ACDA prepares for the 250th anniversary of Berbice Slave Rebellion

This year is the 250th anniversary of the often forgotten 1762 slave rebellion in Berbice, then a Dutch colony. Thirty-six male and female slaves rose up against inhuman treatment and after bravely repelling a militia force was ultimately defeated by Governor Van Hoogenheim who sent a much stronger force of Dutch militia to quell it.
History has recorded that the African slave population rebelled throughout slavery. The main concern of the White plantation owners was to extract the greatest amount of labour from slaves. Little effort was ever made to improve the inhuman, wretched and degrading living conditions under which slaves were forced to live.
Harsh treatment and brutal punishments made the slaves in Berbice rebel while others, from time to time, escaped into the forests. Those who were recaptured suffered horrible deaths as a deterrent to other slaves thinking about escaping. Some of the slaves in Berbice escaped to Suriname where they joined up with Bush Negro colonies.
The 1762 slave rebellion which has been lost in history set the stage for Guyana’s most successful slave rebellion in 1763 which gave us our National hero, Cuffy (Kofi). This was approximately 107 years after Captured Africans who were forced into slavery arrived in Guyana around 1656 with Dutch settlers who had been expelled from Brazil and came to the Pomeroon where they established a small settlement.
February 23, 2013, will be the 250th anniversary of the renowned Berbice Slave Rebellion that immortalized Cuffy (Kofi) and to a smaller extent Atta, Akara and Accabre. The Berbice Slave Rebellion lasted for 10 months and marked the first serious attempt by a large group of enslaved people to win their freedom in Guyana.
It was also the first organized attempt to win freedom and to call for “shared governance” in the entire American continent. Hopefully, Cuffy’s historical letter to Governor Van Hoogenheim will be read by all school children during 2013.Cuffy’s letter stated:
“Cuffy, Governor of the Negroes of Berbice, and Captain Akara send greetings and inform Your Excellency that they seek no war; but if Your Excellency wants war, the Negroes are likewise ready. Barkey and his servant, De Graff, Schook, Dell, Van Lentzing and Frederick Betgen, but more especially Mr. Barkey and his servant and De Graff, are the principal originators of the riot which has occurred in Berbice.
“The Governor (Cuffy) was present when it commenced, and was very angry at it. The Governor of Berbice asks Your Excellency that Your Excellency will come and speak with him; don’t be afraid but if you won’t come, we will fight as long as one Christian remains in Berbice.
“The Governor will give Your Excellency one half of Berbice, and all the Negroes will go high up the river, but don’t think they will remain slaves. Those Negroes that Your Excellency has on the ships – they can remain slaves.
“The Governor greets Your Excellency.

BY KAIETEUR NEWS