Granman

Granman (Ndyuka language: gaanman) is the title of the paramount chief of a Maroon nation in Suriname and French Guiana.

The Ndyuka, Saramaka, Matawai, Aluku, Paramaka and Kwinti nations all have a granman.

The paramount chiefs of Amerindian peoples in Suriname are nowadays also often called “granman”.

The stam lanti consists of all the kabitens and basiyas who meet at least once a year under the authority of the granman and decide the policy for the entire tribe.

If decision cannot be reached, a lanti krutu (general meeting) is called consisting of the village elite and the priests.

[6] All villagers are allowed to participate regardless of age or gender, however the elderly carry the highest weight.

Gazon was also of the opinion that the inauguration ought to be performed by Governor de Vries on behalf of Queen Juliana.

The Ndyuka granman is elected from the Otoo matriclan or lo and resides in Diitabiki.

[2] The bee forms a segment of 50 to 100 people who are joined together with common practices and rules, but who are often spread out over multiple villages.

The decision was forwarded to President Dési Bouterse in 2018, however he decided that the clans have to reach a compromise themselves.

[23] There is a village of located in Suriname called Cottica which is governed by a kabiten[24] who is not under the authority of the granman.

[25] The granman of the Aluku is not only a generic tribal chief, but also an arbiter who decides on issues concerning different maternal lineages.

[38] On 2 September 1863, a peace treaty was signed offering the tribe the abandoned plantations Klaverblad and Rorac.

[39] In 1917,[39] a deal was negotiated with the tribe by kabiten Hudukanti and Alcoa,[41] the lands were sold, and the people settled in Tout-Lui-Faut near Paramaribo.

Contact with missionaries and state representatives started to change that, and the Surinamese, French, and Brazilian states preferred to centralise their dealings with the Wayana, and for this purpose installed captains, head captains and granman among the Wayana chief.