:Moengo

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=moengo&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1910-1919%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:110636007:mpeg21:a0022&resultsidentifier=ddd:110636007:mpeg21:a0022&rowid=1 |title=Naar Moengo|website=De West via Delpher.nl|date=30 September 1919|access-date=2 January 2022|language=nl}} In 1916, Alcoa founded the first bauxite mine in Suriname,{{cite web| url=http://www.alcoa.com/suriname/en/alcoa_suriname/suriname_overview.asp | title=Overview of Alcoa on Suriname | publisher=Alcoa | access-date=2013-04-26}} and this marks the beginning of the current town. Moengo was designed in 1919 to house 4,000 people. It would become a major centre for the mining and storage of bauxite.

{{anchor|Wonoredjo}}

Moengo was a segregated town. The American Quarter was built for the Americans and Dutch, the Surinamese Quarter for the Afro-Surinamese,{{sfn|Koning|2011|p=223}} and Wonoredjo for the Javanese Surinamese.{{sfn|Koning|2011|p=219}} Maroons were only hired for temporary work or trade in the town, and had to leave by sundown.{{sfn|Koning|2011|p=231}} Until the 1960s, the racial regulations remained in force.{{sfn|Koning|2011|p=239}} In 2012, the Maroons formed the biggest ethnic group with a significant minority of Javanese.

File:Stafdorp Moengo 2017, 03.png

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/27/world/suriname-s-leader-and-rebel-chief-vow-to-negotiate-uprising-s-end.html|title=Suriname's Leader and Rebel Chief Vow to Negotiate Uprising's End|website=The New York Times|date=27 March 1991|access-date=14 May 2020}} A large portion of the population fled the town, the bauxite mine ceased its operations, and several buildings burned down.{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/175alg/marowijne02.html|title=Distrikt Marowijne 2|website=Suriname.nu|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}

Moengo ceased to be mainly dependent on mining in the late 20th century.{{sfn|Koning|2011|p=243}} In June 2014, Alcoa announced that the bauxite mine was almost depleted, and wanted to cease operations in Suriname.{{cite web|url=http://gov.sr/themas/natuurlijke-hulpbronnen/bauxiet.aspx|title=Bauxiet|website=The Government of Suriname|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}} In 2017, the ownership of Suralco, the local subsidiary, was transferred to the Government of Suriname.{{cite news|url=https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2017/01/05/overname-alcoa-bezit-suriname-beginnen/?cn-reloaded=1|title=Overname Alcoa-bezit in Suriname kan beginnen|website=Waterkant.net|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}

Moengo could originally only be reached via the river. In 1926 lieutenant Weyne started to build a road to Moengotapoe which was extended to Paramaribo in 1929. In 1964, the East-West Link opened.

The Moengo Airstrip is located near the town, and was founded in 1955. Originally the airport was called Schiphol after Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.{{cite web|url=https://roosjeverschoor.com/geschiedenis-moengo/|title=Geschiedenis Moengo|access-date=14 May 2020|website=Roosje Verschuur}}

The Port of Moengo is a medium sized port with UN/LOCODE SRMOJ.{{cite web|url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ports/21921/Suriname_port:MOENGO |title=MOENGO Port|website=Marine Traffic|access-date=2 January 2022}} It used to be privately owned by Alcoa. In 2008, it was sold to Traymore Docks.{{cite news|url=https://caribbean-maritime.com/index.php/latest22/issue-16/74-moengo-port-facilities-up-and-running.html |title=Moengo port facilities up and running|date=30 April 2013|access-date=2 January 2022}} It has two jetties of which one is capable of handling oil tankers. Ocean-going ships have to use river tugboats.{{cite web|url=https://www.seabaycargo.com/seaport/detail/Moengo-Suriname_SRMOJ.html |title=Introduction of Moengo Port (SRMOJ)|website=Sea Bay Cargo|access-date=2 January 2022}}

File:Moengo Festival of Theatre & Dance, 2017 - 3.png

The town is home to two Suriname first division football clubs: Inter Moengotapoe who play at Ronnie Brunswijkstadion, and Notch who play at Moengo Stadion.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mondriaanfonds.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Tembe-Art-Studio2-2.pdf|title=Marowijne Art Park - Artists in Residence|website=Mondriaan Foundation|access-date=14 May 2020}} These artists-in-residence have to donate a work of art to the {{ill|Marowijne Art Park|nl}} located in the nearby village of Ovia Olo. As of 2011, Moengo is home to the Contemporary Art Museum Moengo which is the first museum for contemporary art in Suriname.{{cite web|url=https://www.monopol-magazin.de/abwesenheitsnotiz-de-rooij|title=Abwesenheitsnotiz: Willem de Rooij Erinnerungen an Moengo |website=Monopol Magazin|language=de|access-date=14 May 2020}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.dwtonline.com/mobiel/?node=480644|title=Stichting Kibii dreigt locatie te verliezen|website=De Ware Tijd|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}

• Ricanau Mofo

• Tommy Asinga (1968), athlete.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/as/tommy-asinga-1.html|title=Tommy Asinga|website=Sports Reference|access-date=14 May 2020}}
• George Barron (1949-2017), sculptor.{{cite web|url=https://www.suriname.nu/surinamenu/knowledge-base/george-fredrik-alexander-barron/|title=George Fredrik Alexander Barron|website=Suriname.nu|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}
• Gerrit Barron (1951), children's book author.{{cite news|url=https://parbode.com/de-surinaamse-droom-van-gerrit-barron/|title=De Surinaamse droom van Gerrit Barron|website=Parbode|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}
• Marinus Bee (~1971), politician, Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname.{{cite web|url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2020/07/07/marinus-bee-draagt-voortaan-mba-titel/|title=Marinus Bee draagt voortaan MBA-titel|website=Dagblad Suriname|date=7 July 2020|access-date=9 July 2020|language=nl}}
• Boni (c. 1730–1793), freedom fighter and guerrilla leader{{Cite web|title=Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 154 - Boschnegers|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/benj004ency01_01/benj004ency01_01.pdf| date=1916|access-date=21 July 2020|language=nl}}
• Humphrey Campbell (1958-2024), singer and record producer.{{cite web|url=https://www.conservatoriumvanamsterdam.nl/docenten/jazz/humphrey-campbell/|title=Humphrey Campbell |website=Conservatory of Amsterdam|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}
• Kenneth Kluivert (1941), football player.{{cite news|url=https://svb.sr/nieuws/suri-legend-kenneth-kluivert/ |title=Suri Legend Kenneth Kluivert|website=Surinaamse Voetbal Bond|access-date=4 January 2022|language=nl}}
• {{ill|Joël Martinus|nl}} a.k.a. Mony Hond Bordo{{cite news|url=https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2018/01/25/mony-hond-bordo-wil-surinaamse-politiek/|title='Mony Hond Bordo' wil de Surinaamse politiek in|website=Waterkant|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}} (~1981), politician and convicted drug dealer.{{cite news|url=https://dagonline.nl/suriname/surinaamse-mony-hond-37-veroordeeld-tot-acht-jaar-gevangenisstraf/|title=Surinaamse Mony Hond (37) veroordeeld tot acht jaar gevangenisstraf|website=Dag Online|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/le-mans-72000/le-mans-jusqua-8-ans-de-prison-pour-trafic-de-cocaine-le-boss-en-fuite-9118f395-bd3a-34e7-a8aa-ed9a17b94384|title=Le Mans. Jusqu'à 8 ans de prison pour trafic de cocaïne, le boss en fuite|website=Ouest France|language=fr|access-date=14 May 2020}}
• Humphrey Mijnals (1930-2019), football player.{{cite news|url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/surinaams-icoon-en-pionier-humphrey-mijnals-88-overleden~a5699ba7/?referrer=https://en.wikipedia.org/|title=Surinaams icoon en pionier Humphrey Mijnals (88) overleden|website=Algemeen Dagblad|access-date=14 May 2020|language=nl}}
• Max Nijman (1941-2016), singer.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1362980-Max-Nijman|title=Max Nijman|website=Discogs.com|access-date=14 May 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/nwig/85/3-4/article-p215_3.xml?language=en |title=Shadows of the Plantation? A Social History of Suriname's Bauxite Town Moengo |first=Anouk de|last=Koning|year=2011| journal=New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids|volume=85 |issue=3–4 |pages=215–246 |location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|doi=10.1163/13822373-90002430 |doi-access=free|hdl=2066/160695|hdl-access=free}}

{{Commons category|Moengo|position=left}}

{{Coord|5|37|N|54|24|W|region:SR_type:city|display=title}}

{{Resorts of Suriname}}

{{Surinamese District Marowijne}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Resorts of Suriname

Category:Populated places in Marowijne District

Category:Bauxite mining in Suriname