The Berbice Slave Uprising, a significant slave revolt in Guyana, began on 23 February 1763 and lasted until December of the same year. This event is considered the first major slave revolt in South America and a crucial milestone in Guyana’s anti-colonial struggles. In 1970, when Guyana became a republic, the state declared 23 February as a day to commemorate the start of the Berbice Slave Uprising.
The Dutch colony of Berbice
The colony of Berbice, located in present-day Guyana, was initially a hereditary fief of the Van Peere family. After refusing to pay a ransom demanded by French privateer Jacques Cassard, the colony was transferred to four Amsterdam merchants who founded the Society of Berbice. The colony struggled compared to other colonies, only paying a 4% dividend to its stockholders.
In 1762, the population of Berbice comprised 3,833 enslaved Blacks, 244 enslaved Amerindians or indigenous people, and 346 whites. The Seven Years’ War led to a reduction in supplies to the colony, resulting in hunger among the slave population. In late 1762, a disease broke out in the fort, causing many soldiers to die or fall ill.
Revolution
Start of the rebellion
On 23 February 1763, slaves on plantation Magdalenenberg on the Canje River in Berbice rebelled, protesting their harsh and inhumane treatment. They torched the plantation house and sought refuge at the Courantyne River, where Caribs and troops commanded by Governor Wigbold Crommelin of Suriname attacked and killed them.
Coffy and the expansion of the revolt
On 27 February 1763, a revolt took place on plantation Hollandia on the Berbice River, next to Lilienburg, where Coffy, an enslaved man working as a cooper, resided. Coffy, also known as Kofi or Koffi, was an Akan man captured in West Africa and enslaved to work on the plantations in the Dutch colony of Berbice. He is credited with organising the slaves into a military unit, after which the revolt spread to neighbouring plantations.
Indigenous soldiers, especially Caribs and Arawaks, played a crucial role in the Dutch effort to retake Berbice, as their scouting and harassment of rebel troops in the interior prevented the formation of Maroon communities similar to those in Suriname. Despite aid from indigenous allies, the soldiers struggled to recapture the island.
As plantation after plantation fell to the slaves, the Dutch settlers fled northward, and the rebels began to take control of the region. For almost a year, the rebels held southern Berbice while the whites managed to maintain control of the north. In time, only half of the white population that had lived in the colony remained.
The rebels, numbering about 3,000, threatened European control over the Guianas. Coffy was installed as the political leader, while Accara became the military leader. Coffy attempted to keep the captured plantations operating to prevent starvation.
Governor Wolfert Simon van Hoogenheim requested military assistance from the States General of the Netherlands. The ship Betsy arrived from Suriname with 100 soldiers on 28 March 1763. The former slaves were driven back, and a camp was established at De Dageraad (“The Daybreak”). On 2 April, 300 to 400 rebels attacked, led by Accara, but were ultimately repelled.
Suppression
Peace negotiations and military reinforcements
Coffy contacted van Hoogenheim and expressed regret for the attack, initiating peace negotiations and suggesting a partition of Berbice into European and African territories. The Governor responded that Amsterdam should make the decision and that it could take three to four months.
In April, 200 troops arrived from Barbados, followed by military assistance from Sint Eustatius in May. In the meantime, word had reached Amsterdam, and the Amsterdamsche Courant reported the revolt of the slaves on 21 May 1763. The merchants demanded action, and six ships with 600 men set sail to Berbice.
Internal conflicts and final defeat
On 19 October 1763, the governor received a report that Captain Atta had revolted against Coffy and that Coffy had committed suicide. This development nullified the peace negotiations. However, the arrival of soldiers had already strengthened the colonists’ numbers.
On 1 January 1764, the six ships arrived, marking the beginning of expeditions against the rebel slaves. The insurgents were defeated, with Captains Atta and Accara captured. Accara eventually changed sides, aiding the Dutch in catching Captain Accabre, the last of the insurgents, on 15 April 1764.
Many rebels were executed for participating in the rebellion, with estimates ranging from 75 to 128 (125 men and three women). Around 1,800 rebels died, with 24 burned alive. Captain Accara was pardoned and later served as a freedman with the Marines under his former adversary Fourgeoud.
Aftermath
Little change in Berbice
Very little changed in the colony of Berbice following the slave uprising. The Society of Berbice complained about the number of executions after the rebellion, but they were more concerned about their reputation and the loss of valuable slaves. Dutch newspapers, which had devoted significant coverage to the uprising, quickly lost interest after the revolt was suppressed.
Fort Nassau, which had been abandoned and set on fire during the fighting, was eventually replaced by Fort Sint Andries, which was renamed New Amsterdam in 1791. The Society of Berbice faced severe financial problems after the revolt and asked the States of Holland for a loan.
Suriname and the influence of the Berbice slave uprising
A few years later, in Suriname, escaped slaves led by Boni attacked plantations. Boni sought a peace treaty similar to those granted to the Ndyuka and Saramaka people in 1760 and 1762, respectively. However, war was declared instead. The reason for the Society of Suriname’s change in position remains unknown, but some, such as Lou Lichtveld, pointed to the Berbice slave uprising. In the mid-1770s, military officers who had handled the Berbice uprising were dispatched to Suriname.
Legacy
Coffy is commemorated on 23 February as the national hero of Guyana. In 1976, a bronze monument was erected in the Square of the Revolutions in the capital Georgetown. This monument, known as the 1763 Monument or the Cuffy Monument, has been designated a National Monument. Designed by Guyanese sculptor Philip Moore, the 15-foot-tall statue weighs two and a half tons and features many symbols representing defiance, protection, and revolutionaries from Guyanese history.
The Berbice Slave Uprising stands as a defining moment in Guyana’s history, highlighting the struggle for freedom and the fight against colonial oppression. The revolt, led by Coffy and other key figures, serves as a reminder of the importance of resistance and the power of unity in the face of adversity. As Guyana commemorates this significant event each year on 23 February, it is essential to remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for their freedom and their actions’ lasting impact on the nation’s history.
