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THE MUSEUM of African Heritage, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Wednesday launched an emancipation exhibition at the National Museum under the theme ‘Hounouring Our Heroes of 1823’.
The exhibition runs until August 31 and is focused on bringing about awareness of the 1823 slave revolt, the first major slave rebellion in the history of the British Caribbean, where religious and Christianised slaves played a major role.
During the time of this revolt many slaves lost their lives. Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara was the village to suffer the most, with over 200 slaves dying.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, highlighted that on Monday, August 19, Guyana will be observing 190 years since the 1823 rebellion. He said it is in this light that the ministry decided to bring about awareness of this rebellion since it has played a significant part in the country’s history.
As a part of this anniversary, a monument was unveiled on August 5 to mark the significance of this revolt. The monument is located opposite the Guyana Defence Force’s Headquarters on the Sea Wall road.
In his address Wednesday, Minister Anthony referred to a book titled “Hearing Slaves Speak”, by Trevor Bernard, a Jamaican professor, and which tells about the lives of Guyanese slaves. It is based on actual stories told by the slaves to a magistrate, whose job was to listen to slaves’ complaints.
Minster Anthony spoke of the story of a pregnant woman which he recalled reading in the book. He said because of her physical state, she was unable to do the task she was allotted and as a result was given several lashes which caused her foetus to be aborted. This is among some of the reasons that lead to the revolt, the cruelty the slaves faced, their desire to be free and their desire to escape the harsh slave system.
The revolt was headed by Quamina, an African born enslaved carpenter and the senior deacon of Bethel Chapel; Jack Gladstone, a cooper on Plantation Success; Manuel from Plantation Chateau Margot; Seaton from Success; Joseph and Telemachus from Bachelor’s Adventure; and Paris a boat captain of Plantation Good Hope. (GINA)
The exhibition runs until August 31 and is focused on bringing about awareness of the 1823 slave revolt, the first major slave rebellion in the history of the British Caribbean, where religious and Christianised slaves played a major role.During the time of this revolt many slaves lost their lives. Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara was the village to suffer the most, with over 200 slaves dying.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, highlighted that on Monday, August 19, Guyana will be observing 190 years since the 1823 rebellion. He said it is in this light that the ministry decided to bring about awareness of this rebellion since it has played a significant part in the country’s history.
As a part of this anniversary, a monument was unveiled on August 5 to mark the significance of this revolt. The monument is located opposite the Guyana Defence Force’s Headquarters on the Sea Wall road.
In his address Wednesday, Minister Anthony referred to a book titled “Hearing Slaves Speak”, by Trevor Bernard, a Jamaican professor, and which tells about the lives of Guyanese slaves. It is based on actual stories told by the slaves to a magistrate, whose job was to listen to slaves’ complaints.
Minster Anthony spoke of the story of a pregnant woman which he recalled reading in the book. He said because of her physical state, she was unable to do the task she was allotted and as a result was given several lashes which caused her foetus to be aborted. This is among some of the reasons that lead to the revolt, the cruelty the slaves faced, their desire to be free and their desire to escape the harsh slave system.
The revolt was headed by Quamina, an African born enslaved carpenter and the senior deacon of Bethel Chapel; Jack Gladstone, a cooper on Plantation Success; Manuel from Plantation Chateau Margot; Seaton from Success; Joseph and Telemachus from Bachelor’s Adventure; and Paris a boat captain of Plantation Good Hope. (GINA)
