STEEMIES,
I would like to take you back into time, talking about some centuries ago. How the history of colonial power have shipped alot of people from different cultures into Surinam, a country in South America.
"Switi SU" (sweet Surinam transl.) This is the country of birth from my parents and grandparents.
Let's go:
Surinam estimated a population of a 570K+ inhabitants in 2017 and consists of different cultural populations; which I will name later. Nice to know is that 350K+ Surinam people live in the Netherlands; so added up it's almost 1MLN, not alot right! :p
Back in the days, talking about end of the 15th Century, Surinam was discovered by a spanish navigator, governor and conquistador named "Alonso de Ojeda", he was also famous for naming Venezuela and other visiting countries. Before 15th century, "Christopher Colombus" (Italian Cristofor Colombo) discovered America (India in his mind) with their actual inhabitants, called Native Indians and their tribes located in North & South America since 3000 before Christ.
Returning back to Surinam, the original "Natives" as they'd like to be called and not indians or native indians, were the 1st population of Surinam; which are 2 tribes called as "Arowakken" and "Karaiben", the last mentioned one ruled during their Koriabo period and conquered the coast and river beds.
During the 1st succesful colonization which period lasted from 1492 till 1975 :S (almost 500 yrs of colonial power!!) the suppressors tried to enslave the natives first for working in the fields, but failed due to European deceases (sickness) and opposition/resistence. The English and the Dutch were bringing in slaves from Africa and partial other colonies, aside also fighting eachother for Surinam land colonisation.
The 1st English-Dutch war won by England, who then controlled New Netherland (New York), follow up with 2nd English-Dutch war won by the Dutch forces; whose colonies controlled over the Banda Islands (Indonesia - Molukken) as they have conquered it from the Portugese war in the 17th century.
After their war, most of the English families with their slaves went to Jamaica and the Dutch ruled over Surinam with their colonisation.
Due to prohibition of slavery in 1814, dutch plantation owners started experimenting with contract workers from China, India and Banda Islands (Indonesia).
English and French colonies were proven to be succesful with contract workers and slavery was already banned; however this have put pressure on the Dutch colonies to also banned out slavery; which did happened on 1st July 1863. (called Keti Koti > cut the chains)
What did it meant for the free slaves and plantation owners, you might ask yourself??
The Dutch state regulated by banning slavery, but the free slaves were obliged doing paid-work for 10 years at a plantation owner of their choice....LIKE WTF Sighs (:s) Feels like Free in the Penitentiary @.@
So with the advent of the new contract workers, Surinam became enriched with different new cultures in harsh times.
Do you remember I would name those for you as I've said in the beginning?
- Creolen' descendants of slave made africans
- Marrons' descendants of fled africans, who escape becoming enslaved
- Chinese' from China
- Hindostanen' from India
- Javanen' from Indonesia, Island Jawa
More cultures would come after 19th century and established as well into Su's society:
- Jews also Sferdische Jews & Asjkenazische Jews
- Libanese from Libanon
- Brasilians from Brasil
- Other Europeans
Eventually the Dutch State ruled till 1975 and Surinam fought their independance for a unite Republic of Surinam. Surinam honoured their independance on 25 November each year from there on and the country's history being told through each generations.
- "History is a set of lies agreed upon" napoleon -
Thank you for reading, don't forget to upvote + follow!