Ganzee Explained

Official Name:Ganzee
Other Name:Gansee
Settlement Type:Former village
Pushpin Map:Suriname
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Suriname
Subdivision Name1:Brokopondo District
Population As Of:1960
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:circa 1,200
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:AST
Utc Offset:-3
Coordinates:4.8333°N -61°W

Ganzee (also Gansee) is a former village in the Brokopondo District of Suriname. The village was home to Maroons of the Saramaka tribe, and located on the Suriname River. In 1965, the village was flooded after the construction of the Afobaka Dam.[1]

History

The village was founded in the interior of Suriname by runaway slaves. From 1765 onwards, the Moravian Church embarked on missionary activities among the maroons. First the focus was on converting people. In 1850, the first school in the interior was opened in Ganzee.[2] In 1919, the village had a population of about 500 people and was the capital of the Upper Suriname district.[3] In 1931, a clinic was established in the village.[4]

In 1958, plans were developed to create the Afobaka Dam in order to provide electricity for the aluminium industry. The damming of the Suriname River would lead to the Brokopondo Reservoir, and flood the village of Ganzee. With an estimated 1,200 people, Ganzee was the biggest village in the area.[1] In 1964, the villagers were transmigrated to Klaaskreek and Nieuw-Ganzee.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Rond het sterfbed van mijn dorp. Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren. 15 February 2021. nl.
  2. News: Van aanvang tot heden, onderwijs in het binnenland (deel 1). Dagblad Suriname. 15 February 2021. nl.
  3. Web site: Nieuwe West-Indische gids. University of Florida. 1919. 15 February 2021. nl. 110.
  4. Web site: DE EVANGELISCHE BROEDERGEMEENTE IN SURINAME. J.W. van Lynden. 1935. Docplayer. 15 February 2021. nl.
  5. News: Nostalgie en toch toekomstgericht denken en handelen. Suriname Herald. 15 February 2021. nl.