Moengo started as a Maroon village on top of a hill overlooking the Cottica River. The settlement was later abandoned due to the difficulty of building houses on the bauxite rich ground.[3] In 1916, Alcoa founded the first bauxite mine in Suriname,[4] and this marks the beginning of the current town. Moengo was designed in 1919 to house 4,000 people.[5] It would become a major centre for the mining and storage of bauxite.[2]
Moengo was a segregated town. The American Quarter was built for the Americans and Dutch, the Surinamese Quarter for the Afro-Surinamese,[6] and Wonoredjo for the Javanese Surinamese.[7] Maroons were only hired for temporary work or trade in the town, and had to leave by sundown.[8] Until the 1960s, the racial regulations remained in force.[9] In 2012, the Maroons formed the biggest ethnic group with a significant minority of Javanese.[1]
Health centre at Moengo
The 1980s marked a violent period: the Surinamese Interior War had reached Moengo. Troops from the Jungle Commando captured the town in 1988, and held it for nine months before being recaptured by the National Army in June 1989.[10] A large portion of the population fled the town, the bauxite mine ceased its operations, and several buildings burned down.[11]
Moengo ceased to be mainly dependent on mining in the late 20th century.[12] In June 2014, Alcoa announced that the bauxite mine was almost depleted, and wanted to cease operations in Suriname.[13] In 2017, the ownership of Suralco, the local subsidiary, was transferred to the Government of Suriname.[14]
The Port of Moengo is a medium sized port with UN/LOCODE SRMOJ.[15] It used to be privately owned by Alcoa. In 2008, it was sold to Traymore Docks.[16] It has two jetties of which one is capable of handling oil tankers. Ocean-going ships have to use river tugboats.[17]
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.[18] These artists-in-residence have to donate a work of art to the Marowijne Art Park [nl] located in the nearby village of Ovia Olo.[18] As of 2011, Moengo is home to the Contemporary Art Museum Moengo which is the first museum for contemporary art in Suriname.[19] As of 2013, the Moengo Festival is organised, a three-day festival alternately showcasing music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts. In 2018, the festival attracted 20,000 people.[20]
Suriname
