By Francis Quamina Farrier
When Guyana became an independent country on May 26, 1966, Cuffy, the leader of the 1763 Berbice slave revolution, was honoured as a “Hero of Guyana.” History reveals that Cuffy was “a house slave.” That in itself debunks the theory by some folks that ‘house slaves’ were more loyal to their masters, and looked down upon their fellow enslaved sisters and brothers with scorn.

I have heard recordings by the African-American Civil rights fighter, Malcolm X, lambasting the “house slave” mercilessly. That was some 200 years after Cuffy had waged a bloody war of liberation for all the enslaved Africans in Berbice.
In a way, Malcolm X demonized his fellow Africans, who were designated house workers by the slave owners, while others were designated as field workers. The house slaves did not appoint themselves to work in the Massa house of their own accord. It was the Massa who made such appointments.
However, even if some of the house slaves did in fact look down upon their field sisters and brothers, then Cuffy’s revolutionary spirit and astute leadership proved that there were indeed, those house slaves who were as revolutionary as any field slave.
So it has been proven without a doubt, that some house slaves were anything but docile, and did not worship the white Massa, as Malcolm X so propounded. Sad to say, there are still some right here in Guyana who seem to harbour those sentiments, so glibly expressed by the late African-American Civil Rights leader, Malcolm X.
Now, let me establish that, although it was the worst enslavement of humans in the history of the world, slavery of Africans in the New World, was not the only occasion of slavery.
It is recorded in the Holy Bible that Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. That story which recorded early slavery, is in the book of Genesis, the very first book of the Holy Bible.
Chapter 37, verse 28 states: “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” So, for those who accept the Bible as a holy and accurate history book, then its report of slavery in its very first book proves that slavery was around almost from the dawn of time; and not with the African slave trade.
While that Biblical Joseph rose to power in Egypt because of his ability to correctly interrupt dreams, Cuffy came to power by dreaming of freedom for himself and his fellow enslaved African sisters and brothers in Berbice, hundreds of thousands of centuries after that Genesis report, and fighting for that freedom.
As a house slave, Cuffy endured the indignity of having to serve his masters who looked down upon him, not as a human with thoughts, hopes and aspirations, but something just a little better than the animals of the fields.
The slave owners accepted that the enslaved people could talk. But the Slave Masters were of the view that the enslaved African People were unable to think. That was a very big mistake. Cuffy also suffered the pain and indignity of hearing the slave masters and overseers returning from the slave huts at nights and boasting of their sexual escapades with the young enslaved African females.
In February 1763, Cuffy and other enslaved Africans on the lower Canje river in Berbice, South America, broke loose and waged a war for freedom, which lasted for about a year. Cuffy lost the war, but not the admiration of generations after him. He is now, officially, a Guyanese Hero.
Shortly after Guyana gained political independence in May 1966, a Guyana coin was minted, as well as a Guyana postage stamp printed, which bears the image of Cuffy.
There have been historic publications, such as poems as well as plays, in which Governor Cuffy is the principal character. His image, along with a few other Guyanese heroes, is also on the inner dome of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry on Water Street in Georgetown.
So what were some of the activities of Governor Cuffy during the months of the war for liberation?
First, he appointed himself as Governor of Berbice.
He waged a severe war for freedom. Like the great Nelson Mandela who came along over two centuries later, Cuffy was also, inclusive of his former masters, and offered the lower portion of Berbice to the Dutch.
He established a new country on the upper Berbice and Canje rivers area, which were above sea level.
Cuffy also engaged in agriculture on the very fertile lands of the Upper Berbice and Canje rivers.
However, Governor Cuffy faced a very astute military enemy in the person of the Dutch Governor Hoogenheim.
Only in his mid-thirties, the Dutch governor engaged Cuffy in a series of letters back and forth, which gained him time to receive support from Suriname and Holland.
Meanwhile, Governor Cuffy was distracted with the war efforts, by trying to subdue Ms Georgie, a Dutch woman who he took revenge on for what the Dutch males had done to the enslaved African females.
What is not generally known is that during the Berbice Slave Revolution, quite a number of Dutch soldiers deserted and joined up with the African fighters against their own fellow Dutch military.
Cuffy was getting the upper hand. However, the Dutch Governor was undaunted and engaged Cuffy in correspondence, even as Cuffy was focusing more and more on revenge of the female. But she, like Hoogenheim, was unshakable. Discord among the leaders of the revolution was also growing, and in the end, with military reinforcement from Suriname and Holland, the Dutch prevailed. The leadership of Governor Cuffy, though flawed, was exemplary. He had, in a way, establish a country with an organized leadership; agriculture being paramount.
During a recent visit to Fort Nassau on the upper Berbice River, I noted that the land was way above the level of the river. I also saw evidence of fertile farm lands in which crops and cattle flourish.
It is obvious that Governor Cuffy recognized that agriculture was very important for the survival of his people. He established his headquarters at Fort Nassau.
That location was already occupied by the Dutch as a military outpost. There are still Dutch graves in relatively good condition at Fort Nassau.
This location is being well maintained by the National Trust, and attracts a few tourists annually. There is likely to be more tourists to Fort Nassau later in this Jubilee Year.
A visit to this historic community should be made by more Guyanese, so that they can have a feel of the spirit of Governor Cuffy, and the 1763 Slave Revolution, which was the beginning of a long Journey to Freedom for Guyanese, now poised to celebrate their Golden Anniversary of Independence.
That journey commenced over 250 years ago, under the leadership of Cuffy, a “house slave.”