Kofi/Cuffy and the Berbice Revolution is commemorated in the 1763 Monument (not a statue of Kofi/Cuffy) in the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Kofi was an Akan man who was captured in Ghana, West Africa, taken to Guyana and enslaved. He led the Berbice Revolution which began on February 23-1763. Republic Day in Guyana since 1970 honours the memory of Kofi and the Africans who rose up against the Dutch enslavers on February 23-1763. Kofi/Cuffy is the National Hero of Guyana.
Patricia Liverpool © February 23-2019
MASHRAMANI
FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 23-2019
Guyanese celebrated Republic Day on Saturday, February
23-2019 with an annual Mashramani Festival.
February 23 was chosen as Republic Day to honour the memory of the
enslaved Africans of Berbice, Guyana, led by Kofi and his lieutenants, Atta,
Accabre and Akara, who seized their freedom on February 23-1763. Kofi, a “house
slave” was the leader of this revolution of enslaved Africans. Guyana, formerly
British Guiana, is a country of 83,000 square miles that is situated on the
Northeast Coast of South America. The country was colonized by the Dutch at
that time (1763), who had unsuccessfully tried to enslave the “Amerindian”
indigenous population. Guyana which encompasses the former Dutch colonies of
Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo (taken from the Dutch, by the British in 1814)
became one colony in 1831; the British colony of British Guiana, became the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 1970 on the 207th anniversary
of the Berbice Revolution. Guyana which is located on the northeast of the
South American continent is the only South American country where English is
the official language. Slavery in British Guiana was abolished on August 1,
1834, and after four years of “apprenticeship” the Africans were finally free
on August 1, 1838. Guyana is known as the Land of Six Peoples which includes
Africans (kidnapped, enslaved and taken to Guyana by the Dutch beginning in the
1600s) Amerindians (the native people of Guyana) Chinese (immigrated as
indentured labourers from January 12, 1853 aboard the SS Glentanner) East Indians
(immigrated as indentured labourers from May 1, 1838 aboard SS Whitby and SS
Hesperus) Europeans (first the Dutch 1600s, then the British seized the
territory 1800s) Portuguese (immigrated as indentured labourers from May 3,
1835 aboard SS Louisa Baillie.) Today Guyana is a Republic having gained its
political independence from Britain on Thursday, May 26-1966 under the
leadership of then Prime Minister the Honourable Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
To celebrate Republic Day on February 23, Guyanese go all out with a national
street festival, Mashramani, which includes elaborate costumes and dancing (wining,
chipping) in the street to soca, calypso, chutney and reggae music.
Patricia Liverpool © February 23-2019
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