Meeting The African Tribes Who Live in the Amazon (

Deep in the Amazon rainforest of Suriname, which covers almost the entire country, you will find the Maroon tribes, who have been living there for hundreds of years. Their story is a unique one, having escaped slavery and forming new African tribes and societies in the jungle -- the Saramaccans, the Ndyuka, the Matawai. Some of them maintained their Animist religions from their homelands.
On this day, I went with my friend Mr. Mai, who was also the head of the local government, to go and visit these villages up and down the river. You could say I was shocked at what I found.
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Instagram: tommyelforastero
Patreon: www.patreon.com/sabbaticaltommy?fan_landing=true
#sabbatical #suriname #maroons

[@SabbaticalTommy]

Hope you enjoyed this short African intermission. I think the wannabe anthropologist in me got a little too excited for this one, hope you didn't mind me droning on about languages. This wasn't Africa but it's a really cool place anyway -- I mean they're African tribes living in the ****ing Amazon rainforest, how wild is that? As for the real Africa, fear not, we'll be back there soon enough to find the real moonshine, matakos, angry village chiefs and Everybody Knows Me types. I just have one more *big* (hint) country I really have to visit on this Latin American sidequest. Let's keep it moving.

[@jozm3261]

I'm glad you're having a great time, I love your videos Tom ♥️ I learn new things watching your videos, keep it up!

[@c.r.harris]

👍🏽🤓👍🏽 Anthropology on, Sir !!

[@AneriGS]

😁

[@Doreana48501]

You meet the nicest people Tommy and I'm pretty sure that you know more about them than they do themselves similarly to myself actually. I mean I know everything about some things and some things about every thing 🤣 for instance you said that place back there is more African than Africa which is a remarkable observation👍

[@gardensteps]

Have you done Brazil? If not, the 'Big' country is probably Brazil. If Brazil, beware! You may get leg-shackled!

[@AdventureElliot]

Sabbaticals unconventional way of travel vlogging - no music , no drone shots, no fake bs, actually showing locals is so refreshing to watch. It’s a shame there’s not more like him these days. Thanks for taking us to these places bro!

[@internetbully100]

What’s wrong with droneshots

[@AdventureElliot]

@@internetbully100 nothing in particular.. sometimes they add value but also it makes it feel a little more fake if the vlogger is using too many drone shots/music/fake bs

[@DusanSedlic]

Chillax, drone shots and music goes with it. How else would u show some beautifull village from that wide camera angle or hear theyre traditional music if u dont get the chance to hear it live and film it. He is just basic, and thats also on point.

[@yoboi267]

nothing annoys me more then "vloggers" who just walk around talking to the camera and showing off "tHe SiGhTs wAoW sO cOoL sOy" and never bother to learn the local language or interact with locals at all. Like bro, you're not a travel vlogger, you're a glorified tourist.

[@gardensteps]

@@yoboi267 ,,,,,and staging their subjects to take pictures.

[@bartkaplan2691]

I am 80 years old. Thank you for taking me to places I will never go to.

[@charleysvintageantiquewebshop]

#Sabbatical My dad on the thumbnail 😰 really, that house is where I grow up. Thank you for the flashback, I always enjoyed your videos. this is more than I expected🍀 or language is so funny 😂. The A on the necklace stand’s for Adjasie, the second name of my father. the famous respected man in the Sipaliwini district selling necklace as a business and working ass a (Basja) a person that brings the important news like if a meeting should be arrange he talks to the people, he walks and bring the news to the people while he talks and everyone can here what he is saying, like if something bad happened and that they’re calling all the independents to come to the meeting, at that time while he is on his work no one shout talk to him, our religion. I helped my dad selling necklace in other villages I can say I’m also famous on all the villages in Sipaliwini helping my dad my self also, as you know we had to go to school in Paramaribo that brake down the business. But he always kept it on 💪🏾. The name of the white thing on the necklace is a papa money that is just the name, not to get money or what is for good luck and and all the words to describe good luck, it’s just nice to make a necklace with. I was yesterday with hem on the phone. Than the friend with the dreadlocks visit. I had to hang up, after that you visit him. I will be back in Suriname soon missing my family a lot. Thank you for this, friend 🙏. Made my day.

[@SabbaticalTommy]

Wow! Thanks for sharing, he didn't get the chance to tell me all that. Your dad deserves the exposure. I appreciate the translations too. Feel free to contact me on Instagram

[@MrAfusensi]

pa moni (cowrie shells in English) were actually a currency used by africans during slavery time. Europeans even traded the shells for slaves. Later it became important spiritually. These shells are all over the amsterdam rivers soil after ships dumped them after slavery. They have a very intresting history.

[@ekinematics]

Cowries. Had them in our home back in the early 90s. My dad wasn't lying after all, he said it was very important during the era of slavery. Greetings from Nigeria!

[@ThePathOfEudaimonia]

Het is een kleine wereld.

[@urbnctrl]

@@MrAfusensi YES! Pa moni was actually the GLOBAL currency (even in parts of Europe) before colonial era. It is still used in Oceania as well and has actually a gold standard. Our rich history! greets from Papua.

[@whesman7013]

Thank you for showing a part of the interior of Suriname and the people within, to the world. My country 🇸🇷

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@brooklynbandit6788]

I've always wanted to visit Suriname beautiful land and great people

[@whesman7013]

@@brooklynbandit6788 we welcome you

[@rakyat47]

Love Suriname ❤🇸🇷 from Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@croberts7531]

What part of Africa your people say the ?

[@rafski-travels-1984]

This guy has this humble slightly dweeby slightly hungover or drained demeanor haha which probably rubs off well with the locals, he is not arrogant nor a threat and he seems pretty chilled, I've tried the African/ equatorial adventure thing but I seemed to annoy the locals and vice versa, he has the patience of a true explorer in these demanding conditions, good luck man!!

[@toiletpaper55]

Its probably just travel fatigue. I'd be miserable in that climate without modern amenities like A/C. Everything starts to look the same to him. Its hard working for youtube

[@rafski-travels-1984]

@@toiletpaper55 : for me I couldn’t connect with them they treated me as an outcast always bringing light to who I was or how a looked, maybe it’s about that vibe the energy you emit, your aura, god knows? I guess some people have and some just don’t.Yeah cultural fatigue is definitely a thing because you either have something shitty happen to you or the same shit keeps happening to you which gets a little annoying then it just builds and builds haha I fucking freaked out in Kenya and just ended up getting out of there on the next flight haha.

[@romanaabo3664]

People in Surinam are very much used to white people. It was a Dutch colony up until 1975 and lots of Dutch live there.

[@DrawAndErase]

I'm black and always wonder would I still be an outcast, I always wonder though if it's that bad. I'm from the UK and even travelling around certain European countries it always feels weird having people stare at you and treat you odd.

[@rafski-travels-1984]

@@DrawAndErase : haha that’s normal because many European countries are more conservative and more homogeneous. Staring only bothers you when you are self-conscious and insecure but I have been to places where people used to burn a hole through your soul with their staring haha

[@jeffitachi2589]

Thanks for showing us a country barely ever spoken about.A nice chill country.Love from Nairobi Kenya.

[@rusty5078]

Jeff...such a typical Kenyan name 😂🙈

[@cedrickm.tevreden7323]

Thanks Jeff greetings from Paramaribo Suriname

[@gardensteps]

@@rusty5078 And what kind of name is Rusty? Are you rusted, rusty?

[@rusty5078]

@@gardensteps boy if you don't get the joke, stay out of it

[@gardensteps]

@@rusty5078 It was a tasteless joke.

[@bl8550]

This is eerie in a good way. These are literally small villages similar to many rural parts of many West Africa. One of the ladies mentioned "moi moi" in conversation and pronounced it exactly as in Nigeria - it is a popular dish made of a steamed bean base.

[@CharLInd12]

Yes, moimoi is a dish. However, here the woman meant "very nice, great", derived from the Dutch word "mooi" (= beautiful). There is African influence though, because repeating the word, (she repeated moi) is linguistically an African thing. Various African ethnic groups have that linguistic pattern in their language.

[@bl8550]

@@CharLInd12 Ah, glad you clarified. The identical pronunciation was intriguing.

[@olusinaolaleye3029]

So excited hearing you say, "I am no longer Mzugu (White man in East African Swahili), I am no longer Oyinbo (White man In Nigeria Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba). In Suriname (our African brothers kidnapped by the dutch), you are called something not too far away. I love the work you did. Bravo. Shout out from Lagos Nigeria.

[@tomjosi742]

I feel like I'm walking beside you when you go out and explore. I really really do enjoy your videos and always wait if there's new release. You are friendly guy who try to know the language of the place you visit and I believe that's why they accept you quickly. Stay safe and stay healthy bro...waiting for ur next video ...

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@evaasiimwe6468]

Imagine same food like people from Africa

[@ronaldwesterduin3719]

Great video,I am Dutch and had Surinamer friends on highschool.We made plans to go there once.I went to sea to work on ships very young.And was also in some west African countries. And some south American countries,and felt the connection.Here in Holland we know the story of the Maroon people.Its actually a very sad story what happened in that time,I have no words for it.But understand it was a terrible time for them to live in that time.And all for the fuxking money and power over others.Nothing has changed in the world from today.But it makes me happy these Maroon people has a reasenable live.They are poor but more happy then us here in the West.Living there in the Jungle, has it charms.Not much stress and it looks peacefull there.All you need is in the Jungle.With many things they are better off then us in Holland.I still like to go there one day,or maybe I am just dreaming…

[@trishnewman910]

Thanks Sabbatical, i never knew that there was this Africa outside of Africa that kept it true to the culture. This one actually touches me, more than all the others as it was so profound. The language, the clothes, the village, the innocence of the people, everything. Cuba, columbia, , Panama Costa Rica, or Brazil. Next?

[@gardensteps]

@ Trish Newman Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba? He gave a hint, a big country. I think that leaves out those three countries.......unless Sabbatical was being ironic and oxymoronic. I love Costa Rica. The mangos there are out of this world! Huge and juicy!

[@Draintheswamp888]

It does it’s a very safe has Indonesians Indian Chinese Portuguese Hollanders Africans and they had kept the traditions

[@kingc1198]

There's several afro groups in the Americas that maintain a huge portion of their African roots .look at haiti for example ,language, religion arts,foods is African influence mix with European stuff

[@trishnewman910]

@@kingc1198 yes i know but nothing that compares with these people. They are basically intouched. Incredible.

[@killroyjohnson1256]

I never knew either. When did they migrate to South America and why???

[@surinameworshipthelordwith9054]

I am proud of my Surinamese people making nice things far in the bush. Yeah!

[@ajibolagiwa3195]

I'm Yoruba, we have places that look similar to the village you visited. Keep up the good work.

[@chestersabajo5527]

There are some Yoruba in Suriname.the Marroons are the biggest Ethnic group of the country

[@jaycod4070]

This one felt the way I expected it to be. In the isolated villages deep in the heart of Suriname...one would expect peace, quiet, and serenity. The rainfall is just perfect...and who'd want wifi when you can go and swim with the fishes in the river. The refrigerator graveyard is possibly multiple receptacles for storing fish? Good to see both the Surinamese and the Guyanese flags in this video. They are like very cool siblings who don't speak the same language but are connected by the universal language of love. So, this trip (here in these villages) was like a microcosm of the less popular countries in South America. One Love from Guyana

[@apeman9238]

Well it will be sad news for you when I tell you the fact that a huge part of the Surinamese population hate Guyanese people.

[@MrVegchel]

You are right, also the numerous ‘vis’ spray-painted on the walls is a giveaway, being the Dutch word for fish

[@robertjleter]

Best country in the best region of the world . Suriname, Amazonian rainforest. The world should do more to protect this last piece of pristine forest as world heritage

[@kuskut]

Those villages are amazingly beautiful - I can see myself building a log cabin by the river side and enjoying nature.

[@Rodrigo-tk2fm]

Same, but then I thought of the damn mosquitoes lol

[@Craze4246]

I am so in love with this beautiful country so far my bro, basically just amazing jungle, friendly people, food from all over the world, a lot of cultures mixed together. Great weather as well! You should go to Kabalebo Nature Resort though

[@victorhopper6774]

the spiders get big as plates

[@apeman9238]

@@victorhopper6774 that is Australia, not Suriname.

[@geetraveler5870]

​@@apeman9238 I would say so too. I've travelled both places and compare Kabalebo more to Australia. But both are beautiful 👌🏽

[@urbnctrl]

"Here, I'm a bakra" I chuckled, I subbed to your channel after these Suriname videos, as an American you gave the best vlog on Suriname from outside perspective so far, love your linguistic curiosity which helps you get way more indepth with people, connect and also represent their country in a more authentic way, most of what you described is exactly how I experienced my stay in Suriname. When I lived in Paramaribo, most houses also were self sufficient in water and partially also power, its just a more self sustainable way to not be dependend on the grid which works for most people! Actually when I moved back to NL I bought a water tank my self for this exact reason! There was a Dutch-Surinamese researcher who went to Ghana - Kromansi to connect with people in that village, he brought one of the Translator/Guides back to Suriname into Saramacca and they were able to understand eachother, it was an emotional moment. This is some very deep and rich history that you have tapped into my friend and you are part of uncovering a big important part of our shared history. Thank you for this, it is underrated! The cool thing about Pa Moni is the rich history, it was the global currency from Africa all the way to Asia and even Americas for over 4000 years, it is still a gold standard in Oceania to this day. Thank you! Wish there was more episodes on this beautiful country, greets from Amsterdam.

[@chopitupradio4286]

I came here looking for that video. Do you know where i can find that video?

[@abodedaniel1827]

I find it quite interesting that the climate, the people, the plants, the way of life are a replica of west Africa. They surely found a home away from home.. Edited.

[@GoldenBoyDims]

Africa is a huge ass continent with various climates bruh how can you say the climate is similar to a whole ass continent like Africa just has one climate and btw the plants are different too

[@davongreen3606]

The marroons believe they came from gana, and intrestingly enough there was a documentary of a surinamese man who lives in hollond he was trying to find out where the afro surinamese came from and in the end he brought someone from gana back to suriname and they visited a maroon village and intrestingly enough they were speaking the ganian language and the african man from gana was shocked that the surinamese maroons perserved the cullture but most importantly the language. So i myself believe that im of ganian decent i only speak dutch, and the native surinamese language which has somany branches of its hard to keep up its like the whole continent of africa is in my cauntry hidden behind the many african surinamese villages and their cultures. Lots of love from suriname to all the africans acrros the globe 🇸🇷♥️

[@GoldenBoyDims]

@@davongreen3606 i doubt it’s just Ghana during the trans Atlantic slave trade they would take slaves from various tribes and pack all of them to ports where they’d be shipped like sardines and the country of Ghana did not exist during slave trade so you could as well be from Ivory Coast as they share a lot of similarities with Ghana and even have Ashanti people heck could be from Benin and Togo as well it’s just impossible to really pin point a country like you just tried to do

[@kirkgriffith9009]

@@GoldenBoyDims he said West Africa not the whole of Africa and he's very correct in his statement because West African countries are very similar to this

[@GoldenBoyDims]

@@kirkgriffith9009 look at the comment again he edited his mistake and even using just west africa its too general a statement because west africa has very different climate zones

[@supramby]

I find it amazing that wherever you are there are plenty of people speaking English. The world outside of the US is all at least bilingual. We are so lazy and entitled here. People around the world actually talking to each other, learning each other’s words and not vegetating in front of a television. Love the work your doing

[@carolynbell9915]

So true.

[@david_4246]

The reason is because English is becoming the universal language of the world, so you don't have to learn every language in the world to communicate. Like if a Chinese person wants to talk to a Mexican, they can just use English.

[@BradPwnsU]

English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, what other language would be learn besides English? Mandarin or Russian? Those are both very phonetically and grammatically different than English and can’t be justified to be taught in schools either as most Americans don’t work in Chinese or Russian speaking countries

[@ministerejen]

Its Ewe… Also there are rivers like this in Nigeria around cross River region

[@llau9210]

You're my favorite for sure! I'm never bored with your contents.

[@lynnsbomb]

The people seem so nice. I love your videos taking us along to these remote places. Thanks a million.

[@ogamiitto999]

Thank you so much for offering these real world experiences! You are loved and appreciated my friend!

[@caribbeanman3379]

And you haven't even visited the indigenous, Amerindian villages yet. What a diverse country!

[@kennyyenotha3145]

Yesssss. New video. I’ll be watching this tonight. Thanks Tommy mate.

[@ericofori4768]

They leave exactly like Ghanaian villages..i'm in an amusement, colonization really separated us...watching live from Ghana

[@MinotaurvsCyclops]

What about the language? I think Ghana has many many languages, but can you recognise any in the video?

[@carlcederboom4286]

Most of the slaves brought to Suriname came through fort Elmina in Ghana. The ancestors of the marroons were the slaves who succeeded to run away and form smal villages in the interior. The two main groups of marroons , the N djuka and the Samaaka differ in the language they speak. At first the majority used to speak the Kormantin , Ewe, Twe language but later the language changed under influence of slaves who also ran away but were from other tribes /parts in Africa. The slaves on the British owned plantations spoke a kind of English Creole consisting of African, French, Portuguese and Dutch words while the slaves on the Jewish Portuguese plantations , the Samaaka spoke a language mostly consisting Portuguese, African and Dutch words.

[@weechill333]

@@carlcederboom4286 it’s quite fascinating for me. Wonder what the world would have been like without colonialism

[@apeman9238]

@@carlcederboom4286 Mostly Dutch owned plantations.

[@carlcederboom4286]

@@apeman9238 You are absolutely right mostly Dutch owned plantations. Suriname was founded bij British plantation owners who previously settled in Barbados. Their leader was Francis Willoughby. When the Dutch took over the infrastructure was already set. In the beginning of Dutch rule English and Portuguese were spoken but gradually this changed into Dutch.

[@mrjacktraeger]

Your videos have grown on me a lot and it's because of these type of places you go to that make me click on your video as soon as u upload. This one gave such a blast from the past and remote type vibes to it. Props for actually finding these locations then going there so we can all see. This is amazing

[@karlbasallote6719]

I want to know more about Suriname. Just keep touring us around that country.

[@turtje_1560]

Why dont you come yourself😁

[@turtje_1560]

It's pretty great here and sunny

[@The_real_Matheny]

I spent mean years working in Haiti and visiting villages and your video are bring back so many memories. I smell the air and feel the temp and humidity when I watch. Keep makin videos that show the reality of visiting counties like this.

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya culture and history with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@NYoung-lq5us]

Another banger! Thanks for sharing your adventures, Tommy! Looking forward to the next video, as always.

[@cederromario5621]

I really loved this content the most and i hope you get to see more of suriname your gonna love it ❤

[@nificent6241]

I haven’t been keeping up, but u are in my thoughts so it was a nice treat this morning

[@mtarmygrd]

You have such awesome videos! I wouldn't have the cajones to roam around different places like this. Thanks for sharing!

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya culture and history with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@T3MUwU]

Thank you for letting us be apart of your sabbatical, Sabbatical!

[@dertythegrower]

cheers 710 🍯 ehehe

[@dertythegrower]

funny name by the way, i got the lingo 😎

[@T3MUwU]

@@dertythegrower hehe 😎

[@kwijukaderek4682]

bruh,for sure i did not know this country until u decided to educate me. i love u for what u do. my u live long to see great things

[@gentlejack64]

I'm from suriname and i gotta say nice video man subed and stay safe keep up the great content i would love to see more 🇸🇷❤

[@AndreTraveler]

Great video as always

[@bellamosse]

Love the content thank you!

[@akilinayat9595]

this is really Great video dear thanks for sharing it.

[@deboratongsang]

Love my country so diverse, our best product is hospitality. Welcome to Sunny Surinam 🌞🌞🌞 thanks for the video.

[@dabdaddyjosh]

another awesome adventure, thanks for bringing us along and making my day.

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya culture and history with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@d.jpaulcarter2725]

love your videos amazing keep up the good work !!!!

[@reddiamond6688]

Wow!!! Thanks for the video.

[@miriamngutu1659]

Lots of love from Nairobi Kenya

[@cainacoutinho4481]

Oh man, what a incredible journey! You always leave me with this magical feeling of being culturally transplanted by the grace of a special ability that none but you have. Stay safe and don't forget to come to Brazil.

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@kaceesavage]

You have the best travel vlogs out there.

[@chrisc9869]

I love your videos man. Great therapy for when someone is having an off day.

[@MattDiamondFlix]

Kindly stop by my channel and help me grow.. a lot of Kenya culture and history with a splash of Uganda so far 🇰🇪 ✌🏻

[@perhennung]

Great guy, interesting visit , good raw wideo! 🙏

[@joshuaw.435]

I visited Nieuwe Aurora in Decemeber! You did an awesome job showcasing those beautiful people, thanks again bro @sabbatical

[@sampiantje929]

Hi it's Nieuw-Aurora 🥰

[@joshuaw.435]

@@sampiantje929 thank you!

[@raiefbhikhie1643]

Hi Tommy. I like your video's. Keep em coming. Like the way you interact with people from different backgrounds. Thumbs up. 👍

[@Satriiano]

Very beautiful place man . Nice and a very good vlog and happy to see my motherland 💪🏽❤️ Keep doing the good work 👍🏿

[@maureenalder8905]

Amazing as Always..love how you pick up on all the different languages..love you Tommy ❤ 🇬🇧

[@blususpect]

Sabbatical style ✈️🇸🇷 great vlog!

[@mrm7676]

fawaka , love ur content on our lovely country, tyt and explore cuz there is a lot to discover

[@Roadsoda4]

A new Sabbatical video on my birthday. 🎂 Thanks Tommy!!

[@gardensteps]

Happy Birthday Dustin!

[@dolarie5285]

Your presence and your demeanour is beautiful humble and calm it is pleasure to listen to you .Much love to you

[@johnmcintosh5413]

Great work Tommy yet again I’ve been lucky enough to see different countries myself but I’ve never done Africa myself and I ain’t as young now a days so it was another informative journey alongside you 🌍✌🏼

[@amponsahfranklinabel1659]

I am from Ghana and I know for a fact that this village looks like an Ghanaian village. The way they interact with each other, their natural environment looks just like Ghana and the tonation and accent of their language sounds Ghanaian( even tho I don’t know what language that is and do not understand it). I’m glad I watched this video and kuddos to you man

[@efyafrimpomaa]

Yeaa I noticed that too

[@amponsahfranklinabel1659]

@@efyafrimpomaa what part of Ghana are you from?

[@giorgio6377]

Hahaha we are akan people my brother mixed with loango congo people and Nigerian and benin but akan culture dominated and thats what we doing we believe in naana nyankopon we say nana keduaman keduampon we know asase yaa as mama aisa we have twi words like opete in our language and we have akan day names also like kofi etc but that watered down

[@giorgio6377]

@@efyafrimpomaa we also have fante costume king from ashanti came to surinam to say pardon for what his forefather did

[@kwameamanfo1314]

I heard someone say Kojo

[@Asereht6534]

I'm actually traveling and exploring vicariously through u. Learning so many different things about places I didn't know existed. I've watched so many documentaries in my life time but I never heard of African ppl living in the rainforest of South America this a new one on me. I am a VIKI subscriber I get to watch series about Chinese, Korean history melodramas with subtitles I stumbled upon u in China about a week ago I been watching every since. Thank u so much for all u do your my favorite one and only authentic traveling polyglot stay safe😊 🙌

[@godking4118]

Excellent vlog once again my good sir🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷

[@bearcubd3900]

Seems like each video you get more and more remote on your travels , be safe bro 👍

[@mearsmultimediallc1917]

Awesome documentation! Thank you!

[@lokech9272]

Another one from the Great TOMMY!! It only gets better and interesting. Wow! I feel like I was walking with you thro the visit in those lovely peaceful villages. What a great insight and revelation of places we have only heard of in the history. Amazing how it is so well preserved and the locals all look happy and healthy and independent. They got their own way of life which is so pure. As you have said, they are more African than us here in Africa. We have been diluted by different reliogions, geo politics and globalisation. We are impressed with their houses designs. Long roofs on wooden walls, street or walk ways designs and the creativity to live in the jungle. They got the best of both worlds. The use of the rivers as a means of transport is wonderful. Roads should not be builts, because the foreign outsiders will influx and destroy the land in search of minearals and the planting of the foreign palm oil trees. I am so very grateful to be one of your subscribers. We miss you here in Nairobi, KENYA! Ahsante sana Tommy!

[@robertcarter6887]

Dude, you really get around. Best of luck to you. Enjoy your travels, I do appreciate

[@tomdutcher2131]

So very much enjoying your travels. I was in Bolivia many years ago and befriended an Aussie by the name of Paul. He got us on a boat ride down the Rio Beni and eventually Rurenbaque. Those are some of my best memories.

[@joselouru]

Awesome video as always very educational and interesting! Keep them coming bro ! Safe travels

[@eric81872]

Thank you for the video!😜👍♥

[@Bitchslapper316]

That seems like a relaxing commute to/from work.

[@VBN59Z]

It’s like africa just without the chaos and everyone saying to Sabbatical, “Hello, how are you, give me money.”

[@youme1414]

Thank you for this rare video of villages in Suriname, sir

[@goldbluetears]

Fantastic content. Truly a historical record of African history.

[@dertythegrower]

africa could get more tourists if they had more documentary makers with drones...

[@barrybrowning3667]

Your travels Tommy show me how much I take for granted living here in the U.S. yet also helps me see how content people can be without the many things I take for granted. Always great to seemingly walk with you @ times. A laid back, quiet journey this time around. Catch ya next time, be safe !

[@spssisfun2270]

Excellent work once again. Keep it up. Don't change anything.

[@SOUTHERNMAN33]

Good video once again.

[@Tombombadillo999]

Wow wht an amazing series, very unique, thanks bro

[@td370]

8:48 wow I find it interesting that the locals wear a type of Tartan cloth. The tartan pattern has origin in Celtic countries like Scotland and Ireland. I guess this is the culturally connected world we live in now.

[@SheldonY14]

The clothing style is called a Dyimba (read as Jimba). It's a Saramaccan male clothing style. The cloth however is nowadays imported. In the past they made it themselves.

[@weechill333]

@@SheldonY14 I noticed this too. I stay in Scotland and this reminded me of the tartan pattern.

[@eddydejagere3411]

Liked the villages a lot. Thanks for the video.

[@JustinVenture-]

Amazing video as always. Wish you would of explored into the rainforest though. Maybe in another video?

[@kobe_trev]

Keep up the good work, just joined your patreon. Heading to Tanzania later this month because of your videos. 250k subscribers but only 56 patreon supporters. Come on people let's help Sabbatical out...

[@antarjones7888]

Nice video! I thought it was like West Africa, but more chill than Nigeria. Your videos in Nigeria showed an edge to that country in every frame. These villages seemed much more laid back. Folks seemed to be more at peace. Was that your impression, Sabbatical?

[@ibibiotutorials3742]

It's exactly like Southeastern Nigeria... Sabbatical went to Lagos, Nigeria's overpopulated state... Southeastern Nigeria still maintain those religion

[@shagotg]

Always here ❤ much love

[@MyAfricanvillageug]

Thanks for the video Keep up the good work

[@LR24134]

Love Suriname 🇸🇷 ❤️😍 Thank you for sharing😍🇸🇷❤️

[@armandofernandez6772]

At 26:56- "aqui" is also Spanish for "here". Spanish is quite similar to Portuguese, it doesn't mean they're able to understand one each other.

[@Jason_Israel]

Yes we borrowed a couple of words from the Spanish/Portugese settlers.

[@avalondreaming1433]

Thank you Tommy, for sharing this fantastic country!

[@whatsthenameofthatchannel7713]

“Do you have any board games on the boat”🤣🤣...only Sabbatical can get away with that.

[@donred1693]

You're one crazy blast man. You like going to strange places joking with people. Are there any board games on this trip", and " Hey, I' m a Bakara"? lmao. Bro. You are one crazy dude , but I love your charisma and sense of humor. Great video .

[@filipbelgio1101]

And suddenly there was a white man pissing in their backyard lol😅 . Translation of the information sign located on the church... After peace was concluded with the Samaraccaners in 1762, the first Maroon missionary post of the EBG was established near Senthea in 1765. In 1771 the first Maroon was baptized, Johannes Arabi. The desire to establish a missionary post came from Governor Crommelin. The idea behind this was that the missionaries could also serve as Postman (observers). A trio of missionaries took on the task, Stoll, Jones, and Dahne. Of these three evangelists, Jones would die a few months after their arrival and Dahne returned to Europe, leaving Stoll alone. Granman Abini received a warm welcome from the missionaries and his son John Arabi would be baptized locally by the EBG a few years later as the first Maroon. The rest of the community was originally less positive about the arrival of the EGB-ers. Their Obia men (predecessors) threatened with the wrath of their gods. The EGB people then turned to teaching and translating the Bible. Johannes Arabi would be the first to be baptized Maroon in 1771 by Christophel Kersten. Johannes Arabi would continue the evangelizing work himself until his death in 1821. After him, among another Maroon group, the Matawai, there would arise another well-known evangelist named John King.

[@sothokazi5460]

I like how you say you are back on the road instead of back on the watery road Tommy. Definitely can't imagine myself travelling on a river to go shopping or to visit friends and family, but the country is definitely beautiful and a lot of Afrikaans people is South Africa could probably converse well with the Dutch speaking people of Suriname. We live in a very diverse world and technology has helped to bring other nations of the world into our homes because of the work that people like you who are brave and daring and willing to do what others might view as risky. Beautiful content and beautiful people that you have shown to us once again.

[@westho7314]

Enjoy the pace in your videos Sabbatical, walking in stride with your surroundings along with your intuitive nature to learn languages. Interacting with locals at their pace culture & customs & adding tidbits of local history along the way. Unlike so many other travel vlogs bent on getting more subscribers while trying to compress so much content focusing on action & drama into a hopeful 15 minutes of fame or 30 minutes of busy boredom. Half of that content time being selfie -speak from behind a windshield. The other half talking about prices, food or comparing wherever they're at with the US.-ad nauseum. You got it right, enjoy the stroll through time.& thanks for sharing some of that time & experience!

[@ramaburin]

i am dutch and tx for giving this info about suriname. Now i am certanly sure to visit this beautiful country.

[@globalutv1]

Cool footage

[@ZeekmanEats]

Awesome video… even the villages are as diverse as the big city

[@parboguy]

I don't understand Saamaka, but what I can understand from what the boy said (14:33) is that 'you should come back' (yu mu kon baka). Today you should come here. 15:49 - 16:02 Yeah that's the 'Kankantri'. The name is a corruption of the English 'cotton tree' (Ceiba pentandra)

[@aishasno587]

True, he said you must come back

[@a.deadgirl]

Thank you for everything you do:")

[@johnlesoudeur3653]

Fascinating history of these tribes. Thanks for posting your experience.

[@JeroenSWart]

Nice one. When you went swimming I was expecting that you would disapear into the distance hahaha

[@supyfly9925]

Hey bro you have to put another one out faster I enjoy your tours keep up the good work safe travels

[@kingPerry22]

Thank you Tommy for literally showing me the world.