Diitabiki, Capital of the Aukan Nation Map of Web Site | Tapanahony River | Photos
		Diitabiki, or Drietabbetje, is the capital of the Aukan nation. It is located on the upper Tapanahony River in the southeast corner of Suriname. Very little is visible of Diitabiki in this picture except the distant waterfront lined with tall trees and boats docked at their feet. Behind the trees are several hundred Aukan homes. The boat in the foreground is a skillfully fashioned Aukan dugout.
	Gaaman Gazon is chief of the Aukan Nation. His residence and seat of authority is in Diitabiki. Installed in 1965, Gazon has served as Gaaman for nearly 35 years and is now about 80 years old. He is greatly respected by all Aukan people and has earned the reputation as a man of much wisdom. He has traveled to West Africa, the home of his ancestors. He has also traveled to the US where he visited Washington D.C. and New York.
		The typical Aukan village has one or more captains (village headmen) and basiyas (assistants). On important occasions, these men are called to Diitabiki for council meetings ("kuutu"). At a recent kuutu (left), all the head captains of the nation (3), plus many other captains and basiyas assembled together to deliberate on a matter of importance to the nation. (Aukaners used to dress in native clothing styles and still do on some occasions, but western dress has become standard.)
	This building, located in Diitabiki, houses the Gaangadu (the great god) which is believed to be the most powerful Aukan god, the god behind the authority of Chief Gaaman Gazon.
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