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Moengo () is a town in
Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...
, located in the
Marowijne district Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. Marowijne's capital city is Albina, with other towns including Moengo and Wanhatti. The district borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, the Suri ...
, between
Paramaribo Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname's ...
and the border town Albina on the
Cottica River Cottica River (Sranan Tongo: ''Kotika-liba'') is a river in the northwest of Suriname. It originates in the hills surrounding town of Moengo and flows westwards and enters the Commewijne River Commewijne River (Sranan Tongo: ''Kawina-liba'') is ...
. Moengo is also a resort (municipality) in the district of Marowijne. Moengo was the capital of
Marowijne District Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. Marowijne's capital city is Albina, with other towns including Moengo and Wanhatti. The district borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, the Suri ...
between 1932 and 1945. The current capital is Albina.


History

Moengo started as a
Maroon Maroon ( US/ UK , Australia ) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word ''marron'', or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown". According to multiple dictionaries, there are var ...
village on top of a hill overlooking the
Cottica River Cottica River (Sranan Tongo: ''Kotika-liba'') is a river in the northwest of Suriname. It originates in the hills surrounding town of Moengo and flows westwards and enters the Commewijne River Commewijne River (Sranan Tongo: ''Kawina-liba'') is ...
. The settlement was later abandoned due to the difficulty of building houses on the
bauxite Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content. It is the world's main source of aluminium and gallium. Bauxite consists mostly of the aluminium minerals gibbsite (Al(OH)3), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)) and diaspore (α-AlO(O ...
rich ground. In 1916,
Alcoa Alcoa Corporation (an acronym for Aluminum Company of America) is a Pittsburgh-based industrial corporation. It is the world's eighth-largest producer of aluminum. Alcoa conducts operations in 10 countries. Alcoa is a major producer of primary ...
founded the first bauxite mine in Suriname, and this marks the beginning of the current town. Moengo was designed in 1919 to house 4,000 people. It would become a major centre for the mining and storage of bauxite. Moengo was a segregated town. The American Quarter was built for the Americans and Dutch, the Surinamese Quarter for the
Afro-Surinamese Afro-Surinamese are the inhabitants of Suriname of Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They are descended from enslaved Africans brought to work on sugar plantations. Many of them escaped the plantations and formed independent settlements together, bec ...
, and Wonoredjo for the
Javanese Surinamese Javanese Surinamese people are an ethnic group of Javanese descent in Suriname. They have been present since the late 19th century, when their first members were selected as indentured laborers by the Dutch colonizers from the former Dutch ...
. Maroons were only hired for temporary work or trade in the town, and had to leave by sundown. Until the 1960s, the racial regulations remained in force. In 2012, the Maroons formed the biggest ethnic group with a significant minority of Javanese. The 1980s marked a violent period: the
Surinamese Interior War The Surinamese Interior War ( nl, Binnenlandse Oorlog) was a civil war waged in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname between 1986 and 1992. It was fought by the Tucayana Amazonas led by Thomas Sabajo and the Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswij ...
had reached Moengo. Troops from the
Jungle Commando The Jungle Commando (formally known as the Suriname National Liberation Army) was a guerrilla commando group in Suriname. It was founded by Ronnie Brunswijk in 1986 to ensure equal rights for Suriname's minority Maroon population. The group was fo ...
captured the town in 1988, and held it for nine months before being recaptured by the National Army in June 1989. A large portion of the population fled the town, the bauxite mine ceased its operations, and several buildings burned down. Moengo ceased to be mainly dependent on mining in the late 20th century. In June 2014, Alcoa announced that the bauxite mine was almost depleted, and wanted to cease operations in Suriname. In 2017, the ownership of Suralco, the local subsidiary, was transferred to the Government of Suriname.


Transport

Moengo could originally only be reached via the river. In 1926
lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
Weyne started to build a road to
Moengotapoe Moengotapoe is a resort in Suriname, located in the Marowijne District. Its population at the 2012 census was 579. The village of Moengotapoe was not spared during the Surinamese Interior War The Surinamese Interior War ( nl, Binnenlandse Oor ...
which was extended to
Paramaribo Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname's ...
in 1929. In 1964, the East-West Link opened. The
Moengo Airstrip Moengo Airstrip , is an airport serving Moengo, Suriname. Airlines and destinations Airlines serving this airport are: See also * * * List of airports in Suriname * Transport in Suriname The Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname) has ...
is located near the town, and was founded in 1955. Originally the airport was called ''Schiphol'' after
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
. The Port of Moengo is a medium sized port with
UN/LOCODE UN/LOCODE, the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations, is a geographic coding scheme developed and maintained by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). UN/LOCODE assigns codes to locations used in trade and transpor ...
SRMOJ. It used to be privately owned by Alcoa. In 2008, it was sold to Traymore Docks. It has two jetties of which one is capable of handling
oil tanker An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a ship designed for the bulk transport of oil or its products. There are two basic types of oil tankers: crude tankers and product tankers. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crud ...
s. Ocean-going ships have to use river
tugboat A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, su ...
s.


Sports and arts

The town is home to two Suriname first division football clubs:
Inter Moengotapoe Inter Moengotapoe (sometimes rendered Inter Moengo Tapoe or just IMT) is a Surinamese football club, based in Moengo Moengo () is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina on the Cot ...
who play at
Ronnie Brunswijkstadion Ronnie Brunswijkstadion is an association football stadium located in Moengo, Suriname. The stadium is owned and operated by the Surinamese politician Ronnie Brunswijk, and the main tenant is Inter Moengotapoe, a football club that competes in Suri ...
, and Notch who play at
Moengo Stadion Moengo Stadion is a football stadium in Moengo, Suriname. It is the home stadium of football club S.V. Notch competing in the SVB Hoofdklasse The SVB Eerste Divisie is the highest football championship for clubs run by the Surinaamse Voetbal B ...
. In 2009, Kibii Foundation, chaired by the artist Marcel Pinas, established the Tembe Art Studio with the aim of inviting international artists to teach their skills. These artists-in-residence have to donate a work of art to the located in the nearby village of Ovia Olo. As of 2011, Moengo is home to the Contemporary Art Museum Moengo which is the first museum for
contemporary art Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic com ...
in Suriname. As of 2013, the Moengo Festival is organised, a three-day festival alternately showcasing music, theatre, dance, and the
visual arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts al ...
. In 2018, the festival attracted 20,000 people.


Villages

* Ricanau Mofo


Notable people

*
Tommy Asinga Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
(1968), athlete. * George Barron (1949-2017), sculptor. * Gerrit Barron (1951), children's book author. * Marinus Bee (~1971), politician, Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname. * Boni (c. 1730–1793), freedom fighter and guerrilla leader *
Humphrey Campbell Humphrey Campbell (born 26 February 1958) is a Dutch singer and record producer of Surinamese descent, known for his participation in the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest. Early career Campbell moved to the Netherlands in 1973 before Suriname's i ...
(1958), singer and record producer. *
Kenneth Kluivert Kenneth Ramon Kluivert (born 26 August 1941) is a Surinamese former footballer who played as a left winger for S.V. Robinhood in the SVB Hoofdklasse, and for the Suriname national football team. He is the father of former Dutch International f ...
(1941), football player. * a.k.a. Mony Hond Bordo (~1981), politician and convicted drug dealer. * Humphrey Mijnals (1930-2019), football player. * Max Nijman (1941-2016), singer.


References


Bibliography

*


External links

{{Authority control Resorts of Suriname Populated places in Marowijne District Bauxite mining in Suriname