Bussas Rebellion Bussas Rebellion (14–16 April 1816) was the largest slave revolt in Barbadian history. Several hundred freedom fighters under the leadership of the African-born Bussa were defeated by British forces. Bussas Rebellion was the first of three large-scale rebellions in the British West Indies that shook public faith in slavery in the years leading up to emancipation. It was followed by a large-scale rebellion in Demerara in 1823 and then by an even larger rebellion in Jamaica in 1831–32. Collectively these are often referred to as the late slave rebellions. Bussa was born a free man in West Africa, and it is possible that he may have been either Igbo, or of Akan descent and was captured by African slave merchants, sold to the British, and brought to Barbados in the late 18th century as a slave. Not much is known about him and there are no records of him prior to this date. Since slave owners almost never bothered to keep detailed records about the lives of their slaves (who were considered property), virtually no biographical information about Bussa is available. Records show a slave named Bussa worked as a ranger on Bayleys Plantation in the parish of St. Philip around the time of the rebellion. This privileged position would have given Bussa much more freedom of movement than the average slave and would have made it easier for him to plan and coordinate the rebellion. A ranger was the head officer among the enslaved workers on an estate. He would have to look after boundaries and fences and deal with the day-to-day business arising between the estates. This meant that rangers travelled throughout the area. It is likely that Bussa enjoyed the confidence and respect of both the black community and plantation owners. Bussa planned the uprising with people from the different estates. This included Jackey, the driver at the Simmons estate, King Wiltshire, a carpenter at Bayley’s and Nanny Grigg, a literate domestic at Simmons. The uprising started at Bayley’s estate. It was an attempt by the enslaved people to change the society on Barbados. They believed that Barbados belonged to them and wanted their freedom from the plantation owners. The act to end the slave trade had been passed in Parliament in 1807. In 1815 the slaves thought that they were going to gain their freedom when Governor Leith returned from Guadeloupe, another Caribbean island. They believed that he was bringing a ‘free paper’ with him to set them free. Bussa commanded about 400 men and women against the troops. These included the West India Regiment, an all black branch of the British Army. He was killed in battle and his troops continued to fight until they were defeated by superior firepower. One white civilian and one black soldier were killed during the fighting. Compared to this, 50 enslaved people died in battle and 70 were executed in the field. Another 300 were taken to Bridgetown for trial, of which 144 were executed and 132 sent away to another island. Bussa’s rebellion was one of many rebellions that took place in the Caribbean over the centuries, showing black people’s determination to gain their freedom. Rebellion was their attempt to influence the abolition movement. Bussa remains a popular and resonant figure in Barbados. In 1985, 169 years after his rebellion, the Emancipation Statue, created by Karl Broodhagen, was unveiled in Haggatt Hall, in the parish of St Michael. By an act of Parliament in 1998, Bussa was named as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:00:00 +0000
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