Of bloodshed and treachery, an Easter legacy

EASTER IS a very important holiday in Christendom. It’s the memorial of the arrest, crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Christians claim he, who was betrayed by Judas, shed his blood to save the world from sin. They firmly believe in the cathartic potency of Jesus’ blood, which Jamaicans plea night and day.

They regard this country as a Christian one, and it is a country that has a chequered history at the heart of which British chattel slavery is deeply entrenched. A vast majority of the enslavers were Christians from Europe, some of whom had shed the blood of enslaved Africans. The story of Christianity then is a narrative replete with bloodshed, much of which has predated British slavery.

And in this country, once reputed to have more churches per square than any other in the universe, there were two significant incidents of bloodshed at Eastertime – the 1963 Coral Gardens St James Massacre, and long before that the 1760 Takyi Rebellion, also known as the Easter Rebellion and Takyi’s War. This article focuses on the latter.

While the Sam Sharpe Rebellion of 1831 was a major catalyst for the passing of the Emancipation Act, the Takyi War, which started early Easter Monday was the first major insurrection to shake the very foundation of colonial authority for which there were serious implications. It was started by Takyi (Tacky), a warrior of no ordinary means.

He was a Coromantee from the militant Asante (Asanti) ethic group in Ghana (Gold Coast during slavery), yet he had the misfortune of being captured and trafficked to Jamaica, one of Britain’s prized colonies. Frontier Estate in St Mary was his destination, where his leadership skills were noticed by his enslavers. He was made foreman, and this gave him a chance to secretly discuss his plans. From the moment he was captured he had planned his escape.

No one really knew why he planned to do it on Easter Monday, but before the roosters crowed, he and his followers, some from the nearby Frontier Estate, made their way to Port Maria where Fort Haldane perched on a hill overlooking the harbour. They killed the shopkeeper, and took four barrels of gunpowder, 40 muskets, cannon balls, and other useful things.

While the rampage was going on, the enslavers, who had prayed before going to bed to the Lord to bless their souls, were fast asleep. And suddenly, all hell broke loose, and they were jolted vigorously from their heavenly bliss. Their homes were on fire, and as they attempted to escape they were killed. By the coming of dawn hundreds of enslaved people had joined Takyi and his followers.

But, their rejoicing came way too fast, at Ballards Valley Estate, which they razed. An enslaved person at Esher Estate raised the alarm after slipping away from the marauding mass. Not long after a troop comprising about 80 mounted members was dispersed over the region. And this is when the element of treachery entered the equation.

For, it is written in some sources that the Scott’s Hall Maroons from the said parish joined the militia against the enslaved as they were obliged by the 1739 treaty of peace and friendship with the British. Other sources claim that Takyi and his followers were able to convince them not to assist the militia.

Takyi’s own death was attributed to a Maroon named Davy, a sharpshooter who shot Takyi while they were both running at “full speed”. That was counteracted with the story that Takyi disappeared behind what is now called Takyi’s Fall and lived to motivate other revolts.

Spirituality was another factor, as it is said Takyi and his band of warriors used African spiritual practices to guide and protect themselves, that they used a powder provided by obeahmen to protect them from harm. There was also the belief that obeahmen could not die. The enslavers were hell-bent on debunking that claim, and so they captured an obeahman, and killed him. His head was displayed for all and sundry to see.

Many of Takyi’s men were shocked into returning to the plantations, but Takyi and a few continued to fight for their freedom, though outgunned. So, was he killed by a Maroon or did he remain behind the waterfall and lived to a ripe old age?

“But this slaves’ guerrilla war lasted a month before most of them were killed or captured by overwhelmingly superior military force including the local militia, loyal slaves, the Maroons and soldiers dispatched from Spanish Town, the capital.

“ Takyi and a small band were captured and his head was cut off and taken to Spanish Town on a pole where it was displayed, but his followers came in the night and spirited it away. Many of his followers committed suicide rather than surrender. Those who did not surrender were either executed or sold to the logwood cutters of Honduras,” Oliver Senior writes in her book, Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage.

There are different versions to the story. What is certain, however, is that much blood was shed, that of about 400 enslaved people, and 60 enslavers, at a time when the story of blood oozing from the betrayed Jesus’ wounds was being told.