Fellow Thanya Fonkel
Thanya D. Fonkel is an independent researcher from Suriname, with a particular focus on oral sources within Maroon communities.
Her research centres on socio-cultural issues related to the development of Maroon societies. In December 2024, she published her first independent work, a novel titled Voor eeuwig tussen vreemden (Forever between strangers). Thanya is actively involved in community development initiatives with both Maroon and Indigenous communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Faculty of Humanities) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Governance from the FHR Lim A Po Institute for Social Studies, in collaboration with the Erasmus International Institute of Social Studies (ISS).