The Birth of a Nation: The 1763 Berbice Uprising

Occurring almost half a century before the Haitian Revolution, this rebellion saw thousands of captive Africans in the Dutch colony of Berbice rising up against the plantocracy. Like many other independence struggles, the conflict led to the creation of the country of one country, Berbice. Though the nation’s existence was short-lived, the struggle that bore it inspired Guyana’s national independence struggle over two centuries later. This is the story of the 1763 Berbice Uprising.

Origins of the Conflict

The Dutch were the first Europeans to establish a “permanent” colony in present-day Guyana. I say “permanent” because the story of European colonialism in Guyana is a long and messy one as this 83,000 square mile piece of land has changed hands more times than a hundred-dollar bill at the Stabroek Market. Limited supplies, disease, and harsh environmental conditions mean that the Dutch looked to the forced labor of captive Africans as a means to survive. But they worked them to death. I’m not being dramatic. This is chattel slavery, folks were literally worked to death. Being thoroughly fed up with the treatment by this point, an enslaved African named Kofi Badu decided enough was enough. It was clear to him that the Dutch needed to go. He then began amassing an army.

Killing in the Name Of

On February 23, 1763, he and his army of over 3,800 persons sprang into action. Starting from Plantation Lillienburg on the Canje River, the army went from plantation to plantation along the river, killing the masters, managers, and just about anyone who represented the cruel plantocracy that kept them in bondage.

The news of the uprising sent the colonial Governor Wilford Simon Van Hoogenheim into full panic mode. He immediately dispatched all of the available military units he could muster. 12 soldiers. And 12 sailors. At that time, the entire colony had only 346 Whites (including women and children), well over 4,000 Africans and an unknown number of Indigenous persons. Plus, it would seem that they assumed that Africans would just be cool with the whole slavery thing and were thoroughly surprised by the rebellion. So obviously, by this point, the whole colony was losing its collective mind.

The rebels them moved like an unstoppable force through the region, burning plantations, attacking colonists, freeing Africans and seizing gunpowder and guns along the way. Their destination? The capital of Berbice, Fort Nassau, located 56 miles up the Berbice River. By this point, many of the surviving Dutch colonists fled seeking refuge in ships docked near Fort Nassau and Fort St. Andries. In a matter of days, the army had expelled the Dutch from the Upper Berbice region. On March 8th Kofi sent a letter to Van Hoogenhiem explaining the reason for the rebellion and encouraged him and his people to leave peacefully. But Kofi also warned him. If you want beef, you got it.

Fear of a Black Nation

This triggered Van Hoogenheim to move his followers to Fort St. Andries at the mouth of the Berbice River. When he arrived, he began a furious letter-writing campaign asking for assistance from nearby Dutch colonies, the Dutch West Indies Company and basically anyone who would hear his plea. By this time, the colonists were delusional with fear. They wanted nothing but to return to Holland. Van Hoogenhiem (what a fun name to say?) Van Hoogenheim refused their requests. Although, he almost agreed to let them go until help arrived on March 27. The British sent them a ship of 100 soldiers and supplies from Suriname.

This was interesting seeing as the British and the Dutch were mortal enemies in the 18th century. But the European consensus was that a free Black nation is too scary to let exist. The belief was that such a thing will inspire additional uprisings. I mean they weren’t wrong about that one though.

The Birth of a Nation

Seeing that freedom, without discipline is chaos, Kofi immediately set about establishing a government based on the Dutch system, with him as its Governor, and its administration at Hollandia and Zeelandia. He appointed several councilors included Ankara, who was respected as a strict military disciplinarian and Atta, another military leader. The two of whom would be entrusted with leading Kofi’s military while he governed the newborn nation. He also established work gangs to continue food and sugar production on the plantations. To defend the land, blacksmith shops are established to build and repair guns. However, the war effort was severely hampered by a lack of outside sources of gunpowder.

However, the process of nation-building brought about a serious existential issue. Kofi realized that in this context survival as an independent nation is impossible without trade with the Europeans. But in the mind of the Europeans, his nation’s mere existence poses a threat to the order of the day. He then began to soften his stance from the total expulsion of the Dutch to containment to the coast.

Divide and Conquer

Thus, began a several month period of skirmishes and negotiations between the African rebels and the Dutch. In each letter to Van Hoogenheim, Kofi called for peace, face to face negotiations, and recognition from the Dutch government. While Kofi wrote in earnest, Van Hoogenheim did not. In each letter, he lied to Kofi, telling him that he was still awaiting a response from Holland regarding their recognition. During this time, the Government of the neighboring colony of Demerara used an age-old tactic of divide and conquer. They recruited an army of Indigenous men to attack the African rebels from the South. Their progress was slow but steady.

The attacks and subsequent retreats began to demoralize the rebels. Divisions arose along tribal lines. These divisions seriously undermined the military strength of the rebels and gave the Europeans time to regroup. Meanwhile, the differences between Kofi and Atta continued to grow and eventually, Atta gathered enough followers to challenge his leadership. Seeing that he was outnumbered and outgunned, Kofi took his own life with a single musket shot.

The Rebellion is Crushed

Atta, now the new leader, appointed several new commanders. Unfortunately, several months had passed and reinforcements finally arrived for the colonists. By December 19th 1763 Dutch soldiers were moving up the Canje and Berbice Rivers taking back control of the plantations, while the Indigenous ambush parties moved in from the South. Many Africans surrendered while others fled into the forest. Some did fight back, but they were quickly suppressed. Soon after Atta and his commanders were captured and executed. Between March and April 1764, 40 African rebels were hanged, 24 broken at the wheel and 24 burned to death. Others who were rounded up were re-enslaved. Though the conflict ended violently, the passion for independence did not. The rebellion inspired several other revolts in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean. The movement’s leader, Kofi has been venerated as a national hero of Guyana, honored by a monument at the Square of the Revolution. When Guyana declared itself as a Republic in 1970. February 23 was chosen in honor of Kofi and his rebellion.