Apatou


Apatou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Apatou is home to Maroons of different tribes. Apatou contains Aluku, Paramacca, Ndyuka, and Sarmaka people.

History

The town of Apatou was founded in 1812 as Moutende. It was renamed after Captain Apatou of the Alukus. In the late 19th century, Aluku was a guide for the explorer Jules Crevaux. In 1898 Apatou mediated between France and the Colony of Suriname with regards to the border, and allied the Aluku with France. He also united all the different tribes on the French side.
Apatou was up to 1969 part of the Inini territory which allowed for an autonomous and self sufficient tribal system for the Maroons without clear borders. Along with the commune, came a government structure, and francisation. Most importantly, it led to the concentration in bigger villages and the near abandonment of smaller settlements.
The commune of Apatou was created on 12 November 1976 by detaching its territory from the commune of Grand-Santi-Papaichton.

Transport

The villages in the commune could only to be reached by boat from the Maroni River. In 2010, Route Nationale 5 opened connecting Apatou with Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and the road network of French Guiana. The road was opened with the Tour of Guiana.