Suriname is unique in various ways, but more than anything the diversity of its people is fascination. As compared with any of the word's nation, Suriname has a colorful multi-ethnic population with a tremendous diversity of cultural expressions. What makes this 'melting pot'-community even more special, is that all these different people live together in harmony, as one nation.

The ethnic variety of the inhabitants of Suriname finds its origin in the colonial past of the country. During the 17th century many plantations were established by English, Jewish and Dutch settlers, and many Africans were shipped to Suriname and put to work as slaves. Some of these slaves managed to escape and tried to build a better life for themselves in the remote parts of the jungle. These are the forefathers of the maroon tribes as we know them today.

The Indigenous people (Amerindians) are the original inhabitants of Suriname. Thousands of years ago they traversed from North America to South America, and finally settled down in the Guiana Shield-region. The oldest signs of human habitation in Suriname go back as far as twelve thousand years ago.

Suriname has five indigenous tribes and six different Maroon tribes among its inhabitants. Each tribe has maintained their own ancient cultural traditions and speaks its own language. The various tribes communicate via the Lingui Franco Sranantongo. Both the Indigenous van the Maroons live primarily int the interior, Along the major waterways of the rainforest. There are many similarities between the two groups. For instance religion, styles of house-building, hunting and fishing traditions, and the structure of the communities.

The Indigenous tribes are: Karinha (Caribs) who live mostly in the coastal area; Lokono (Arawaks) in the savanna area; Trio, Wayana and Akurio, all three in the interior. There are six groups of maroons: Samaka (Saramaccan) in the Upper Suriname River area, N'Dyuka (Aucan) in the eastern part of Suriname, Pamaka (Paramaccan) who live on both sides of the Marowijne River pas the Armina Rapids, and finally the Matawai, Kwinti and Aluku (also known as Boni), who live in the interior as well.

When slavery was abolished in 1863, indentured laborers were brought in from China, followed by East Indians (Hindustani's) from India and Javanese from Indonesia. Lebanese immigrants settled down as well, as did a group of strict protestant Dutchmen, descendants are presently known as the Burus. In recent years many Guyanese have found a home here, but even more so the thousands of Brazilians, who mostly work in the gold mining business.

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