Diima Doti - Suriname

Diima Doti is a 30 minute documentary about the production of Maroon clay pottery in the upper Suriname River region of Suriname, South America. According to the oral accounts of the Saamaka Maroons, descendants of the escaped enslaved, Diima was the name of the historic female figure who discovered the special clay (doti) used to make the pottery. It was documented that Maroons no longer make pots. But these objects continue to be made and used for traditional purposes. The documentary showcases aspects of the chaÎne opératoire: procuring the raw material; preparing the raw material; constructing or roughing out the pottery; performing and finishing the pottery; and the firing process. The documentary was produced in 2021/2022 by: Cheryl White of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname; archaeologist Santosh Singh, MA; Joney Doekoe, Director of the Saamaka Museum; potters, Bensawa Amienba, Alinzoli Bodji, elder potter Dangowtu Doekoe; and members of the Saamakaan community from the villages of Futunakaba, Piki-seei and Botopasi. The film has English subtitles and is narrated in the Saamakaan language by Thanya Soke-Fonkel.