Maroon Isle Productions proudly presents Oskuneru, a groundbreaking theatrical production that brings the untold story of the Surinamese Maroons to the stage.
Opening February 8, 2025, at The Art Lab in Miami, the play marks a milestone in cultural storytelling, blending immersive performances with historical depth to honor Black History Month. Written and directed by Miami-born, Suriname-raised playwright Sefanja Richard Galon, Oskuneru is a celebration of resilience, cultural preservation, and the triumph of self-liberation.
The production, years in the making, originated as a virtual reading during the pandemic and has evolved through college performances and workshops to become a full-scale theatrical experience. With its rich narrative and dynamic set design, Oskuneru aims to bridge Caribbean heritage and global conversations about freedom and identity.
We spoke with Galon about the creative journey behind Oskuneru, the importance of the Maroons’ story, and what audiences can expect from this highly anticipated debut.
Sefanja, what inspired you to create Oskuneru, and why do you feel it’s important to tell the story of the Surinamese Maroons today?
I wrote Oskuneru in the summer of 2020, or the BLM summer, because I was at home looking at everything that was being said about black people in the USA and how they have always been slaves and couldn’t get away from the legacy of being oppressed. So I, knowing my heritage as a Surinamese Maroon, decided it would be a great time to share the story of my ancestors’ resilience because that story is what kept me moving forward when I faced my own trials and tribulations here in the States.
That summer, over a couple of weeks, I wrote the draft that eventually became Oskuneru in the hope of sharing it with the African diaspora and inspiring a discourse about the true meaning of being of African descent.
The production of Oskuneru has evolved significantly, from a Zoom reading during the pandemic to live performances and workshops. How has this development shaped your vision for the play, and what can audiences expect from its debut in 2025?
It has helped me see what is possible with live performances. Each iteration of the play brought me closer to my ultimate goal for the project: to share this play on the largest stages in the world. Audiences can expect live music, epic dance performances, riveting fight sequences, and poetic dialogue that will transport them to a time when African people were dealing firsthand with colonization and the real choices those who were thrust into slavery had to make in order to survive the time.
You’ve mentioned that Oskuneru is a tribute to the Maroons’ resilience. How does the play balance historical accuracy with creative interpretation, especially when dealing with a culturally rich and complex subject?
While the characters and plot may be fictional, the situations and circumstances of the play are historically accurate. There was a war in the Guyanas that eventually became Suriname. There were a number of revolts that occurred in the plantations in the colonial era, considering that just as many Africans were brought over to be personal servants to the colonialists as there were to work the fields, which resulted in there being 10 Africans for every one colonial.
This story was crafted from the word-of-mouth history of the Surinamese Maroons, historical text written by Surinamese scholars, journals of colonial soldiers, and the lingering aftermath and legacy of the colonials left in the country. This play takes all of the dogma, trauma, and history that was prevalent during that era and centers it on one African family torn from their homeland and forced to adapt, showing the consequences of human trafficking and cultural genocide while celebrating the ability to persevere despite their circumstances.
The play highlights themes of cultural preservation, unity, and resilience. How do you see these themes resonate with audiences not just during Black History Month but also in a global context?
At its core, the Surinamese Maroons story is about human resilience and ingenuity. We can all learn from their determination and persistence during their trials from Africa to Suriname. Just like we see ourselves in the plight of the pilgrims and acknowledge the significance of the Holocaust, sharing our stories about cultural preservation, unity, and resilience is the job of any culture to enrich the global community and demonstrate poignant expressions of the human spirit and experience.
Personally, I wanted to share this story to show that the African diaspora did not take slavery lying down and definitely fought it every step of the way for their dignity, freedom, and culture. Their advocacy for themselves in their lives exists in their descendants and can be used to connect the diasporas by saying we, too, exist because of them.
As a Miami native and someone raised in Suriname, how has your dual cultural background influenced your approach to storytelling, and how does Oskuneru reflect that fusion of identities?
I am a first-generation immigrant, and like many citizens in this city, my family moved here for a better life. I am inspired by the Jewish, Cuban, Haitian, Jamaican, and Venezuelan communities who also moved here for a better life, bearing stories of their own traditions and trials they endured in order to make it to Miami and establish and create their own communities and lives.
My family is no different, immigrating here for the promise of the American Dream, and Oskuneru is one of the stories we carry with us. The story of being forcibly emigrated to a land where you expected to labor and toil until you dropped dead and rest was a luxury that existed in death. Harking back to those stories of surviving slavery, it made whatever drama I was dealing with at work or in school feel so much smaller than what the family had endured and overcome in the past. Now, there are no people coming to kidnap you in the dead of night and force you into servitude.
There is an opportunity to grow in this city just like millions of other immigrants have come to the USA and contributed to its culture, economy, and spirit. Now, as a Surinamese-American, I find the perspectives I grew up with influence a variety of my decisions and acknowledge the privileges and opportunities they afford me. I find myself wanting to write zany, whacky, wild stories and those that possess a deep historical and cultural connection. My education, talent, and platform are unique among my people, so I might as well share their stories as they are mine.
