black Rose Writer, 2022.
Total population | |
---|---|
11,000 [1] (2014, est.) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Paramacca, Suriname | 4,300 |
Urban French Guiana | 3,900 |
Languages | |
Paramaccan | |
Religion | |
Christianity, Winti | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ndyuka |
Granman of the Paramaccan people | |
---|---|
Residence | Langatabiki |
The Paramaccan or Paramaka ( French: Pamak [3]) are a Maroon tribe living in the forested interior of Suriname, mainly in the Paramacca resort, [4] [5] and the western border area of French Guiana. [3] The Paramaccan signed a peace treaty in 1872 granting the tribe autonomy.
The administrative centre for the tribe is located in Snesiekondre, [6] but the main village of the resort is Langatabiki which is also the residence of the granman (paramount chief) of the Paramaccan people. [7] The tribe controls 13 villages in Suriname, [8] and the village of Providence in neighbouring French Guiana. [9]
The total population in 2014 was estimated at 11,000 people with 4,300 people living in the tribal areas in Suriname, and 1,000 living in the interior of French Guiana. [1]
The Paramaccans were runaway slaves from the Handtros or Entros plantation who fled around 1830. [10] In 1856, the August Kappler reported that the tribe had established villages near the Paramacca Creek. [11] In 1872, they had signed a peace treaty with the Dutch colony giving the tribe autonomy, [12] and Frans Kwaku, the leader of the expedition to Paramaribo, was officially appointed granman by the Governor. [11] In 1879, a group of about 90 Paramaccans led by Apensa created a settlement on an island in the Marowijne River near the mouth of the Paramacca Creek. The town was named Langatabiki (Long Island). [13] During the Surinamese Interior War, the Paramaccans sided with the Jungle Commando, [14] which resulted in a large migration to French Guiana. [3]
Paramaccan is also the eponymous term for their language, which is English-based [15] with influences from Dutch, African languages, [16] and other languages. It is similar to the languages spoken by the Ndyuka and Kwinti, and mutually intelligible with Sranan Tongo. [17] Paramaccan is the youngest of the Surinamese pidgin languages. [18] The language had an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 speakers in 1991. [19]
Brother Mambo: Finding Africa in the Amazon, JD Lenoir with Phil Ceder (Kutukutu), Black Rose Writer, 2022.