Barbadians Embracing African Roots Amid Growing Pan-Africanist Influence

Barbadians are gradually but steadily tying themselves to their African history, thanks to the efforts of pan-Africanist organisations and the government over the years, the head of a research agency said Wednesday.

On the 349th anniversary of one of the earliest rebellion plots against slavery in the 17th century, the director for the Centre for Hybrid Studies Dr Deryck Murray said there were indications that Barbadian society was becoming more comfortable with its African roots. He cited the attention being paid to the extended Emancipation season, together with the strong pushback shown in the previously planned acquisition of the former slave plantation, Drax Hall.

He made the comments to reporters at a commemoration of the Cuffee rebellion plot of June 12, 1675, as well as the launch of the Speightstown Global Freedom Festival at the Alexandra School.

Dr Murray said: “I think that considerable work has been done over the years; sometimes the gains are incremental and invisible, but every once and again they are visible. I am convinced that the response that the government got to the [Drax Hall plantation], even though some people may not be conscious or agree with reparations, I believe all of the people who reacted were aware enough of what has happened in our past. The injustices and oppression on us as African people.

“I think that that is the result of years of work by pan-Africanists, by teachers like Peggy McGeary that we are honouring today, that [has all] been a result from ongoing work. I am not a pessimist, I don’t think we are going backward, I just think sometimes we expect too much after 300 years, we expect the gains to be too rapid and too quick.”

He added: “The schoolchildren are not just dressing up in African wear, I hear some people saying that. The teachers are working hard from one day to the next reminding the children of who they are and why they should be comfortable in their skin.”

The Speightstown Global Freedom Festival which first started in 2022, along with the Cuffee’s Revolutionaries initiative, seeks to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to Speightstown and other areas north of the island.

This year’s recipient of the Cuffee Award will go to distinguished educator and Speightstown native Peggy McGeary.

Dr Murray also revealed that there will be an additional initiative as part of this year’s festival.

“We are launching a school’s programme of education and development. We call it Displays and Discourses, where we teach children from First Form to senior school, and we train them in research methods because we don’t believe that you are too young to learn how to research properly, including oral history research.