Chapter 1 of 13: In brief
Digital company presentation 2026 — Afu-Mena Group
Chapter 01 — Afu-Mena Group in brief
An international group rooted in the rainforest
Afu-Mena Group is an international group of companies rooted in the Maroon culture of East Suriname, structured under Da.Awani Holding B.V. in the Netherlands.
The name Afu-Mena means “cherish what you have” in Pamaka, the language of the Maroons of East Suriname. That idea shapes how the group works: build on what is already there — origin, knowledge, network and territory — and grow it step by step into companies in trade, gold, consultancy, knowledge and culture.
Slogan
Empower, Enrich: Cherish Past, Protect Nature!
Cherish what you have. Build what is possible.
Group at a glance
2010
Active since
Afu-Mena N.V. founded in March 2010
1
Holding
Da.Awani Holding B.V., the Netherlands
3
Countries
Suriname, French Guiana and the Netherlands
5
Areas of activity
Trade, gold, consultancy, media and knowledge, art and heritage
The five areas of activity
Trade and distribution
Import and distribution of food and beverages in French Guiana. The cash flow under the group.
Gold and mining
Purchasing, refining and processing with mercury-free mining as the starting point.
Consultancy
Participative management, FPIC and entrepreneurship support since June 2010.
Business Model TV
Educational media and knowledge platform for entrepreneurs, since 2016.
Art and heritage
Maroon textile art and rainforest products as a strategic niche.
Chapter 02 — Our roots
Cherishing what you have
This group was not conceived in an office. It grows out of the Maroon culture of East Suriname and the way that culture deals with property, knowledge and environment.
Afu-Mena — Pamaka
Afu-Mena
“cherish what you have”
The Maroons of East Suriname are descendants of people who freed themselves from slavery and settled in tribal communities in the interior. Pamaka is one of their languages.
Tembe, the woodcarving tradition and the textile work that belongs with it, is the visible language of that culture. The forms are not only decoration: they carry meaning, kinship and care.
That attitude is also a business principle. The group starts from what is present — origin, craftsmanship, network, territory — and builds companies from it without exhausting the source.
Cherish what you have. Build what is possible.
Guiding principle of the group
Da.Awani Holding B.V.
Chapter 03 — Da.Awani Holding B.V.
Heritage refined, future defined.
The holding holds the participations, safeguards the strategy and connects entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge and international cooperation.
Da.Awani Holding B.V. is the strategic holding behind companies, investments, consultancy and international initiatives. Based in the Netherlands, it creates sustainable economic value by connecting entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge and international cooperation.
The focus is on Europe, Suriname, French Guiana, the Caribbean and the diaspora. The holding builds bridges between markets, cultures, knowledge networks and investment opportunities.
Areas of focus
Europe, Suriname, French Guiana, the Caribbean and the diaspora: bridges between markets, cultures, knowledge networks and investment opportunities.
Four core activities
Consultancy & Advisory
Advice and guidance for companies, governments and organisations, from strategy to organisational development.
Entrepreneurship & Business Development
Developing entrepreneurship and growing companies, with business model innovation as the method.
Investments & Holdings
Participations and investments that carry and strengthen the activities of the group.
Community Development & CSR
Investing in communities and corporate social responsibility as a fixed part of the work.
Mission and vision
Mission
Creating sustainable economic and societal value by connecting entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge and investment.
Vision
An international ecosystem where entrepreneurship, culture, knowledge and capital create sustainable growth, self-reliance and impact for future generations.
Core values
Integrity
Keeping agreements and being open about what is and is not possible.
Leadership
Taking responsibility and giving direction, also when it is uncomfortable.
Innovation
Renewing existing models instead of repeating them.
Sustainability
Making choices that hold up across generations.
Connection
Bringing markets, cultures and networks into contact with each other.
Entrepreneurship
Seeing opportunities and turning them into working companies.
Societal impact
Value that reaches beyond our own balance sheet.
Chapter 04 — Structure
One holding, six entities, three countries
All activities of the group sit under Da.Awani Holding B.V. Each entity has its own country, its own market and its own role.
Da.Awani Holding B.V.
Holds the participations and safeguards the group's strategy
Afu-Mena NV
Suriname
Afu-Mena International NV
Suriname
Afu-Mena Consultancy NV
Suriname
Afu-Mena BV
Netherlands
Ma-Danso BV
Netherlands
Afu-Mena Guyane
French Guiana
| Entity | Country | Role within the group |
|---|---|---|
| Da.Awani Holding B.V. | Netherlands | The strategic holding of the group, based in the Netherlands. It holds the participations and connects companies, investments, consultancy and international initiatives. |
| Afu-Mena NV | Suriname | The Surinamese operating company that grew out of the founding in March 2010. It carries the business units Consultancy (since June 2010), Superfoods (since October 2015) and International (since July 2022). |
| Afu-Mena International NV | Suriname | Holds the group's gold activities since July 2022: purchase from local miners, purification and processing for the local market and export, with mercury-free mining as the starting point. |
| Afu-Mena Consultancy NV | Suriname | Active since June 2010. Promotes sustainability through training, export promotion and professionalism, and supports entrepreneurship, creativity and community development with cultural heritage as its starting point. |
| Afu-Mena BV | Netherlands | Dutch entity under the holding. The detailed activity profile is being finalised. |
| Ma-Danso BV | Netherlands | Dutch entity under the holding. The detailed activity profile is being finalised. |
| Afu-Mena Guyane | French Guiana | Based in Cayenne, strategic for the exchange between French Guiana, Suriname and the diaspora. Four activities: import and distribution of food and beverages, Maroon art and textile, Business Model TV, and training and support in entrepreneurship. |
The group over time
March 2010
Afu-Mena N.V. is founded
Paulus Boike Tojo founds Afu-Mena N.V. in Suriname.
June 2010
Afu-Mena Consultancy starts
The consultancy practice begins: advice and guidance for entrepreneurs, organisations and communities.
2015
Entrepreneurship training programmes start
The group begins delivering training programmes for entrepreneurs.
October 2015
Afu-Mena Superfoods
The Superfoods business unit starts with products from the rainforest.
2016
Business Model TV is created
Business Model TV is founded as an educational media and knowledge platform for entrepreneurs.
July 2022
Afu-Mena International
The International business unit starts; it holds the gold activities of the group.
Today
The group under Da.Awani Holding B.V.
Afu-Mena Group is structured under Da.Awani Holding B.V., with entities in Suriname, the Netherlands and French Guiana.
Chapter 05 — Leadership and team
The people behind the group
Afu-Mena Group was founded and is led by Paulus Boike Tojo MBA (DBA Candidate). The team works from Suriname, the Netherlands and French Guiana.
Founder
Paulus Boike Tojo MBA (DBA Candidate)
Chief Executive Officer, Afu-Mena Group
Paulus Boike Tojo is an entrepreneur, consultant, trainer and business developer. He was born in 1973 in the Maroon village of Witagron and founded Afu-Mena N.V. in March 2010.
His background lies in art and culture, tourism, mining, training and development, and online sales. He has delivered training programmes since 2015 and created Business Model TV in 2016.
50+
Entrepreneurs and startups supported
More than fifty entrepreneurs and startups supported in Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Background and credentials
- MBA International Action Learning, Business School Netherlands, 2015.
- Founder and Managing Director of Afu-Mena since 2010.
- Corporate social responsibility experience in the mining sector at Newmont, 2010 to 2014.
- Languages: Dutch, English, Sranan and Maroon language (Businenge).
Expertise
- Strategic management
- Organisational development
- Entrepreneurship development
- Stakeholder management
- Business model innovation
- Corporate social responsibility
- International trade
- Business development
The team
The Afu-Mena Group team works from Suriname, the Netherlands and French Guiana.
Paulus Boike Tojo
Chief Executive Officer
Merelyn Koedoe-Abili
Executive Office Manager
Phylicia van Cooten
Coordinator Operations
Michele Donaghue
Coordinator Finance
Xerxes Moestadja
Business Development and Sales
Jelisa Tojo
ICT and Data
Charissa Nathan
Finance
Armando Abioni
Purchasing
Noekie Tojo
Purchasing
Chapter 06 — Trade and distribution
The engine under the group
Afu-Mena Guyane imports and distributes food and beverages, mainly from Suriname, for the market of French Guiana.
What this branch does
From Cayenne, Afu-Mena Guyane handles the import and distribution of food products and beverages, mainly sourced in Suriname. We manage the route from arrival to delivery.
For suppliers and brands that means market access to French Guiana through a partner who knows the territory, the language and the logistics. French Guiana is a French and European territory in South America with its own import rules, distribution patterns and language.
- 01
Import and clearance
We handle the import route and the local clearance.
- 02
Distribution to buyers
Delivery to buyers across French Guiana from a single point of contact.
- 03
Language and local knowledge
A French-speaking market, local networks and knowledge of the region.
A reliable, competitive and sustainable chain between Suriname and French Guiana.
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni as the hinge
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni lies on the Maroni river, on the border with Suriname. That location makes the region strategic for the exchange between French Guiana, Suriname and the diaspora.
Who we supply
Local shops
Shops that want a steady supply of products from Suriname.
Grocery stores
Grocery stores looking to broaden their range.
Restaurants
Hospitality working with products and flavours from the region.
Associations
Associations buying for their members and activities.
Local authorities
Local authorities and institutions with their own procurement needs.
Specialised resellers
Resellers with their own specialism or audience.
Why this branch funds the growth
Low investment cost
Building trade requires less upfront capital than mining or media.
Fast market access
Existing demand and existing channels make a quick start possible.
Familiar products
Products from Suriname are known to the communities on both sides of the river.
Direct cash flow
Revenue arrives in the short term and makes investing in the other branches possible.
Volumes, margins and customer names are not part of this presentation. Documentation is shared on request and after an introduction.
Chapter 07 — Gold and mining
Gold from a chain that holds up
Afu-Mena International NV supplies gold mined in an environmentally responsible way by local miners, organised in NGOs they founded themselves.
From miner to market
- 01
Local miners
The gold is mined by local miners, organised in NGOs they founded themselves.
- 02
Purchase
Afu-Mena International NV buys the gold directly from those miners and their organisations.
- 03
Purification and processing
The purchased gold is purified and processed.
- 04
Local market or export
Sale on the local market or export, together with local and international partners.
Mercury-free mining, and transferring that method
Afu-Mena International NV actively promotes mercury-free mining. The method is not only applied in-house: we transfer it to the miners we work with.
Mercury-free extraction and processing protects the environment and the living environment of the communities in the mining area. That makes it the core of the activity, not an annex to it.
Apply
Extraction and processing happen without mercury.
Transfer
The method is transferred to the miners we work with.
Protect
The environment and the living environment of surrounding communities are spared.
Three pillars under the CSR policy
Environment
Mercury-free mining and processing protects the environment and the living environment.
Social
Good employment conditions, fair contracts, careful selection of partners and cooperation with local communities.
Economy
An ethical contribution to the company, its staff and the local communities.
Communities and areas
Pamaka tribal area
Langatabiki, Pamaka and Gran kreek.
N'Djuka tribal area
Mama Ndjuka, the Ampoma area and Sela kreek.
Areas around the reservoir
The areas surrounding the reservoir.
Investing in the communities
Together with Stichting Bravo Sustainable Development Foundation a percentage of profit is invested in education, healthcare, capacity building and agriculture.
- Education
- Healthcare
- Capacity building
- Agriculture
This presentation names no certifications, no volumes and no site data. Documentation on origin and method is shared on request and after an introduction.
Chapter 08 — Consultancy and participative management
Sustainable development starts with trust
Afu-Mena Consultancy NV has been active since June 2010 and builds bridges between investors, governments and tribal communities.
Successful projects happen when companies and local communities work together on the basis of respect, transparency and mutual understanding.
Afu-Mena Consultancy NV promotes sustainability through training, export promotion and professionalism, and supports entrepreneurship, creativity and community development with cultural heritage as its starting point.
Sustainable development starts with trust.
Bridges between investors, governments and communities
Six fields of work
Participative management
Decision-making in which stakeholders genuinely take part rather than being informed.
Stakeholder engagement
Structurally involving stakeholders in a project, from start to finish.
FPIC
Free, Prior, Informed, Consent: consent given freely, in advance, informed and explicitly.
Community relations and mediation
Maintaining relations with communities and mediating where interests collide.
Benefit sharing
Agreements on how the proceeds of a project benefit the community.
Social license to operate
The societal support a project needs in order to operate.
Boike Tojo also works on ESG, conflict prevention and rural development.
The Afu-Mena Participative Management Tool
The tool works according to FREE, PRIOR, INFORMED, CONSENT: four steps that together determine whether a project has community support.
- 01
FREE
Free
Consent is given freely, without coercion, pressure or intimidation.
- 02
PRIOR
Prior
Consent is sought before the project starts, not afterwards.
- 03
INFORMED
Informed
The community holds full and understandable information about the project and its consequences.
- 04
CONSENT
Consent
The community explicitly gives its consent, or withholds it.
What it delivers
For companies and investors
- Less risk of conflict and delay
- A stronger social license to operate
- Better relations with communities and governments
- Projects that meet ESG requirements
- Investments that hold up over the long term
For communities
- A voice in decisions that affect them
- Information that is understandable and complete
- Agreements on sharing the proceeds
- Stronger own organisation and capacity
- Preservation of living environment and cultural heritage
Training and export promotion
Tailored training
Training is tailored and delivered both online and on location.
- Business models
- Excel
- Entrepreneurship
- Teambuilding
Export promotion
Export promotion for art from the interior, rooted in Maroon and Indigenous knowledge.
Business development
Guidance for existing and emerging entrepreneurs in building and strengthening their business.
Chapter 09 — Art, heritage and products
A niche that cannot be copied
Maroon art and cultural textile are core activities of Afu-Mena Guyane. Afu-Mena Superfoods has been supplying products from the Surinamese rainforest since October 2015.
Maroon art and cultural textile come from the tembe tradition: a language of forms built from interlocking lines, curves and angular symmetry, passed on from generation to generation.
Through this branch the group preserves and valorises Maroon heritage, while creating economic opportunity for local artisans and creators.
The range
Pangis
The woven and worked cloth at the heart of the Maroon textile tradition.
Traditional clothing
Clothing made within the Maroon tradition.
Tablecloths
Tablecloths carrying motifs from the tembe language of forms.
Sheets
Sheets in the same tradition of pattern and colour.
Hammocks
Hammocks from the craft of the region.
Decorative accessories
Accessories for the home and interior.
Contemporary textile creations
New work continuing the tradition in a contemporary form.
Afu-Mena Superfoods
Afu-Mena Superfoods has been active since October 2015 as a business unit of Afu-Mena NV and works with products from the Surinamese rainforest.
What sets these products apart is not the price, but origin, culture and careful harvesting.
Origin
We know where a product comes from and who worked on it.
Culture
The use and meaning of a product belong to the product itself.
Sustainable harvesting
Harvesting happens in a way that leaves the area intact.
We deliberately name no product names or prices here. The range is agreed per request.
Why this is strategic
This branch anchors the group's identity in culture and territory. It strengthens the brand under which the trade, knowledge and gold activities are presented.
Chapter 10 — Business Model TV
Strengthening entrepreneurship through knowledge
Business Model TV is an educational media and knowledge platform by Afu-Mena, active since 2016, helping entrepreneurs design, test and renew their business model.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs. Strengthening Business Models. Accelerating Growth.
Four fixed segments
- 01
Business Model Insight
A business model is taken apart: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and growth potential, aimed at better performance, innovation and long-term sustainability.
- 02
Entrepreneur Spotlight
A conversation with an entrepreneur, director, innovator or community leader about experience, lessons, challenges and strategy.
- 03
Canvas Challenge
Working with the Business Model Canvas: creating value, defining customers, generating revenue, and testing and improving the model.
- 04
Leadership & Growth
Knowledge, tools and best practices on leadership, organisational development, team performance, decision-making and effective management.
Three thematic pillars
Pillar 01
Core themes
- Entrepreneurship
- Business model innovation
- Leadership
- Strategy
Pillar 02
Growth and impact
- Startup growth
- Sustainable development
- Social enterprises
Pillar 03
Enabling themes
- Personal development
- Digital transformation
- Organisational development
Method: Action Learning
In every session participants work on their own company, career or organisation. What is discussed is applied and tested straight away.
Distribution
Television and YouTube
Full episodes and on-location reports.
Podcasts
In-depth audio interviews with business leaders.
Webinars and online courses
In-depth Business Model Canvas training.
Social media
Short leadership tips, spotlights and interaction with the community.
Seven audiences
Entrepreneurs and business owners
Entrepreneurs and business owners who want to strengthen their business model and accelerate growth.
Students and young professionals
Students and young professionals learning to think entrepreneurially and to map their own value.
Business leaders and managers
Leaders and managers working on leadership, organisational development and team performance.
Policymakers and development professionals
Policymakers and development professionals advancing entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Diaspora communities
Diaspora communities connecting knowledge, capital and networks with their region of origin.
Partners and support organisations
Partners and support organisations that guide, train or finance entrepreneurs.
Investors and financial partners
Investors and financial partners looking for well-founded business models and growth opportunities.
Team
Jelisa J. Tojo
Studio presenter
Presents the episodes from the studio and leads the fixed segments.
Paulus (Boike) Tojo MBA
On-location presenter
Makes the on-location reports and conversations, with entrepreneurs and in communities.
Business Model TV team
Production and management
Production and management of the programme are handled by the Business Model TV team.
Chapter 11 — Markets and reach
Three countries, one network
The group works from three countries. Each country brings its own market, its own legal form and its own role in the group.
Suriname
Origin and operational base: Afu-Mena NV, Afu-Mena International NV and Afu-Mena Consultancy NV.
French Guiana
Afu-Mena Guyane in Cayenne: trade, textile art, training and Business Model TV.
The Netherlands
Da.Awani Holding B.V., Afu-Mena BV and Ma-Danso BV: the European base and the link with the diaspora.
Who we reach
Investors
Parties who want to invest in companies with a real operation in the region.
Sponsors
Organisations that want to connect to entrepreneurship and knowledge sharing.
Banks
Financial institutions that want to get to know the group and its structure.
Governments
Governments and institutions working on economic development in the region.
International partners
Parties outside the region looking for a rooted point of contact.
We describe reach qualitatively. This presentation contains no viewing figures, visitor numbers or market shares.
Chapter 12 — Working with Afu-Mena
Six routes, three steps
Afu-Mena Group works with investors, sponsors, banks, governments and international partners. Each route has its own conversation and its own pace.
Routes to cooperation
Sponsor partnership around Business Model TV
Connect your organisation to an educational media and knowledge platform for entrepreneurs.
Trade and distribution partnerships
Access to the market of French Guiana or collaboration in supply and distribution.
Offtake and collaboration in gold
Conversations with international parties about offtake and collaboration, with mercury-free mining as the starting point.
Cultural and export collaboration
Collaboration around Maroon art, textile and products from the rainforest.
Knowledge sharing and training
Programmes and knowledge transfer around business models and entrepreneurship.
Consultancy and participative management
Guidance on stakeholder engagement, FPIC, benefit sharing and social license to operate.
How the conversation runs
- 01
First meeting
A first conversation about your question, your background and the branch you are interested in.
- 02
Exchange of information
We exchange information, under confidentiality where needed, so both sides hold a realistic picture.
- 03
A concrete proposal
If it fits on both sides, we work out a concrete proposal for the collaboration.
Chapter 13 — Contact
Start with an introduction
Tell us which branch interests you and what you are looking for. We take the time for a careful first conversation.
Our locations
French Guiana, Cayenne
Office
Bâtiment Horizon, Boîte 74 Rue de l'Astrolabe97354 Montjoly+594 694 24 59 77WhatsApp +594 694 24 59 77guyane@afu-menagroup.comCentral email address
Founder and CEO
Paulus Boike Tojo MBA (DBA Candidate)
Financial information and documentation are shared on request and after an introduction. This presentation is a group profile and not an offer of securities or of an investment.