Bussa's rebellion (14–16 April 1816) was the largest slave revolt in the history of the British island of Barbados. The Barbadian rebellion takes its name from the African-born slave, Bussa, who led the rebellion which was eventually defeated by British forces.

Bussa was born a free man in West Africa of Igbo descent. Records show a slave named "Bussa" worked as a ranger on "Bayle's Plantation" in the parish of Saint Philip around the time of the rebellion. This privileged position would have given Bussa more freedom of movement than the average slave and would have made it easier for him to plan and coordinate the rebellion.

The revolts arose at a time when the British Parliament was working on schemes to ameliorate the conditions of slaves in the Caribbean. Preparation for this rebellion began soon after the House of Assembly discussed and rejected the Imperial Registry Bill in November 1815, which would have registered colonial slaves. Historians believe that slaves interpreted some of the parliamentary proposals as preparatory to emancipation, and took action when freedom did not take place.

The planning was undertaken at a number of sugar estates, including Bailey's plantation, where it began. By February 1816, Bussa was an African driver, one of the few in his position. He and his collaborators decided to start the revolt on 14 April, Easter Sunday.

Bussa commanded some 400 freedom fighters, both men and women, most of whom were believed to be Creole, born in the islands. He was killed in battle. His forces continued the fight until they were defeated by superior firepower of the colonial militia. The rebellion failed but its influence was significant to the future of Barbados.

Bussa remains a popular 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.

In 1998, the Parliament named Bussa as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados.

REFERENCES:
Williams, Emily Allen (2004). The Critical Response to Kamau Brathwaite. Praeger Publishers.

"The Emancipation Wars", National Library of Jamaica

Parliament of Barbados (2009). "Parliament's History". Barbadosparliament.com

Beckles, Hilary. Black Rebellion in Barbados. Bridgetown, Barbados: Antilles Publications, 1984. [detailed account of the rebellion]

I wonder if there's a similar name in Nigeria that we could know his potential real name.

BajanGoingHome:
I wonder if there's a similar name in Nigeria that we could know his potential real name.

The closest name that comes to mind in my opinion is "Bosah", one of those ancient Igbo names that's still relatively common especially amongst Anambra folks.

Zigimatic:


The closest name that comes to mind in my opinion is "Bosah", one of those ancient Igbo names that's still relatively common especially amongst Anambra folks.

Any idea what Bosah means?

Zigimatic:


The closest name that comes to mind in my opinion is "Bosah", one of those ancient Igbo names that's still relatively common especially amongst Anambra folks.

Common amongst Anambra folks? Hmm. I haven't met a Bosah from that axis, except maybe Onitsha. The Bosahs I know are all from Delta. Asaba axis, predominantly.

bigfrancis21:


Any idea what Bosah means?

RedboneSmith:


Common amongst Anambra folks? Hmm. I haven't met a Bosah from that axis, except maybe Onitsha. The Bosahs I know are all from Delta. Asaba axis, predominantly.

Bosah is the short form of Beluolisa my side of Anambra,I.e Nnewi.
Same way we name Okwuosah and Akosah,short for Okwuolisa and Akaolisa
@RedboneSmith,you really haven't met much Igbo east side of the Niger. Stop thinking Onitsha as epitomizing Eastern Igbo

Dhugal:

Bosah is the short form of Beluolisa my side of Anambra,I.e Nnewi.
Same way we name Okwuosah and Akosah,short for Okwuolisa and Akaolisa
@RedboneSmith,you really haven't met much Igbo east side of the Niger. Stop thinking Onitsha as epitomizing Eastern Igbo

Thank you so much for your explanation. I'm really trying to uncover Barbados igbo roots and you've helped a step closer

@bigfrancis21
Did you get the email pm I sent you a few days ago?

bigfrancis21:
Bussa's rebellion (14–16 April 1816) was the largest slave revolt in the history of the British island of Barbados. The Barbadian rebellion takes its name from the African-born slave, Bussa, who led the rebellion which was eventually defeated by British forces.

Bussa was born a free man in West Africa of Igbo descent. Records show a slave named "Bussa" worked as a ranger on "Bayle's Plantation" in the parish of Saint Philip around the time of the rebellion. This privileged position would have given Bussa more freedom of movement than the average slave and would have made it easier for him to plan and coordinate the rebellion.

The revolts arose at a time when the British Parliament was working on schemes to ameliorate the conditions of slaves in the Caribbean. Preparation for this rebellion began soon after the House of Assembly discussed and rejected the Imperial Registry Bill in November 1815, which would have registered colonial slaves. Historians believe that slaves interpreted some of the parliamentary proposals as preparatory to emancipation, and took action when freedom did not take place.

The planning was undertaken at a number of sugar estates, including Bailey's plantation, where it began. By February 1816, Bussa was an African driver, one of the few in his position. He and his collaborators decided to start the revolt on 14 April, Easter Sunday.

Bussa commanded some 400 freedom fighters, both men and women, most of whom were believed to be Creole, born in the islands. He was killed in battle. His forces continued the fight until they were defeated by superior firepower of the colonial militia. The rebellion failed but its influence was significant to the future of Barbados.

Bussa remains a popular 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.

In 1998, the Parliament named Bussa as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados.

REFERENCES:
Williams, Emily Allen (2004). The Critical Response to Kamau Brathwaite. Praeger Publishers.

"The Emancipation Wars", National Library of Jamaica

Parliament of Barbados (2009). "Parliament's History". Barbadosparliament.com

Beckles, Hilary. Black Rebellion in Barbados. Bridgetown, Barbados: Antilles Publications, 1984. [detailed account of the rebellion]

Nigga,
Has it ever occurred to you that Barbados and Bussa both have a matching cognates in the Bussa area on the Niger Bank a domain of the Barubas, and further that Baruba is what became Barbados and the Bussa is named in memory of their lost homeland back in Africa?


Why do you Ibos comb the internet looking to steal other people's glories?

Favor99:
@bigfrancis21
Did you get the email pm I sent you a few days ago?

I will respond to you in a few.

Good one, OP.

Igbo Amaka.

BabaRamota1980:


Nigga,
Has it ever occurred to you that Barbados and Bussa both have a matching cognates in the Bussa area on the Niger Bank a domain of the Barubas, and further that Baruba is what became Barbados and the Bussa is named in memory of their lost homeland back in Africa?


Why do you Ibos comb the internet looking to steal other people's glories?

You might have a point the possibility of Barbados/Bussa coming from Niger state is slim because very few slaves were exported from Niger state and, even moreso, most slave captives from the northern Nigerian area were enslaved by the Arabic people and sent eastwards towards the middle east, not westwards towards the Americas.

bigfrancis21:


I will respond to you in a few.

Thanks

bigfrancis21:


You might have a point the possibility of Barbados/Bussa coming from Niger state is slim because very few slaves were exported from Niger state and, even moreso, most slave captives from the northern Nigerian area were enslaved by the Arabic people and sent eastwards towards the middle east, not westwards towards the Americas.

Bariba/ Baruba/ Tapa – Niger area were exported via Oyo.

bigfrancis21:


You might have a point the possibility of Barbados/Bussa coming from Niger state is slim because very few slaves were exported from Niger state and, even moreso, most slave captives from the northern Nigerian area were enslaved by the Arabic people and sent eastwards towards the middle east, not westwards towards the Americas.

Slaves as far north as Agades in Niger were sold through Yorubaland and to the whites at the coast.

Didnt you read Bello, Sultan of Sokoto complained to Livingstone to appeal to King of Yoruba and stop selling muslim slaves to the kafirs (referring to Portuguese merchants)?

Olu317:
Bariba/ Baruba/ Tapa – Niger area were exported via Oyo.

However, the origin of Barbados itself is not thought to come from that area, especially given the minority of slaves from that region.

BabaRamota1980:



Slaves as far north as Agades in Niger were sold through Yorubaland and to the whites at the coast.

Didnt you read Bello, Sultan of Sokoto complained to Livingstone to appeal to King of Yoruba and stop selling muslim slaves to the kafirs (referring to Portuguese merchants)?

https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/news/exploring-evolution-b%E2%80%99dian-identity

EXPLORING THE EVOLUTION OF B’DIAN IDENTITY
Tue, 03/29/2016 - 12:00am Barbados1

PROFESSOR Pedro Welch recently explored the historical factors that contributed to the making of a Barbadian Identity, in the period between the settlement of Barbados in the 1620's, and the third quarter of the 19th century.

He was at the time delivering the second instalment in the Barbados Museum and Historical Society 2016 Lecture Series, Becoming Bajan: The Evolution of Barbadian Identity, held in collaboration with the University of the West Indies’ Department of History and Philosophy, and the National Cultural Foundation.

Speaking on the topic “The Making of Bimshire/ Little England: Perceptions of Special Status in the Colonial Hierarchy/ Framework”, Professor Welch paid special attention to the cultural and legal issues which permitted British citizens overseas to consider themselves as “transplanted” citizens.

The former Deputy Principal of University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Education, noted the emergence of a political culture that sought to establish a relative autonomy from the colonial overlords, and traced the export of an Anglicanism that contributed to a local government system (the vestry), which added its own flavour to an emerging colonial Barbadian identity.

“The Church represented more than religious ritual, it was also deeply embedded in the political system, particularly the local government system centred in the Vestry.

“The Vestry system was not just a matter of church government, it was also quite closely aligned to the other elements of the political system that developed and emerged within the colonies. The Vestry then was not only an ecclesiastical institution, it was also a civil institution that looked after some areas of life in Barbados,” he told the audience gathered at Queen’s Park Steel Shed.

As it relates to the term “Little England”, Professor Welch said it emerged over time as an expression of the island’s success, when compared to the rest of the Caribbean.

“True, that success related more to the privileges of a Euro-Barbados society fully aware of its endemic over the Afro-Barbadian majority, but it cannot be denied to an outsider unacquainted with the social realities that Barbados was a resounding success – small, with an economy built on monoculture, but still providing for its agro-capitalists a measure of comfortable living.

“Could Afro-Barbadians buy into that perception? The answer is simply that while the reality of the endemicity of the plantation was a limited factor on the social advances of the masses, some of the neighbouring classes could and did come to see the island as home, and possibly the best home in the region.”

He went on to note that Bimshire is an amalgam of two separate terms, explaining that “shire” is a term used in England to refer to a division of land, which can traced back to an old English term “Scir”, and is synonymous with what is often termed as a county. Whereas “Bim”, he said, is identified as also having a strong association with an Igbo term which meant, among such other things, “my house”, “my home”, “folk”, “my fellows”, etc.

“There was a strong presence of Igbo slaves in early Barbados, which is attested by the survival of the Igbo 2nd person plural pronoun ‘una’ (wunna) in present-day Barbados folk-speech. The emphatic signalling among these groupings of Igbos would have spread easily to other Africa slaves, and might also have been reinforced…

“Household contacts through nurses etc., would have spread the term effectively to White usage, thus producing the derivative Bimshire, a colonial English name for Barbados.”

He further pointed out, “The term ‘Little England/ Bimshire’ are of different origins. The first being different illusion to Barbados’ role as a premier English colony in the Caribbean for much of its post-settlement existence; bimshire being an African derived term that was adopted by creole whites to signify a sense of place and a sense of special status in the colonial hierarchy.” (TL)

BabaRamota1980:



Slaves as far north as Agades in Niger were sold through Yorubaland and to the whites at the coast.

Didnt you read Bello, Sultan of Sokoto complained to Livingstone to appeal to King of Yoruba and stop selling muslim slaves to the kafirs (referring to Portuguese merchants)?

Where did the Sultan see Livingstone to complain to him about anything? Livingstone that did all his work in Eastern Africa. Were they doing video calls on WhatsApp?

bigfrancis21:

https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/news/exploring-evolution-b%E2%80%99dian-identity

EXPLORING THE EVOLUTION OF B’DIAN IDENTITY
Tue, 03/29/2016 - 12:00am Barbados1

PROFESSOR Pedro Welch recently explored the historical factors that contributed to the making of a Barbadian Identity, in the period between the settlement of Barbados in the 1620's, and the third quarter of the 19th century.

He was at the time delivering the second instalment in the Barbados Museum and Historical Society 2016 Lecture Series, Becoming Bajan: The Evolution of Barbadian Identity, held in collaboration with the University of the West Indies’ Department of History and Philosophy, and the National Cultural Foundation.

Speaking on the topic “The Making of Bimshire/ Little England: Perceptions of Special Status in the Colonial Hierarchy/ Framework”, Professor Welch paid special attention to the cultural and legal issues which permitted British citizens overseas to consider themselves as “transplanted” citizens.

The former Deputy Principal of University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Education, noted the emergence of a political culture that sought to establish a relative autonomy from the colonial overlords, and traced the export of an Anglicanism that contributed to a local government system (the vestry), which added its own flavour to an emerging colonial Barbadian identity.

“The Church represented more than religious ritual, it was also deeply embedded in the political system, particularly the local government system centred in the Vestry.

“The Vestry system was not just a matter of church government, it was also quite closely aligned to the other elements of the political system that developed and emerged within the colonies. The Vestry then was not only an ecclesiastical institution, it was also a civil institution that looked after some areas of life in Barbados,” he told the audience gathered at Queen’s Park Steel Shed.

As it relates to the term “Little England”, Professor Welch said it emerged over time as an expression of the island’s success, when compared to the rest of the Caribbean.

“True, that success related more to the privileges of a Euro-Barbados society fully aware of its endemic over the Afro-Barbadian majority, but it cannot be denied to an outsider unacquainted with the social realities that Barbados was a resounding success – small, with an economy built on monoculture, but still providing for its agro-capitalists a measure of comfortable living.

“Could Afro-Barbadians buy into that perception? The answer is simply that while the reality of the endemicity of the plantation was a limited factor on the social advances of the masses, some of the neighbouring classes could and did come to see the island as home, and possibly the best home in the region.”

He went on to note that Bimshire is an amalgam of two separate terms, explaining that “shire” is a term used in England to refer to a division of land, which can traced back to an old English term “Scir”, and is synonymous with what is often termed as a county. Whereas “Bim”, he said, is identified as also having a strong association with an Igbo term which meant, among such other things, “my house”, “my home”, “folk”, “my fellows”, etc.

“There was a strong presence of Igbo slaves in early Barbados, which is attested by the survival of the Igbo 2nd person plural pronoun ‘una’ (wunna) in present-day Barbados folk-speech. The emphatic signalling among these groupings of Igbos would have spread easily to other Africa slaves, and might also have been reinforced…

“Household contacts through nurses etc., would have spread the term effectively to White usage, thus producing the derivative Bimshire, a colonial English name for Barbados.”

He further pointed out, “The term ‘Little England/ Bimshire’ are of different origins. The first being different illusion to Barbados’ role as a premier English colony in the Caribbean for much of its post-settlement existence; bimshire being an African derived term that was adopted by creole whites to signify a sense of place and a sense of special status in the colonial hierarchy.” (TL)

The connection of BIM as an Igbo word and the origin of Bimshire would need a better etymology than the words of a non-Igbo but a citizen from whose perspective anything Africa is legitimate for cultural identity. If you told the Prof that BIM is an Hausa word he would still go ahead and accept the origin as an Hausa. If you told him it was an Akan word, he would accept that as well.

Has anyone told him what BIM or its derivatives might mean in Baruba?

RedboneSmith:


Where did the Sultan see Livingstone to complain to him about anything? Livingstone that did all his work in Eastern Africa. Were they doing video calls on WhatsApp?

. You are right!

Clapperton is who I meant, not Livingston.

Bigfrancis,
There is a competition for certain eulogies in the history of Barbados.

When you go into historical records it is amazing how even the English who ended posessing the land were at best playing with guesses..a lot of possibilities but no certainties. Very shocking! They thought barbados meant beard of the native Indians or perharps the descriptive feature of the founding Spaniard. Then they were not sure who was first on the island, Spain or Portugal?

If there are Barubas in here it would help to share history and records from their perspective and help qith lexicon. Otherwise, I would have to accept your theory that Barbados is an Igbo settlement.

Now, if Trinidad and Tobago was named and barbados and the etymology of the name is linked to a beard...I will agree given the shape of the map of T&T.


Bring us more perspectives on what you know about Barbados.
Thanks.

BabaRamota1980:


The connection of BIM as an Igbo word and the origin of Bimshire would need a better etymology than the words of a non-Igbo but a citizen from whose perspective anything Africa is legitimate for cultural identity. If you told the Prof that BIM is an Hausa word he would still go ahead and accept the origin as an Hausa. If you told him it was an Akan word, he would accept that as well.

Has anyone told him what BIM or its derivatives might mean in Baruba?

Can you do the research yourself and tell us your findings?

bigfrancis21:


Can you do the research yourself and tell us your findings?

We have Igbo here. We need Bariba people who are versed in history and lexicons to show in here.

I am sure there are many Afroethnic usages in the Barbados language, they will be hidden in things like cuisines, games, folklores, names and so on. Bim is the face of national identity for the Afro descents but it wont be the only imported term or language, there are others. For their exploration we would also need a Barbadoan with deep knowledge of history and culture.

If any is here they should show up.

This is going to be a very inyeresting exercise...

BabaRamota1980:


We have Igbo here. We need Bariba people who are versed in history and lexicons to show in here.

I am sure there are many Afroethnic usages in the Barbados language, they will be hidden in things like cuisines, games, folklores, names and so on. Bim is the face of national identity for the Afro descents but it wont be the only imported term or language, there are others. For their exploration we would also need a Barbadoan with deep knowledge of history and culture.

If any is here they should show up.

This is going to be a very inyeresting exercise...

Let's wait till then for this 'surprise yet to be discovered'.

Here is something...Coucou.
Sound familiar at all?

Made of cornmeal and okro, part of cooking brought with slaves from Africa.

[i][/i]qed

Favor99:

Thanks

Dhugal:

Bosah is the short form of Beluolisa my side of Anambra,I.e Nnewi.
Same way we name Okwuosah and Akosah,short for Okwuolisa and Akaolisa
@RedboneSmith,you really haven't met much Igbo east side of the Niger. Stop thinking Onitsha as epitomizing Eastern Igbo

Yea right! He was an Igbo slave alright, but this explanation of his name does not make sense. His name may have simply been Bosah! Because it does not have any meaning to you does not mean that it was not a name at his time. A lot of names have been lost in all tribes since religion came in because, people now attach God to their tribal names. Like we see with names like Chukwuemeka and Akaolisa.

BabaRamota1980:
Here is something...Coucou.
Sound familiar at all?

Made of cornmeal and okro, part of cooking brought with slaves from Africa.

They are trying to replicate Akpu and Okro, which is a traditional Igbo food. They obviously did not have cassava so they substituted with corn. They even cut the okro like Igbo’s do when cooking Okro. The meal has obviously been modified over time. Some versions look like swallow and Okro soup.

baby124:

They are trying to replicate Akpu and Okro, which is a traditional Igbo food. They obviously did not have cassava so they substituted with corn. They even cut the okro like Igbo’s do when cooking Okro. The meal has obviously been modified over time. Some versions look like swallow and Okro soup.

Interesting. Have you spent time in Barbados before?

bigfrancis21:


Interesting. Have you spent time in Barbados before?

Just google the food for the pics.

baby124:

They are trying to replicate Akpu and Okro, which is a traditional Igbo food. They obviously did not have cassava so they substituted with corn. They even cut the okro like Igbo’s do when cooking Okro. The meal has obviously been modified over time. Some versions look like swallow and Okro soup.

Ghana may have a stronger claim to being the origin of Coucou than Southeastern Nigeria.

RedboneSmith:


Ghana may have a stronger claim to being the origin of Coucou than Southeastern Nigeria.

Ghanaians don’t cut their Okro like that. Igbo’s do.