If stone structures, ornaments and buildings are the relics of European history, than the Baobab Tree and the Grapefruit are in themselves testament to those influences of African and Asian origin, as firmly rooted in the Bajan soil as their human descendants are today.
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The eastern-most island of the Caribbean, formed from volcanic eruptions between the Atlantic and Caribbean Plates and the resulting accumulation of coral, Barbados consists of the gradual merging of two land-masses. Though recent archeological evidence proves human habitation from as early as c.1623 B.C., Barbados’ first known settlers were those who canoed across the watery vortex of the Dragon’s Mouth, leading from Venezuela to the Caribbean Sea, a passage which has proven difficult if not impossible for many a sea-faring vessel. Known as the Arawak, this early nation of planters and fishermen lived peaceably for centuries until the arrival of the more powerful and war-like Caribs. Peace was to come to an end with constant hostilities between the two tribes (400 – 1200 A.D.), each now occupying opposite sides of the island.
Presumably named for the bearded appearance of its fig trees, the island was dubbed Los Barbados (“bearded ones”) by Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos, while enroute to Brazil. However, it would be through Spanish enterprise and European contagion (beginning in 1492) that Amerindian existence would experience a devastating change. Afflicted with small-pox and tuberculosis and subjected to slavery (to New Spain or Hispaniola, today’s Haiti and Dominican Republic) and massacre, vast populations of the Arawak and the fiercely resistant Caribs came to virtual obliteration.
Where the Spanish chose the more lucrative ventures of the larger islands, active colonization of Barbados would not begin until the may 14th, 1625 arrival of the English, under Captain John Cromwell, and its annexation in the name of King James I. Jamestown, now known as Holetown, began with Captain Henry Powell and a modest number of slave-holding settlers. With the 1639 creation of a House of Assembly, this was to become the site of the third parliamentary democracy in the Empire. Through steady allocation to England’s well-connected gentry, much of the land was gradually cleared for cotton and tobacco plantations and eventually sugarcane cultivation. The success of colonial Barbados was largely due to the large-scale production concomitant with the Sugar Revolution of England’s Caribbean colonies. Of course, these resources could not exist without the Empire’s greatest asset, its human resources, gained through, slavery, indentureship and judicial penalty.
In the beginning the workforce needed for the European plantation system in Barbados benefited from the kidnapping, criminal conviction and (5–7 year) self-indenture of white bondsmen wishing to escape poverty in England and Scotland. However, with a boom in the Barbados sugar industry the mainstay of plantation labor was to come from the coastal regions of West Africa. While hundreds of African captives would die on the long and perilous journey, the thousands who survived the sea would face life in shackled slavery.
The years 1644-1700 were a hallmark period in Barbados’ colonial history, the island being the dominant producer of sugar in the Empire. Despite a few serious disasters - the locust plague of 1663, 1667’s (capital) Bridgetown fire and hurricane, the 1698 draught and excessive rainfall the following year – Barbados was to occupy this position until it was overtaken by the thriving plantations of the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Despite minority of Jews, poor whites and free coloured people Barbados became a society of masters and slaves and an operating example of a colonial system whose economic imperatives determined a highly segregated and polarized system of racial division and non-White oppression. Legitimized through institutional organs of church and state, formal measures to ban African beliefs and social practices (including music and dance) were met with staunch resistance and slave rebellions (1675 and 1696-1702).
As in the case of Jamaica, the 1807 British abolition of the slave-trade did not mean immediate Emancipation of plantation slaves. Now in its declining years, largely due to the loss of its central position within the sugar market, the Barbadian economy was predominantly in the hands of large-scale plantation owners (smaller planters having suffered a loss of business). Making a few superficial concessions to (the now increasing efforts of) abolitionists, slave-holders claimed small improvements to labor conditions, but slave unrest continued to grow. Again, like their Jamaican counterparts, word had spread among the slave population that they were being illegally held, for England had declared an end to slavery. In fact, it was only the slave-trade that had been discontinued.
Named for its leader, Bussa’s Rebellion began on April 14th, 1816 and lasted for three days until it was quelled by British troops. Today celebrated as one of the most defining moments in slave history, the Rebellion was atypical given its highly coordinated strategic planning among elite slaves (domestics, artisans) of several large estates. Not only a revolt against slavery, the rebellion was an attempt at complete societal reconstruction, beginning with the overthrow of the planter class. The colonials themselves were largely unprepared due to complacency, considering the last serious revolt had occurred 124 years before, and an attitude of general arrogance concerning the discontents and abilities of Blacks. Within the Rebellion’s three days, plantations across the island erupted in flames as Bussa led hundreds of freedom fighters against the superior arms of the British First West India Regiment. Their leaders killed in battle, thousands more of the defeated slaves would be exceuted. Not to be forgotten, this event would be commemorated 169 years later with the unveiling of the Freedom Statue, sculptor Karl Broodhagen’s ode to Emancipation (1834), fondly dubbed Bussa by the locals.
Lick an lock-up Done Wid, Hurray fuh Jin-Jin
De Queen come from England to set free
Formally abolished in 1834, a compete end to slavery would occur after a four-year apprenticeship period during which freed slaves would continue to work a 45-hour week in exchange for living on the plantation. Necessarily averting the dire poverty which would be facing them off the plantation, this period saw the constant misuse of the term “apprenticeship” as planters worked the laborers hard without paying too much attention to the changing status of slaves. One such change occurred with the appointment of Samuel Jackman Prescod, an educated coloured man, to the House of Assembly. By 1886 Sir Conrad Reeves would become Chief Justice of Barbados, the first Black man to achieve such a position in the British Empire. Formally celebrated in 1838, Emancipation would need the help of such figures in overcoming the serious social, political and economic separation which continued to exist between land-holding Whites and freed , but impoverished, Blacks (and “Coloureds”).
Twentieth century Barbados would see a significant rise in the economic well-being of the majority Black population. One of the major contributors to this success came with the World War I building of the Panama Canal which employed at least 20,000 Black Barbadian workers, who returned with enough income to buy land from white owners and begin businesses. However, continuing economic disparities would result in riots (of 1937) and the formation of several Black-led political parties and the appointment of several of their members to the highly influential Executive Committee, within the British-run government. With increased foreign investment and tourism of the 1960s, Barbados was to finally achieve political Independence and economic diversification and self-sufficiency by 1966.
Boasting a 97% literacy rate, free education and ranked within the top 10 (3rd in 1996) of the United Nations development Index in terms of standard of living, Barbados was one the founding members of CARICOM (the Caribbean Community and Common Market).
Caribbean tales is proud to feature three Barbadian-Canadians in its Storytellers Section: Itah Sadu, Cecil Foster and Austin Clarke.
Capital:
Bridgetown
Physical Geography:
Relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region, highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m.
Population:
Majority of African descent with a minority of European and mixed ancestry.
Languages:
English
Governmental Structure:
UK-style representative system; bicameral Parliament with 21-member Senate and 30-member House of Assembly; Senate is appointed by governor general; representatives are elected for five-year terms; 11 parishes.
Main Political Parties:
BLP (Barbados Labour Party)
DLP (Democratic Labour Party)
NDP (National Democratic Party)
Religions:
Protestant, Anglican, Pentecostal, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and other
Climate:
Tropical climate with a rainy season (June to October), sporadic hurricanes and periodic landslides.
Currency:
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Natural Resources:
Petroleum, fish, natural gas
Exports/Commodities:
Sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
News/Links:
Barbados Advocate: http:/www.barbadosadvocate.com/
Barbados Nation News: http://www.nationnews.com/
Caribbean360: http://www.caribbean360.com/
Barbados Government Information Service: http://www.gisbarbados.gov.bb/