Barbadians ‘gradually tying themselves to African history’

Barbadians are gradually but steadily tying themselves to their African history, thanks to the efforts of pan-Africanist organisations and the government over the years, the head of a research agency said Wednesday.

On the 349th anniversary of one of the earliest rebellion plots against slavery in the 17th century, the director for the Centre for Hybrid Studies Dr Deryck Murray said there were indications that Barbadian society was becoming more comfortable with its African roots. He cited the attention being paid to the extended Emancipation season, together with the strong pushback shown in the previously planned acquisition of the former slave plantation, Drax Hall.

He made the comments to reporters at a commemoration of the Cuffee rebellion plot of June 12, 1675, as well as the launch of the Speightstown Global Freedom Festival at the Alexandra School.

Dr Murray said: “I think that considerable work has been done over the years; sometimes the gains are incremental and invisible, but every once and again they are visible. I am convinced that the response that the government got to the [Drax Hall plantation], even though some people may not be conscious or agree with reparations, I believe all of the people who reacted were aware enough of what has happened in our past. The injustices and oppression on us as African people.

“I think that that is the result of years of work by pan-Africanists, by teachers like Peggy McGeary that we are honouring today, that [has all] been a result from ongoing work. I am not a pessimist, I don’t think we are going backward, I just think sometimes  we expect too much after 300 years, we expect the gains to be too rapid and too quick.”

He added: “The schoolchildren are not just dressing up in African wear, I hear some people saying that. The teachers are working hard from one day to the next reminding the children of who they are and why they should be comfortable in their skin.” 

Alexandra School students seen here engaging in a cultural exercise.

The Speightstown Global Freedom Festival which first started in 2022, along with the Cuffee’s Revolutionaries initiative, seeks to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to Speightstown and other areas north of the island.

This year’s recipient of the Cuffee Award will go to distinguished educator and Speightstown native Peggy McGeary.

Dr Murray also revealed that there will be an additional initiative as part of this year’s festival.

“We are launching a school’s programme of education and development. We call it Displays and Discourses, where we teach children from First Form to senior school, and we train them in research methods because we don’t believe that you are too young to learn how to research properly, including oral history research.

“We are also challenging the students to speak to their parents, grandparents about the pivotal events of our past. The 1675 plot, 1692 plot, 1816 Bussa Rebellion, emancipation, independence, and us becoming a republic. After the research, we will challenge them to find ways to display what they have learned. Either with poetry, art, or movies. As a compliment to that, we will engage them in filmmaking and using artificial intelligence to help them with the movie making.” 

In 1675, enslaved Africans, led by African-born Cuffee, planned a revolt to overthrow colonial rule and establish their own African-style government on the island.

The planned revolt was one of the earliest and most sophisticated counter-slavery strategies in the Americas. The plot was uncovered by slaveowners before it could be carried out. Several of the enslaved conspirators were burned alive, beheaded, and otherwise executed, according to one account.

According to an anonymous report published in London in 1676, the conspirators intended to crown Cuffee, “an Ancient Gold Coast Negro”, as king on June 12, 1675. He was to be seated in an ornately carved chair of state, with bows and arrows carried before him in a ceremonial procession.

The decline of white indentured servants in the militia during this period worried planters, who increasingly relied on brutal atrocities to deter slave rebellions.

Though the account is filtered through the lens of English colonial officials, it provides a rare glimpse into the political ideology and cultural backgrounds of the enslaved Africans involved. Cuffee himself was identified as a Coromantee, part of the Akan ethnic group from present-day Ghana. 

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb