PARAMARIBO–The Maroons are celebrating their own national holiday tomorrow. Government in February declared October 10^th the National Day of the Maroons, to commemorate the peace accord that freedom-fighting runaway slaves signed with colonizers on October 10^th 1760. “We have always celebrated this day in which we reflect on our forefathers’ fight; but this is the first time that we will nationally celebrate our day and we invite the entire community, Maroons and non-Maroons to join in our celebration,” says Patricia Meulenhof, who chairs the Committee Remembering October 10^th.

This year the roving annual celebrations are taking place at Santigron, a multi-tribe Maroon village in District Sipaliwini, south of Paramaribo. “Every year we choose a different location; this year Santigron is host,” says Meulenhof.

The celebrations start at 6.00am, with a traditional offering by the village elders. Throughout the morning, men from different Maroon villages will battle in a Men’s Cook out, there will be Maroon culinary demonstrations and activities for children.

Simultaneously, in Paramaribo, wreaths will be laid at the 10 October Square, located at the corner of Johan Adolf Pengel and Henck Arron streets. At 2.00pm, Government officials and other dignitaries will join the festivities at Santigron; there will be speeches and cultural performances, says Meulenhof.

Speaking to devSur.com around 5.00pm Sunday afternoon, she says all preparations are in place for a deserving hosting of the first National Maroons Day. “I’m in contact with all actors in the field, and we’re working well together, so the day will be great,” she says. She hints that the Maroon community, descendants of Africans who chose the country’s impenetrable, sometimes inhospitable forests above slavery, are elated that they finally have their own day.

“Our people have been calling on Government since 1974 to recognize the importance of this day; there have been a lot of promises through the years and of course we waited patiently because a promise is but a promise. We were happy that finally the declaration that made this day the Day of the Maroons was signed,” she says, stressing: “It’s not just the Day for the Maroons, but a day against oppression, and for peace unity. That’s why we invite everybody to come to Santigron and get better acquainted with the Maroon culture.”