National and international researchers, artists, cultural bearers and policymakers were part of the delegation that attended the first day of the special symposium on Maroon knowledge, heritage and research in movement at the Kibii Wi Koni research center. On Maroon Day, October 10, the activities continued.
Lectures, presentations and the reopening of the research center in the TAS-gebouw in Moengo were on the programme for October 10. Speaking with Marcel Pinas, artist and founder of stichting Kibii Wi Koni Research Center, he says it is important that future generations will be able to recount the knowledge their ancestors possessed. He states that the talent flowing through the blood of the Marrons has not yet been sufficiently expressed.
According to Pinas, the various tribes have much more within them than what society sees. Pinas explains that all Maroon knowledge must be recorded. He says that he has been advocating for this for years and has now started working on it together with experts. The artist further states that scientists can document volumes on Maroon knowledge in the coming years.
Jobun Polimé, researcher at stichting Wookomakandie, says that through the symposium, scientists can now also brainstorm and subsequently focus specifically on further expertise in Maroon culture. Polimé has focused on Aucaans culture because of his paternal background. He notes that certain aspects of Maroon culture appealed to him and led to research into the Aucaanse tribe. Polimé states that there is considerable international interest in data on Maroon culture from the past to the present.
