What is djuka?

Djuka (also known as Aukan) is a Creole language spoken in Suriname by the Djuka Maroons, descendants of African slaves who escaped from Dutch plantations in the 17th and 18th centuries and established independent communities in the interior rainforest. Djuka has around 15,000 speakers and is considered an endangered language, as younger generations are increasingly shifting to Dutch and Sranan Tongo.

The Djuka language features a complex tone system and a rich vocabulary influenced by African languages like Bantu, Akan, and Fon, as well as Dutch, Portuguese, and English. It has a distinct syntax and grammar, with nominal and verbal cognition, and a three-way tense system distinguishing between present, past, and future events.

Djuka plays an important role in the cultural identity and oral tradition of the Djuka people, who use the language in storytelling, songs, proverbs, and rituals. Efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize Djuka through education, literature, and community initiatives, such as the creation of a Djuka dictionary and the organization of language revitalization workshops.