Ine Apapoe
2025

Female leadership within Maroon societies is a relatively new and underexplored field of research that can provide important insights into the changing role of women in traditional communities. Until 2004, formal leadership roles within these societies were almost exclusively reserved for men. The appointment of female captains since 2004 marks a significant shift in traditional power structures.

Although this development formally appears to be a step toward gender equality, it remains unclear whether female captains actually have and exercise influence within governance and decision-making processes in their respective communities. This raises the question whether these appointments lead to structural changes in decision-making, governance, and the social status and recognition of female captains, or whether the role is largely symbolic.

A systematic study of female leadership in Maroon societies is of great importance, not only for the academic understanding of leadership and gender relations in tribal societies, but also for the development of policies aimed at inclusive governance. Moreover, this research contributes to the broader discussion about the opportunities for women to create space for participation and agency within traditional systems. By giving female leaders a voice and examining their roles, challenges, and societal positions, this research offers a unique perspective on social change from within. To place this social change in context, male leaders are also interviewed to provide their perspectives on the appointment of female leaders. This research contributes, among other things, to drawing a clearer picture of female leadership in traditional societies.

Ine Apapoe is based in Paramaribo, Suriname. Since 2010, she has been a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Anton de Kom University. In 2024, she obtained her PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam after completing her dissertation: Governing Apart Together: The Structure, Process and Quality of Modern, Traditional and Dual Governance in Suriname, with Special Reference to the Ndyuka Maroons.