Self-expressionandCultural IdentityfoundinEmancipation
ByFaithGreene
EMANCIPATIONDay meansdifferentthingsto manypeople.Whilesome seethemonumentalholidayasanopportunityto promotetheirtraditional culinaryskillcrafts,and jewellery,othersrecognise itasanopportunitytofind asenseofidentifyandacknowledgetheirroots.
Atthisyear’sMainStreet EmancipationExhibition, theGuyanaChroniclemeta numberofeagerpassersby andexhibitorsdisplaying theirwonderfulworkofart.
IngridGoodman,oneof themanypersonsbrowsingthroughtheexhibition, shared:“Emancipationis whatweliveby.Werecogniseourfreedom,what ourancestorswentthrough, andthisisawayoflife. It’semancipationeveryday oftheyear,andthisisone
celebrationthatwelookforwardto.It’sverysacredtous Africanshereandourblack peoplehereinGuyana.This isaboutus,”
EchoingMs.Goodman, EstherGittens,anotherpasserby,statedthatshehasbeen celebratingbeingherculture formorethan30years.“I haveusedthisemancipation seasontohelpmetoheightenwhatIhavealreadybeen doingtoemancipatemyself,” agleamyGittenssaid.
Theeagerwomanpointed outthatshewearsherAfrican garbproudlyeverydayasa stampofidentity.
“I’vebeenwearingmy Africanclothesfor30years, andIweariteveryday.As soonasyouseeme,Africa comestomindbecauseI makesureIhavethatstamp onme.I’mblackandI’m proud,I’mAfricanandI’m
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Self-expressionand CulturalIdentity...
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proud,everysingledayof theyear.”
“Emancipationisnot aseasonalthing,it’severy day.It’sawayoflife.We shouldn’tonlyeatourfoods, andwearourgarmentsalone onthefirstofAugust,or aroundthistime;weshould doiteveryday,”sheadded.
AccordingtoGittens, whileAugust1stisagood timetostart,thecelebration offreedomshouldcontinue allyearround.Shepointed outthatEmancipationDay isaboutmorethanjustthe foodandclothing,butabout thespirituality,unityand collectiveness.
“WeasAfricanDescendants,whereverwefind ourselves,especiallyinthe closingofthisdecade,we
shouldbemoremindfuland appreciativeofwhatour ancestorswentthrough,the sacrificestheymade,sothat wecouldcelebratetoday,” sheexpressed.
Meanwhile,FrankieLimerick,fromBeterverwagting ontheEastCoastDemerara, wasamongthemanyexhibitors,displayingproducts fromhisbusiness--Frankie LimerickSeaglassandShell Crafts.Heremarkedthat forhim,EmancipationDay meansthathecanexpress himselffreely,andhisculture.
EonWatertonofWaterton ArtsandCrafts,alsofrom Beterverwagting,statedthat Emancipationforhimmeans alot.Herelatedthatitfeels goodtobefree.
Additionally,fromNigeria,NnaemekaAlexander
NjokuofN.NCollection, expresseddeeplythathehas beencomingoutonMain Streetsince2021toshowcaseavarietyofAfricanprint outfits.
Hesaid,“It’salways goodforashortperiodof timeanditmakesmeproud seeingpeopleofdiverseracesputtingonthingswemade backinNigeria.”
AccordingtoNjoku: “Emancipation,forme,I won’tsayitmeansfreedom becauseI’mNigeriannatural.So,forme,Emancipationmeansexpressingour culturalheritage.Whatit meanstobeanAfrican, whatitmeanstobeNigerian;onthatdayweare puttingitoutanddisplayit, letthewholeworldseeeven ifit’sjustforoneday.”
EonWaterton
FrankieLimerick
Thosewhocamebeforeus Alookbackattheleaderswhopavedhistoricpaths
FORCIBLYuprootedfrom theirbirthplace,over threemillionAfricanswere shippedacrosstheAtlantic Oceaninwhatwasknown astheTransatlanticSlave Trade.
Strippedoftheirnames, religions,culturesandidentities,theywereauctioned offandsoldasslavesto British-ownedcoloniesto workonplantationsinthe Caribbean.
Bythe1760s,therewere about15,000slavestoiling endlesslyacrossthethreecoloniesofthethen-BritishGuiana–Essequibo,Demerara andBerbice.Eventually,the slaveshadbecomeexhausted oflivingalifeoftortureand captivity,andso,severalof thembandedtogetherand beganplottingandplanning theirescape.Severalattempts weremade,buttheAfrican slavesremainedshackledto theinhumanetreatmentthey receivedontheplantations. Moreover,theirattemptsto escapeinthefirstplacewere heinouslyrewardedassome wereflogged,whileothers sufferedamputationorwere killed.
CUFFYANDTHERIPPLEEFFECT
However,despitethe
Britishattempttoinstillfear intheslaves,theirdeterminationandstrengthledtooneof theCaribbean’sfirstandlargestslaverebellions.Ledbya houseslavenamedCuffy(or Kofi),the1763revolutionis recordedasapivotalmovein theabolitionofslavery.
Creatingarippleeffect, Cuffy,withhistwolieutenants--AttaandAkara--by hisside,led3,833enslaved Africanstotheirfreedom. Together,theBerbiceslaves overranplantationMagdaleneburg,removingthecolonial masters,andtakingtheir freedom.
Cuffyhadplannedthe revoltjustastwoshiploads ofpeoplefromAfricahad arrivedatthedocks,which significantlyincreasedthe numberofAfricansinthe fighttooverthrowthe346 colonialmasters.
Newsoftherebellion spreadlikeaforestfireon ahotdayandsoonenough uproarsbeganatplantations acrossGuianaandinother Caribbeannations,suchas BarbadosandJamaica.
Withinonemonth,Africanswereinfullcommand ofmostoftheplantationsin Berbice.Cuffythendeclared freedomfortheenslavedAfricans,andtheymanagedthe plantationsforalmostayear. Unfortunately,aftertheplantationswerereconqueredby theDutch,Cuffyshothimself inthehead,inabidtonever submittohisenslavers.
Althoughtheirfreedom didnotlastduetoDutch re-inforcementsarrivingby shipswithheavymachinery andartillerytorecapture theslaves,Cuffyleftalastinglegacy,onethatinspired otherslavestofightfortheir freedomandtonevergiveup untiltheywerefree.
TheFebruary23,1763 Cuffy-ledrevolutionwas recordedinEuropeanhistory asthefirstmajorrevolution byAfricansinthewestern hemisphereandinfluenced severalotherrevolutions inthewest,includingthe Haitianrevolutionledby ToussaintL’Ouverture.
Currently,amonumental
Damonledaprotestwhich resultedinsome700apprenticesdowningtheirtoolsin supportofDamon’scause. OnAugust3,1838,they protestedtheapprenticeshipscheme.Thefollowing morning,thefreedslaves weremorethansurprised, andbecameangrywhenthey wereorderedbytheirformer masterstoreturntowork. However,theprotestscontinuedandbyAugust9,the laboursituationhadworsenedwithex-slavesfrom RichmondtoDevonshire CastlegatheredintheTrinity ChurchyardatLaBelleAlliancetostandbesideDamon. GovernorSmythaddressed theworkersatPlantation Richmond,tellingthemthat theapprenticeshipperiodwas stillinforceandtheyshould gobacktowork.Hearrested theleadersofthepeaceful demonstration.
statueofCuffyadornsthe SquareoftheRevolution,in thecapitalcityofGeorgetown.
Thisbronzemonumentof Damonislocatednexttothe AnnaReginaTownHall,on theEssequiboCoast
DAMONANDTHE
FALLOFLABELLEALLIANCE
AfterCuffy’sdemise, thefightforfreedomdidnot stop.Eventually,theAfrican slavesgainedtherightto liberationonAugust1,1834. However,theroadtofreedomwasnotsmoothsailing, because,despitehavingthe EmancipationActpassedin 1833,thenowfreedAfricans stillhadtofighttobetreated fairly.
Theyweretransitioned intoaperiodofapprenticeshipandcontinuedtowork withtheirformermastersfor minisculewages.Thisdid notsitwellwiththeex-slaves whohadadifferentvisionof whatlifewouldbelikeafter freedom.
WhatstartedthefallofLa BelleAllianceinEssequibo wasaproblematicmoveby theownerofRichmondSugarPlantation,CharlesBean, whostirreduptroublebykillingthepigsandcuttingdown thefruittreesthattheformer slaveshadbeenrearingfor theirlivelihoods.Hisexcuse forthisdestructionoftheexslaves’propertieswasthat theirpigsweredestroyingthe rootsofhisyoungcanes.
InrebuttaltoBean’sdestruction,anex-slavenamed
Pinpointedasthe“captain”and“ringleader”ofthe unrest,Damonwashungin frontofParliamentBuildingsatnoononOctober13, 1834.Althoughhisattempts thenwerefutile,thefightfor freedomdidnotendwithhis death.Hisresilienceinfluencedmanyotherex-slaves andservedasawarningto otherplantationownersthat theAfricanswereastrong andbravepeople.Alsoin monumentform,thestatue ofDamonstandsnexttothe AnnaReginaTownHall,on theEssequiboCoast.These heroesfoughtthegreatestfor usalltobeabletoexperience thefreedomandtheGuyana thatwehavetoday.
1823
CuffyandDamonwere nottheonlyoneswholead uprisingsacrossthecountry; infact,itisbelievedthat about12,000enslavedAfricansfrom55plantations wereinvolvedinoneofthe turningpointinthefight againsttheBritishimperial plantationsystemandglobal chattelslaverymorethan200 yearsago.
Thisevent,whichis knownasthe1823slave rebellion,sawadisplayofincredibledaring,courage,the effectivenessofgroupaction andthecapacityoftheenslavedtoshapetheirownfate byattackingtheinstitutional andphysicalembodimentof theirservitude. Theydemandedtheir freedombutdidsothrough non-violentmeans.Thetwodayrebellionwasunsuccess-
Thosewhocamebefore...
ful,withmanykilledafter thecolonialforcesresorted toviolence.
Historian,Viottida Costa’soutstandingbook ‘CrownsofGlory,Tearsof Blood’recountedthetaleof whatisknowninGuyanaas the1823slaverebellionor theDemerararevolt.
“Therebellionstartedat Successandquicklyspreadto neighbouringplantations.Beginningaroundsixintheevening,thesoundofshell-horns
anddrums,andcontinuing throughthenight,nineto twelvethousandslavesfrom aboutsixtyEastCoastplantationssurroundedthemain houses,putoverseersand managersinthestocks,and seizedtheirarmsandammunition.Whentheymetresistance,theyusedforce.Years offrustrationandrepression weresuddenlyreleased.For ashorttime,slavesturnedthe worldupsidedown.Slaves becamemastersandmasters slaves.”
Twoleadersemerged
duringtheplanningperiod: JackGladstone,acooperon PlantationSuccess,andhis father,Quamina,asenior deaconatachurchledbyEnglishProtestantmissionary, JohnSmith.Gladstoneand othersplannedtheuprising, butQuaminaobjectedtoany bloodshedandsuggestedinsteadthattheenslavedshould goonstrike.
Quamina’scalltoremain peacefulfellondeafears.
Theuprisingquicklybecamedeadlyashundredsof rebelswerehunteddownand
killed,includingtwohundredwhowerebeheadedas awarningtootherenslaved people.
Gladstonewasdeported toSt.LuciawhileQuamina washuntedandkilledas warningtoothers.
Todate,anemblemof thesemensitjustmerefeet awayfromtheAtlantic, alongtheSeawallRoadoppositetheGuyanaDefence Force’sCampAyanganna headquarters.
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Damon’smonument
The1823monument
(PhotosourcedfromTrueAfricanArt)
Soiree
DANCEandmusicarecommonformsofexpressioninGuyanaandmanyotherpartsofthe world.InGuyana,danceandmusicareheavily influencedbythecountry’smulticulturalsociety.
InGuyana,particularly,peopleofAfricandescent,whoareconnectedtothetraditionsofold,use danceandmusictocommemorateimportantsocial andreligiousevents.
OneofthesemanyfestivalsisSoiree,atradition heldyearlyincelebrationoftheEmancipationof enslavedAfricansinGuyana.
Similarto‘QuehQueh’,apre-maritalcelebration,Soireeisthegatheringoffamilyandfriends incelebration.
Thejoyousoccasioniscelebratedwithdrumming,chanting,andShantodancing,usedtoinvoke thespiritsoftheAfricanancestors.
OnthenightofJuly31st,orevenonprevious nightsbeforeAugust1,soireesareheldinpredominantlyAfro-GuyanesevillagesalongGuyana’s easterncoast.
Thisculturalfestivityhasitsrootsinthe1800s, andisindigenoustovillagesalongthecoastand banksofthemainriversthatAfricansboughtwhen theywereliberatedfromslavery.
Villagesthathaveembracedthistraditioneven nowareHopetown,Ithaca,andBelladrumin Berbice;andBuxton,Victoria,andBagotvillein Demerara.
ThevillageofHopetownwasboughtbyformer enslavedAfricansinthe1840s,whichisaroundthe timetheSoireetraditionemerged.
Today,drumming,marchinganddancingwould startaround18:00hrsontheeveofEmancipationin anareaofthevillagecalled‘Twenty-Two’.
Thelargecrowdwoulddisperseintogroupsto keeptheirseparatelibationceremonies,whilethe mainaccessroadcuttingthroughthevillagesis floodedwithhundredsofGuyanesewiththeirmusicsets,creatingaparty-likeatmosphere.
TraditionallyonJuly31,thereisathanksgiving churchserviceatthevillage’straditionalchurch.At 22:00hrs,thevillagersthenheadtothevillagekoker forthelibationceremony.
Theydanceandmimicthesoundsofthedrums andothermusicalinstruments.Uponarrivingat thekoker,theparticipantssingasthey“invitethe ancestorstojointhecelebrations.”
Whenitiscertainthattheancestorsare“within theirmidst,”thecelebrantsmoveovertothecommunitycentreforagrandenjoyment.
Atthistime,thecentreisfilledwithspectators, dancers,drummersandsingers,aswellaschildren. Atabout06:00hrsthefollowingmorning,thelibationends,butnottheEmancipationcelebrations! Thiscontinuesthroughouttheday.
Apackedprogramme,preparedweeksinadvance,isstartedataboutnoon.Thevillagersgather atthecentreofthevillage,onceagain,towitness thetraditionalconcert.
ThisincludesAfricandancesandsongs,skits, speeches,and,mostimportantly,storytelling.
MassiveEmancipationcelebrations expectedinMacedoniaJoppa, Berbice,thisyear
THEMacedoniaJoppaVoluntaryCommittee(MJVC), aregisterednon-profitable organisation,EastCorentyne,Berbicewillcelebrate 190yearsofEmancipation tocommemoratetheabolitionofslaveryinGuyana, andtheendofyearsof brutalisation,dehumanisationandtheliberationof Africanpeople,today.
Theholidayissignificant, notjustasacalendarevent butasanewleaseoflifefor theGuyanesenationaswe knowit.Itisadayofremembrance,andanopportunity toreflectonthecourageous effortsandsacrificesofenslavedmenandwomenin thefightfortheirfreedom.
TheMacedoniaJoppaVoluntaryCommittee(MJVC) willmarktheoccasionwith thelargestcelebrationsever seeninBerbice.
Duringthelasttwoyears, Emancipationcelebrations inBerbicewereorganised andsponsoredbytheMJVC group,andwerewellattendedonbothoccasionsbythe residentsfromacrosstheregionandbeyond.Thisyear’s celebrationsareexpectedto attractthousandsofpeoplein andoutoftheregionfromas farasWestCoastBerbiceto MolsenCreekontheCoren-
tyneandbeyond.
Likeinpreviousyears, thisyear’sEmancipationcelebrationisexpectedtobethe largestandonlycelebration ofitskindinEastCorentyne. Itwillbeanall-daygala familycelebration,starting at10:00hrswitharoadmarch fromBrightonVillagetothe EvershamVillageCommunityCentrePavilion,where therewillbeadayoffunfor all,especiallyforthechildren whowillparticipateinseveralcultural,social,andeducationalactivities,includingthe recitalofpoems,singingof folksongs,playingofgames, anddancingtoavarietyof songs,andaneducationquiz competitiononslaveryand Emancipation.
TherewillalsobedrummingandAfricandancing andAfricandishestohighlightAfrica’sinterestingtribaltradition.
Duringthelasttwoyears, Emancipationcelebrations inBerbicewereorganised andsponsoredbytheMJVC group,andwerewellattendedonbothoccasionsbythe residentsfromacrosstheregionandbeyond.Thisyear’s celebrationsareexpectedto attractthousandsofpeople inandouttheregionfromas
farasWestCoastBerbiceto MolsenCreekontheCorentyneandbeyond.
Likeinpreviousyears, thisyear’sEmancipation celebrationisexpectedto bethelargestandonlycel-
ebrationofitskindinEast Corentyne.Itwillbeanalldaygalafamilycelebration, startingat10:00hrswitha roadmarchfromBrighton VillagetotheEversham VillageCommunityCentre
Pavilion,wheretherewill beadayoffunforall,especiallyforthechildrenwho willparticipateinseveral cultural,social,andeducationalactivities,including therecitalofpoems,sing-
ingoffolksongs,playing ofgames,anddancingtoa varietyofsongs,andaneducationquizcompetitionon slaveryandEmancipation. (Dr.AsquithRose, MJVCChair).
Post-Emancipationstrides andthemilitantwomenof Buxton/Friendship
DESPITEpassageofthe EmancipationActin1833, thenew-foundfreedom thattheex-slaveshadonce cravedwasnoparadise. Thereweremorebattlesto befoughtandtheliberated Africansfoundthemselves spearheadingprotestafter protesttoensurethattheir civilrightswerenottrampledon.
Soonafterslaverywas officiallyabolishedin1838, theex-slavesbeganwhatis knowntodayastheVillage Movement--theypooled theirresourcesandpurchased plantationswheretheysettled andstartedtobuildnewlives forthemselves.Villageswere established,communities werebuilt,andco-operative societiesandvillagecouncils weredeveloped.Today,many ofthesestructuresremain anintegralpartofGuyana’s localgovernmentbody.One
ofthesecommunitiesisBuxton-Friendship,locatedon theEastCoastofDemerara, oncecalledPlantationOrangeNassau.Thevillage becameknownforhavingthe largestlocalauthorityinwhat wasthenthecolonyofDemerara.Asthefirstvillageto beestablishedinanorganised manner,thislocalauthority tookaleadershiprolein dealingwiththeplantation ownersandthecentralgovernment,whichreallywas oneandthesame.Asfaras theBritishwereconcerned, theliberatedAfricanswerea threat,havinghad“toomuch independence.”
Seeingtheirsuccesses andhowtheyweresmoothly runningtheirownaffairs,a majorschemewas“cooked up”bytheBritishtosuppress thevillageswhichhadbegun tothrive.Inattemptstoun-
derminethem,thelegislature enactedalawin1856grantingpowerstothegovernment tolevy“improvementtaxes” onthepropertiesofvillagers. This,however,didnotsit wellwiththeAfricans,especiallytheBuxtonians. Consequently,agroup ofproprietorsofFriendship, ledbyJamesJupiter,Blucher DorsettandHectorJohn,was themostactiveanddeterminedoftheex-slaves.They headedalistof88proprietors fromBuxtonwhosentapetitiontothegovernorofthe colony,askinghimtoreconsiderthetaxlevy.
Turningablindeyeto theirplea,thegovernorrefusedtolistentothemen. Instead,hebrandedthemen asringleadersandaccused themoforganisingunrest.In responsetothevillagers,the governmentconfiscatedthe propertiesofJamesJupiter,
BlucherDorsett,HectorJohn, WebsterOgle,ChanceBacchus,andJamesRodneySr.
Toenforcehisdecree, thegovernordispatcheda contingentofpolicemenand adetachmentofthe21st RegimentofFusiliers.They tookpossessionofthehouses,throwingtheoccupants andtheirbelongingsintothe streets.
Thevillagersmadeseveralattemptstomeetwith thegovernortodiscusstheir complaints,butheagain refusedtomeetwiththem. TheythenturnedtotheHonourableClementson,amemberoftheCourtofPolicy (legislature)forhelp,butthis toofailed.
Tothisend,theAfricans felttheyhadnorecourse buttoinitiateprotestsand unrest.Thismeantthatthose personswhohadbought
theconfiscatedhouseswere unabletooccupythemand livetheirlivesinpeace.In oneinstance,JamesRodney mobilisedahugemoband forciblytookpossessionof hisformerpropertyfromthe newowner.
Attemptswerealsomade tocontacttheQueenofEnglandherselftoexpresstheir disapproval;unsurprisingly, thattoowasinvain.
WOMENASSEMBLE
Asafinalstraw,theAfricanslearntthatthegovernor wasexpectedtotravelby trainthroughthevillageto inspectthenewlyextended railwayfartherupthecoast. Decidingtoconfronthim facetoface,agroupofwomenmobilisedadelegationand forcedthegovernortolisten tothemandresolvetheproblemonceandforall.
Standingtheirground,
thesemilitantwomencorneredthegovernoronthe traintracks;theyblocked thevehiclefromgoingany fartherandlockedthewheels ofthetrainwithlargechains andpadlocks.Thiscourse ofactionleftthegovernor nochoicebuttolistentothe women.Themenjoinedin momentslaterand,eventually,thegovernorlistened andwithimmediateeffect, alltaxeswereremovedfrom propertiesinBuxton. Whilethetraintracks havebeencoveredbynew infrastructureovertheyears, thefootprintsofthesewomenarestillembeddedinthe soilsofthevillageandisa constantreminderthatthe womenofBuxtonaredescendantsofbraveryand resilience.
(Thisstorywasfirst publishedin2021andwrittenbyNaomiParris).
AJourneythroughhistory —TheCaribbean’sslavetradeandEmancipation
ByFaithGreene
ONthisday,186yearsago, thousandsofAfricanpeople fromGuyanaandother Caribbeannationsgained theirfreedomfromthe physicalchainsofslavery thathadkeptthembound forcenturies.
Theywerefinallyfreeto determinewhatwassuitable forthemandwhatwasnot, allwithincertainlimitsof course.
Thethen-enslavedAfricanswerevictimsofwhat somehistoriansdescribed asoneoftheworld’slargest crimescommittedagainsta groupofpeople.
TheEqualJusticeInitiative(EJI)inarecentpublicationtitledTheTrans-Atlantic SlaveTrade(2022),labelled thiscrimeasoneofabduction andabusethathasaltered thegloballandscapeand createdalegacyofsuffering andbigotry,allofwhichstill existtoday.
The1400s Trekkingbacktothetales ofcenturiesago,theEuropeans,insearchofwealth, sentseveralshipsandarmed militiatoexploitnewlands, manyofwhichhadalready beenoccupiedbyIndigenous peoples.
Theselandsorterritories
wereknownthenas‘the Americas’andthehometo extraordinarynaturalresourceswhichprovidedgreatopportunitiestogainpowerand influenceforPortugal,Spain, GreatBritain,France,Italy, Germany,andScandinavian nations.
Historytellsusthatthese landsproducedanabundance ofgold,sugarandtobacco, allofwhichweresoughtafter bytheEuropeanstogenerate wealth.
Theyfirstattempted toenslavetheIndigenous peoplesandtheyweremet withmuchresistance,butin theirdeterminationtoextract wealthfromthesedistant lands,theysoughtlabour fromAfrica,launchinga tragicperiodofkidnapping, abduction,andtrafficking thatresultedinthegenocide andenslavementofmillions ofAfricanpeople.
THESOCIALPYRAMID
AccordingtotheGuyana Chronicle’sarchives,slave societiesintheAmericas wereformedaccordingto power,prestige,privilege, andcolour.Atthetopwere theWhites,whichcomprised governmentofficials,plantationowners,managers, merchants,clergies,small shopkeepers,craftsmen,and indenturedservants. Atthemiddlewere
BlacksandfreeColoureds, whowereclassifiedasMulatto,Quadroon,andSambo. Thiswasasandwichgroup thatservedasasociallubricantbetweenthehighest andlowestlayerofGuyana’s slavesociety.
Andatthelowestlayer weretheenslavedAfricans, whowerefurtherstratified intothefields,house,skilled andurbanslaves.
Eachlayerofstratificationwashierarchically organisedalongfirmboundaries.Thestructureofslave societywasshapedlikea socialpyramid.
DavidLamberts‘AnIntroductiontotheCaribbean, EmpireandSlavery’publishedin2017,statesthatthe EuropeanscametotheCaribbeaninsearchofwealth. TheSpanishhadstartedout lookingforgoldandsilver, buttherewaslittletobe found.Instead,theytried growingdifferentcropstobe soldbackhome.
Afterseveralunsuccessfulexperimentswithgrowing tobacco,theEnglishcolonists triedgrowingsugarcanein theCaribbean.Thiswasnota localplant,however,itgrew wellafterbeingintroduced. AccordingtoLambert,severalpeopleinEuropewanted theproductsofsugarcane, andasaresult,those‘planters’whogrewitbecamevery wealthy.
Lambert,aCaribbean HistoryProfessorattheUniversityofWarwick,inthe UnitedKingdom,pennedthat thespreadofsugarplantationsintheCaribbeancreated aneedforworkers.Planters turnedtobuyingenslaved men,womenandchildren, broughtfromAfrica.
Itisbelievedthatfive millionenslavedAfricans weretakentotheCaribbean.
“Asplantersbecame morereliantonenslaved workers,thepopulations oftheCaribbeancolonies changed,sothatpeopleborn inAfrica,ortheirdescendants,cametoformthemajority.Theirharshandinhumanetreatmentwasjustified bytheideathattheywere partofaninferior‘race’. Indeed,complicatedwaysof categorizingraceemerged intheCaribbeancolonies thatplaced‘white’peopleat thetop,‘black’peopleatthe bottomanddifferent‘mixed’ groupsinbetween.Invented bywhitepeople,thiswasa wayoftryingtoexcusethe brutalityofslavery.”
THEUPRISINGOF REBELLIONSINGUYANA
InGuyana,theDutch Europeanestablishedthe settlement,BritishGuianain ordertotradewiththeIndigenouspeople.However,due tothecompetitionwithother
Europeancountriestogain territory,itsoonbecamea commercializedbaseandby the1660s,morethan2000 slaveshadbeenbroughtto theDutchterritorytowork onplantations.
Accordingtothetextbook,SocialStudiesMade Easy,theyhadluredAfricans fromseveralcountriesin Africaandbroughtthemto thenBritishGuianatowork onsugarplantationasslaves, muchlikewhathappenedin severalCaribbeanCountries duringthatperiod. By1763,aslaverevolt beganontwoplantationson theCanjeRiverinBerbiceby aWestAfricanslavenamed Cuffy.Thiswasduetothe harshtreatmentofslavesby theEuropeanswhichadditionallycausedmanyslaves tocommitsuicide,torun away,andeventuallygive risetoseveralrebellions.
Otherpersonsinvolved inthisrebellionwereAkara, Atta,AccabreandGousarri. Unfortunately,thisrebellion failedbecauseofdisunity amongtheAfricans.Cuffy committedsuicide,andthe otherleadersweredefeated. Anotherrebellionaroseon PlantationLeRessouvenir in1823.
Accordingtothetextbook,Quaminaandhisson, JackGladstone,wereheld responsibleforthisuprising, whichprovedtobeunsuc-
cessfulaftertheleadershad discouragedtheAfricans frombeingviolent.
Quaminawasshot,and Gladstonewassentencedto deportationandtakentoSt. Luciawherehewassoldinto slavery.
Rebellionscontinued acrosstheCaribbeanwith uprisingsinBarbados,Jamaica,TrinidadandTobagoand otherterritories.
Emancipation,however, cameyearslateronAugust1, 1838,afterpeoplelikeThomasBuxton,ThomasClarkson, GranvilleSharp,GeorgeCanning,JamesRamsayandWilliamWilberforcecampaigned toabolishslavery.While slaverywasabolishedin 1834,slavesstillhadtowork onplantations,butwerepaid smallwagesfortheirlabour.
SomeAfricans,likeDamon,refusedtoworkand in1834,hestartedaprotest whichresultedinhimbeing hanged.
AftertheirEmancipation,theAfricansbeganto buyplantations.Thefirst plantationboughtbythe freedslaveswasplantation Northbrook,whichwas laterrenamedVictoria.The Africansearnedalivingby practisingpeasantfarming ofcropssuchasrice,forexample,andtradework(masonry,carpentry,plumbing andhandcraft).
MakingtraditionalAfrican dishestheGuyaneseway
FOODandcultureare interwoven.Traditional spices,recipesandfood preparationtechniques werepasseddownfrom generationtogeneration. Thisistrueforcultures acrosstheworld.
Theprocessesofpreparing,servingandsharing certainfoodsanddrink mightappearsimple,but couldbecomplexwhen consideringthesocialand culturalsignificanceof thesefoods.
ForGuyana,whichis ameltingpotofcultures, foodplaysavitalrolein preservingcultureacross generations.TheAfricans, oneofGuyana’smajor ethnicgroups,havemade abigcontributiontothe thecountry’sculinaryarts.
Whileattemptswere madebycolonisingpowerstostriptheenslaved Africansoftheirsenseof
identityduringslavery, therewasaspiritofresilienceamongAfricans andAfricandescendants
topreserveremnantsof cultureandtradition.The artandscienceoffood preparationisonesuch
preservedremnant.
Africancuisine,aswe knowitintheWestIndies, isacombinationoflocallyavailablefruits,cereal grainsandvegetables,and milkandmeatproducts.In somepartsoftheAfrican continent,thetraditional dietlargelyincludesmilk, curdandwheatproducts.
Africaisnot,however,asinglespacenora singleculture.Comprised ofmorethan50countries andmanysmallerethnic groups,thecontinent’s diversemakeupisreflectedinthemanydifferent eatinganddrinkinghabits, dishes,andpreparation techniques.
InCentralAfrica,for example,thebasicingredientsinmostdishesare plantain,cassava,chili, peppersandanarrayof vegetablesandground spices.
InGuyana,ourunderstandingofAfricandishes incorporatesallofthese ingredients,withamodern twistandCaribbeanflare, makinguseoffruitsand vegetablesthatarereadilyavailableintheSouth Americancounty. Thesefoodsinclude Metemgee,whichisa soup-likedishwithground provisions,coconutmilk andlargedumplings,eaten withfriedfishorchicken;Conkie,asweetcornmeal-basedtreatcooked bysteamingthecornmeal inbananaleaves;and pumpkinand‘FooFoo’,
Continuedonpage11
Foo-Foopairedwithabeefstew(Photocredit:GuyanaDining)
MakingtraditionalAfrican...
whichisadoughmade fromboiledandmashed groundprovision.
Thesedisheshave becomeastapleinAfrican-descendedhouseholds onSundays,mostly,but especiallyduringemancipationcelebration.
RECIPEGUIDE:
Metemgee(Metagee)
Ingredients:
•1drycoconut
•Three-quarterpoundof mixedmeat
•Approximatelyone poundoffriedfishorsaltedfish
•Onepoundofcassava
•Onepoundofplantain (youcanchoosewhether green,ripeor‘turning’)
•Onepoundofeddoes, yamsordasheen
•Onelargeonion—cut intorings
•Ahalf-poundofochro (okra)
•Dumplings(optional)
Preparation:
•Coverthemixedmeat withwaterandboilfor halfanhour.Putsalted fishtosoakinwater;if usingfreshfish,thismay befriedorplacedontop ofvegetablesabout10 minutesbeforetheendof thecookingtime
•Gratethecoconut,pour onepintofwaterover, squeezewellandstrainto extractthecoconutmilk. Pouroverthemeat
•Peelthevegetables,then putthemeatandvegetablestoboilinthecoconut milk.Cookuntilalmost tender
•Putthesaltfish,withthe skinandbonesremoved, orfreshfishorfriedfish ontopofvegetables.Add theonionandochro.
•Cookuntilthecoconut milkisalmostabsorbed
•Ifdumplingsareused, theyshouldbeadded abouteightminutesbefore thevegetablesareready
‘FOOFOO’ Ingredients:
•Twopoundsofhard yams
•Onepoundofcassava
Preparation:
•Wash,peelandcook vegetablesinboilingwater
•Whencooked,donot removefromboilingwaterorelsevegetableswill becomecoldandunmanageable
•Removestringfromcassava;takecassavafrom waterandpoundfirstbeforeaddingyamtomortar
•Poundtoafinetexture untilthoroughlymixed
•Usesomeofthesame warmwaterfordipping themortarstickandfor
addingtothe‘foofoo’to bringtotherightconsistency
•Dipametalspoonin cleanwarmwaterand remove‘foofoo’inballs fromthemortar.Cover andkeepwarm.Serve.
CONKIE
Ingredients:
•Onecoconut
•Onepoundofpumpkin
•Onepoundofcornmeal
•Oneounceoflard
•Oneounceofmargarine
•Oneteaspoonofsalt
•Sugartotaste
•Fourouncesofdried fruits
•Oneteaspoonofblack pepper
•Bananaleavesforwrapping
Preparation:
•Gratethecoconutand pumpkin
•Addallotheringredients
•Stirinenoughwaterto makeamixtureofdroppingconsistency
•Wipebananaleavesand heattomakepliable
•Cutintopiecesofapproximatelyeightinches squared;wraparoundfillingandtiewithtwine
•Placeinboilingwater andboilfor20-30minutes.
Frompage10
MetemgeeConkie
Localculturalgroupsreceive grantsforEmancipationfestivities
SEVERALculturalorganisationsrepresentingAfro-Guyanesecommunitiesacrossthe country,lastFriday,received fundingtosupportEmancipationfestivities.
Thechequeswerehanded overbyMinisterKwameMcCoy,MinisterwithintheOffice ofthePrimeMinisterwithresponsibilityforPublicAffairs, duringasimpleceremonyheld
attheArthurChungConferenceCentre(ACCC).
Duringbriefremarks,MinisterMcCoyemphasisedthe importanceofcelebratingAfricancontributionsandunity amongAfro-Guyanesepeople.
Thegovernment,henoted, hasalwayscommittedtoinclusivegrowth,supportingAfro-Guyanesesmallbusinesses withtargetedcashgrantswhile
ensuringthatagreaternumber ofAfroGuyanesegroupshave accesstoessentialfinancial support.
Thesecommitments,he furtherexplained,areinkeepingwiththe$100millionallocation,designatedfundsfor Afro-Guyanesecausesaspart oftheUnitedNationsDecade forPeopleofAfricanDescent.
“Theseinitiativestranscend
merefinancialsupport;they areaboutempoweringAfro-Guyanesecommunities,to thriveandtoexcelindiverse fieldssuchaseducation,agriculture,healthcare,sports, music,andthearts.Ourgovernmentiscommittedtothe holisticdevelopmentofall Guyaneseasevidencedbyour policiesdesignatedtofoster anenvironmentwhereevery
ArecipientreceivinghergrantfromMinisterKwame McCoy,ministerwithintheOfficeofthePrimeMinisterwith responsibilityforPublicAffairs
individual,regardlessoftheir background,canprosperand contributemeaningfullytothe developmentofourcountry,” theMinistersaid.
TheMinisterhighlighted thatwhiletherehavebeen divisiveattemptstoundermine thisunitythroughrace-baiting andexclusionarypolicies,the governmentwillcontinueto workcollectivelytobuilda futurewhereallpeoplecan realisetheirfullpotential.
“Wehavebeenintheforefrontoftheglobalcallsand we’llcontinuetocallforreparativejusticeandframeworks tobeenactedbythecolonial legacycountriestohelpovercomegenerationsofexclusion anddiscrimination,recognising theregion’shistoryandthelegaciesofenslavement.”
“Ourgovernmenthasbeen consistentinworkingwith thelegislature,civilsociety, andrepresentativecommunity groups,nationalorganisations, stateparties,andinternational bodiestoapplyeffortstoaddressracism,intolerance,bigotry,andhatred,whereverthey exist,andinwhateverformto advancethecauseofglobal freedomandjusticeforallour people,”headded.
MinisterMcCoyhighlightedthegovernment’ssupport forAfro-Guyanesecommunitiesthroughinclusivepolicies andtargetedinitiatives,while callingforcontinuedunityand collectiveactiontoensurefull potentialrealisation.
Meanwhile,inaninvited commenttothisnewspaper, ArchbishopMarkHuntofa localBaptistchurchinBagotstown,expressedgratitudefor thetimelyfunding.
Accordingtohim:“It’s reallyamotivation,especially fortheAfricanchurches.”
TheArchbishopexplained thathehasagrandchurch celebrationplannedforthis year’sEmancipationandthe monetaryfundingwillsupport thechurch’seffortsinkeeping thetraditionalandreligious valuesofthecommunityalive.
Anotherrecipient,LawrenceHavronofthenumber53 VillageEmancipationgroup, notedthatthefundingwill supporthiscommunities’festivities.
AccordingtoHavron,the grouphadbenefittedfroma similargrantprogrammepreviously.Heishopingthateven moresupportwillbegiven thisyear.
“Iappreciatewhatthegovernmenthasdonewiththis emancipation.Ourgroupwill putourbestfootforwardtoget theactivityataleveltosatisfy ourpeople.Ifthefundingisto thewaythatweexpect,itwill doourplanninggood,”Havron said.
RondzMcLennan,another recipient,disclosedthatshe intendstousethefundstosupportfestivitiesthatwilltarget youths.
“Ouraimistoeveryyear enlightentheyoungergenerationastothehistoryoftheir ancestorsandwefeelthisgrant isgoingtobeabletoassistus indoingthat.”
McLennannotedthather grouphasatwo-daypacked scheduledfortheupcoming EmancipationHoliday.
“Wehaveatwo-dayactivityonthe31stofJuly.We arehavingalibationanda cook-outandthe1stofAugustwearehavingasports dayandtheeveningweare havingaculturalexhibition.”
Howtheylivedbeyond Emancipation
EMANCIPATIONcameto thecoloniesfromthethrone ofthecoloniesinfavour oftheIndustrialRevolution.Buttotheplantation/ merchanthierarchiesof thecolonies,itwasmet withvexationsthatlastedbeyondtheturnofthe nextcentury.Themanumittedpopulationsdidnot conceivethattheirfuture wouldbesubjecttoschemes toshackletheirabolition, andcircumventtheireffortsbythelocalcolonial government,themajority ofwhomweretheplantationownersandmerchants, theirformerenslavers.
TotheCreoleAfricans, theconceptofconstructingof thevillagesandshowinghow theywouldproceedtodevelopwasbasedontheirown ancestralvision.“Inmanyof thecommunalvillages,the villagersestablishedcollectivefarms.Aswehaveseen, thisco-operativepeasantry foundedagreatenterprise, developeditwithmarked businessacumen,andforced intothecolonywhatseemed tothecolonistsaperilous doctrine.Itwasthemost revolutionaryattempt,though smallinscaleinglobalterms, atrehabilitationafterslavery.TheAfricanswerethus immediatelyabletosetup aneconomicsystemanda civilisationthatrivalledcapitalism.Theplantationatonce wentintoactionagainstthe co-operativevillagesystem. Inthe‘LondonTimes’,the co-operativeswereseenas “Littlebandsofsocialists livingincommunities.”
Underthecombinedattackoftheplantationandthe governmentfromoutside, andthechurchfrominside, thecollectiveeconomycollapsed”(SeeScarsofBondagebyEusiandTchaiko Kwayana;FreePress2002). Thus,theliberationofthe manumittedCreoleslavewas ahistoricalfeaturethatwas metwithseveremalicebya race-hate-drivenplantocracy towardsthedestructionofits economicliberation.
InthetownshipsofStabroekandNewAmsterdam, repressivemethodswould beappliedindiverseways. Themanumittedpopulations enteredseveraloccupations. Thus,licenceshadtobe acquiredtoperformthese enterprisesofself-employ-
mentthatlistedoutsideof artisansandotherskillsperfectedontheplantations; thus,theboatmen,ownersof cabs,muleanddonkeycarts operatedforhire,and,most importantly,thehighcosts forhucksterandshoplicenceswereasinisterapplication torepresstheCreolesfrom engagingprofitablyinthelu-
crativeretailbusiness.Itwas theplantersandtheestablishedEuropeanmerchantsas themajorityinthecombined courtwhofixedthecolonial taxes.Taxationonarticles ofcommonconsumption embodiedthenefariousplan toartificiallyraisethecostof essentialconsumerproducts toimpoverishtheCreole
population,forcingthemto returntoplantationlabour. Oneofthemostcontentiousissueswastakingthe taxespaidbythevillages toaidtheplanterstoimport immigrantlabour,causing thepredictablefloodsand lossoflivestockandproduce, and,moreimportant,infant mortality.Thisconflictalso
involvedthemanipulationof theeagerPortugueseindenturedlaboureras‘theenthusiasticfallguy’tograbthe ambitionsoftheCreole.This orchestratedplotledtosocial colonytensionsthatexploded betweentheCreoleandthe ImmigrantPortugueseinthe lasthalfofthe19thcentury, withtheimplosionofthe
‘AngelGabrielRiots’1857, andthe“Gil-breadRiots”of 1889.
Thoughrecordshave shownshopkeepersattemptedtofurtherimpoverishthe Creolepopulationthrough crookedscalesandinflated prices,alongwiththeboast totheCreolesthatwiththe murderofanyothercitizen, theKingofPortugalhad commandedthattheybe abstainedfromcapitalpunishmentinthecolony(The caseofAntonioD’Agrella, see‘ThePortugueseofGuyana:’MaryNoelMenezes, R.S.M.).ButtheCreolepopulationdidnotsitandonly pray;theyprotestedanddefendedtheirrightswithcivil unrest,notonlydirecting theirangertoconfrontingthe scapegoatsbeforethem.
ButasGovernorLyght confirmed,“thatthetemper oflabourersissoured,itis notatalluncommonforremarksnotofthecivilistkind beingmadebygroupsofCreolesonmeetingcarriagesand horsesofofficialstotheeffectthattheythepeoplewere taxed{for}suchluxuries.” Thisadmissionacceptedthat discontentwasrife,widespreadandopenlyvented. TheCreolepopulationwas pressedintoadebilitating taxafterthe‘AngelGabrielRiots’tore-imbursethe storesaffected.Thearchitect ofthiswasGovernorPhilip Wodehouse;onhiswayto theStabroekwharfinJuly 1857,thepopulationvented theirangerbystoninghim. Thispunitivetaxwasmercifullyrepealedbypressures frommissionariesandother localpressuregroups,as wellasfromtheAnti-slavery SocietyinBritain.See-Part 2‘ThemesinAfrican-GuyaneseHistory.’
Withtime,theCreole movedtowardsthepublic service,anddominatedthe stevedoreareasofemployment.Theseareasalsohad theirextremedifficulties thatled(mainlythestevedorewages)totheturn ofthecentury1900s-1905 disturbancesthatbirthed theUnionmovement,and eventuallythegenesisof thesignificantlocalpolitical movement.
(Barrington Braithwaite)
EmancipationDayMessages
PPP:Letthesacrifices,achievements ofourAfro-Guyanesebrothers,sisters serveasimportantlessons
THEPeople’sProgressiveParty(PPP)wishes toextendthewarmest greetingstoallGuyanese,especiallyour Afro-Guyanesebrothersandsisters,onthe occasionofthe186th AnniversaryofEmancipation.
Slaveryremainsthe mostcruelandinhumanesystemofsubjugationanddiscrimination knowninhumanhistory. Thecelebrationofitsab-
olitionisadutyforevery humanbeing.Thisoccasionprovidesanopportunitytoreflectonthe tremendoussacrifices madebyourAfro-Guyaneseancestors,who werebroughtinhumanelytothislandinchains toprovidefreelabour forthesugarplantations. Theywerestrippedof theirhumanityanddignity,forcedtotoillong hours,andmanywere torturedandbrutally
killedforsimplystandingupfortheirrights. Intheirlongandunyieldingmarchforfree-
dom,manybattleswere fought,includingthe BerbiceSlaveRebellion,ledbyournation’s
NationalHero,Cuffy. Whenfreedomfinally came,thefreedslaves andtheirdescendants demonstratedexceptionalindustry,thrift,and financialacumen,acquiringlargeportionsof landthattodayremain thefoundationofour villagemovement.
Theircontributions madetoeveryfacetof lifeinthisnationare immeasurable.
Aswecelebratethis
importanthistoricand nationaloccasion,we urgeeveryGuyaneseto reflectuponthestruggles,sacrifices,and remarkableachievementsoftheslavesand theirdescendants.Let theseserveasasource ofinspirationandguidanceaswecontinueto worktogethertobuild aunitedanddemocraticnation.
AFC:ReflectuponthesacrificesmadebyourAfrican ancestorsinthemakingofamodernGuyana
OnthisAugust1,aswecelebrateEmancipationDay inGuyana,wecommemorateapivotalmomentin ourhistorywhenthechains ofenslavementwerebroken,andourancestorswere giventheirfreedom.This dayin1834markedtheend ofabrutaleraofchattel slaveryintheWestIndies. However,itwasnotuntil 1838,afteraperiodof"apprenticeship"intendedto transitionenslavedAfricans tofree'paid'labourers,that truefreedomwasrealized.
EmancipationDayholds profoundsignificancefor GuyaneseofAfricandescent. Itisadayofreflection,remembrance,andreverence fortheimmensesacrifices ourforebearsmade.Wehonourtheirresilienceandunwaveringspirit,whichfound itsfirstpowerfulexpression intheWesternHemisphere's firstsuccessfulslaverebellionin1763.Thismonumentaluprising,ledbyour nationalheroCuffy,predated theAmericanRevolutionof 1774andtheHaitianRevolutionof1799,underscoringtheindomitablewillof
Africanstofightfortheir freedom. Thelongandvaliant historyofthecontributions byAfricanancestorstothe makingofmodernGuyana canneverbeunderstated. ThestrugglesoftheAfrican peopleinGuyana,which beganintheearly1600s andcontinuetoday,area testamenttotheirongoing commitmenttoestablishing afree,fair,just,andequitable Guyana.EmancipationDay holdsprofoundsignificance forGuyaneseofAfricandescent.Itisadayofreflection, remembrance,andreverence fortheimmensesacrifices ourforebearsmade.
Aswecommemoratethis
momentousoccasion,itis crucialtoreflectuponthe contributionmadebyAfricanpeopleintheircontinued rejectionofallattemptsto subjugate,denigrate,andhumiliatethemindividuallyand asapeoplesincetheirarrival. The1763uprising,which beganatplantationsHollandiaandZeelandia,wasthe cornerstoneofmodernGuyana.However,asanation, wehavefailedtoproperly honorthefoundationsofour nationhoodbynoterecting commemorativecornerstones attheselocationstomark thecommencementofthe uprisings.
TheAllianceforChange willseektoengageallwilling
stakeholderstotrulyhonour theforefathersofmodern Guyanabyerectingcommemorativecornerstonesat ZeelandiaandHollandiato markthecommencementof the1763uprising.
Furthermore,weurgethat thehistorydepartmentofthe UniversityofGuyanabethe beneficiaryofafullyfunded researchfellowshipdedicated tofurtheracademicresearch intothe1763Uprising,and therepatriationandpreservationofthehistoricrecords abouttheuprising,currently locatedoverseas.
Letusdrawstrengthand inspirationfromourhistory, celebratetherichcultural heritage,achievements,and contributionsofAfricansto Guyanaandtheworld.The AFCurgesallcitizenstoreflectuponthesacrificesmade byourAfricanancestors inthemakingofamodern Guyanaandenjoyadayof peacefulreflectiononour history.
HappyEmancipation Day,Guyana.Letusremember,reflect,andcontinuethefightfortruefreedom.
