99-404: Menelik Shabazz (30 May 1954 – 28 June 2021) was a Barbados -born British film director, producer, educator, and writer, acknowledged as a pioneer in the development of independent Black British cinema, having been at the forefront of contemporary British filmmaking for more than 30 years. Shabazz is best known for the 1981 film Burning an Illusion , his first feature. He was also co-founder in
198-470: A cholera epidemic killed more than 20,000 inhabitants. Deep dissatisfaction with the situation on Barbados led many to emigrate. Things came to a head in the 1930s during the Great Depression , as Barbadians began demanding better conditions for workers, the legalisation of trade unions and a widening of the franchise, which at that point was limited to male property owners. As a result of
297-569: A Constitutional Review Commission was formed and sworn in by Jeffrey Gibson (who at the time was serving temporarily as Acting President of Barbados) to review the Constitution of Barbados. The commission was given a 15-month timeline to complete its work, which included consulting the public about the new republic and drafting a constitution. Thus, the CRC engaged the public in a number of public meetings, lectures, and Twitter Spaces . The report
396-478: A Director Q&A on 22 August); Streatham Odeon , and Midlands Arts Centre . It was generally well received, with The Guardian reviewer finding it "engaging and sympathetic", and others calling it "humorous, yet educational", and commenting that its approach to gender relationships in the black community "opens a long overdue debate". The British Black list found it "both edifying and important", going on to say: "Unsurprisingly, Looking For Love does not have all
495-567: A Fire , Time and Judgement , Burning an Illusion and Looking for Love ) are available on DVD. In 1998, Shabazz founded Black Filmmaker Magazine ( bfm ), the first black film publication aimed at the global black filmmaking industry, and over the next decade the publication was distributed in Europe and the US. In 1999 he started the bfm International Film Festival as a platform for screening black world cinema and to inspire British talent, which became
594-530: A child, and at the age of 18 began to think about making films after being introduced to Sony 's first portable video technology while studying at North London College. He enrolled at the London International Film School in 1974, and though unable to attend for long, because he did not receive a "discretionary grant" from his local borough council, "he was able to grasp important knowledge, confidence and inspiration to move forward as
693-805: A consistent level. The magazine was an interface between industry and filmmakers and out of the initiative developed the Black Filmmaker International Film Festival." In June 2019, Black Filmmaker Magazine was re-launched online in collaboration with his longtime friend and business partner, filmmaker and photographer Floyd Webb . Shabazz died on 28 June 2021 in Zimbabwe. He was 67, and suffered from complications of diabetes prior to his death. According to his obituary in The Guardian , in April 2021 he had begun shooting
792-552: A county of England". Expressly named were "Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Bimshire". Lastly, in the Daily Argosy (of Demerara, i.e. Guyana) of 1652, there is a reference to Bim as a possible corruption of "Byam", the name of a Royalist leader against the Parliamentarians. That source suggested the followers of Byam became known as "Bims" and that this became a word for all Barbadians. Around 700,000 years ago,
891-513: A filmmaker." In 1976 Shabazz directed Step Forward Youth , a 30-minute documentary about London-born black youths, after which he worked in commercial television, directing Breaking Point (for ATV , 1978), which was shown on prime-time TV and contributed to the repeal of the Sus law that was being used to criminalize Black youth. Shabazz's first feature-length film was Burning an Illusion , which he wrote and directed with financial support from
990-457: A franchised collective that produced films for Channel 4, through which he wrote and directed the docu-drama Time and Judgement , telling the history of the struggles of the Black community across the world by using newsreel footage. Ceddo produced a number of documentaries, including Street Warriors (1985), The People's Account (1987) and Omega Rising – Women of Rastafari . His vision for Ceddo
1089-480: A freedom fighter. St Thomas-born reggae artist Dwight "Bushman" Duncan hosts an annual Black History Month event called Football N Style in honor of Paul Bogle. He has also dedicated a series of his YouTube blog "Where I'm From" to Paul Bogle and the Morant Bay uprising. Paul Bogle and the events outlined above are the theme of "Ballard of 65" by General Trees. The British rapper Akala references Bogle on
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#17327797877081188-400: A large investment and a great deal of heavy labour. At first, Dutch traders supplied the equipment, financing, and African slaves, in addition to transporting most of the sugar to Europe. In 1644 the population of Barbados was estimated at 30,000, of which about 800 were of African ancestry, with the remainder mainly of English ancestry. These English smallholders were eventually bought out and
1287-469: A new feature film called The Spirits Return , which was a project "hatched during lockdown in Zimbabwe ... an ancestral love story about Nubia, a British woman who visits Zimbabwe searching for her cultural and ancestral roots." Barbados Barbados ( UK : / b ɑːr ˈ b eɪ d ɒ s / bar- BAY -doss ; US : / b ɑːr ˈ b eɪ d oʊ s / bar- BAY -dohss ; locally / b ɑːr ˈ b eɪ d ə s / bar- BAY -dəss )
1386-441: A non-judgmental ear to opinions that range from the eye-opening to the jaw-dropping. A tighter edit may have reined in some of the woollier psychobabble, but the desire to place abusive relationships within a wider historical context (slavery, emasculation etc) pays dividends. Comedians lend mouthy pizzazz but it's the ordinary tales that tell the greatest truths." Shabazz lectured and conducted workshops internationally, including in
1485-546: A number of others for riot and assault. The police arrived in Stony Gut to arrest Bogle but met with stiff resistance from the residents. They fought the police, forcing them to retreat to Morant Bay. A few days later on 11 October 1865, there was a vestry meeting in the Court House. That day Bogle led hundreds of followers, armed with sticks and machetes, on a protest march to the court house. The authorities had mustered
1584-452: A practice that came to be known as being Barbadosed . Cultivation of sugar was thus handled primarily by European indentured labour until it became difficult to bring more indentured servants from England. Parish registers from the 1650s show that, for the white population, there were four times as many deaths as marriages. The mainstay of the infant colony's economy was the growth export of tobacco, but tobacco prices eventually fell in
1683-671: A precursor to the First Anglo-Dutch War . The Commonwealth of England sent an invasion force under the command of Sir George Ayscue , which arrived in October 1651. Ayscue, with a smaller force that included Scottish prisoners, surprised a larger force of Royalists, but had to resort to spying and diplomacy ultimately. On 11 January 1652, the Royalists in the House of Assembly led by Lord Willoughby surrendered, which marked
1782-409: A rate of about 25 mm (1 in) per 1,000 years. This subduction means geologically the island is composed of coral roughly 90 m (300 ft) thick, where reefs formed above the sediment. The land slopes in a series of "terraces" in the west and goes into an incline in the east. A large proportion of the island is circled by coral reefs . The erosion of limestone in the northeast of
1881-415: A reputation for cruelty. The decreased appeal of an indenture on Barbados, combined with enormous demand for labour caused by sugar cultivation, led to the use of involuntary transportation to Barbados as a punishment for crimes, or for political prisoners, and also to the kidnapping of labourers who were deported to Barbados. Irish indentured servants were a significant portion of the population throughout
1980-663: A song about Bogle's execution, "1865 (96 Degrees In The Shade)", released in 1977 on the album of the same name . Other reggae artists who have named and written songs in tribute to Paul Bogle include Lee Scratch Perry and a co-production between The Aggrovators and the Revolutionaries . Bogle is mentioned in songs by Burning Spear , Brigadier Jerry , The Cimarons , Steel Pulse , Prince Far I , Lauryn Hill , Third World and General Trees . In "So Much Things to Say", by Bob Marley & The Wailers (and subsequently covered by Lauryn Hill ), Marley mentions Bogle in
2079-436: A volunteer militia, who fired into the protesters after stones were thrown, killing seven men. The protesters set fire to the Court House and nearby buildings. When officials tried to leave, several were killed by the angry mob outside; a total of 25 on both sides died that day. Black peasants rose and took control of the parish for two days. The governor quickly retaliated, declaring martial law and ordering troops to capture
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#17327797877082178-433: Is 80 years. The average life expectancy is 83 years for females and 79 years for males (2020). Barbados and Japan have the highest per capita occurrences of centenarians in the world. Paul Bogle Paul Bogle (1822 – 24 October 1865) was a Jamaican Baptist deacon and activist. He is a National Hero of Jamaica . He was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay protesters, who marched for justice and fair treatment for all
2277-773: Is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies , in the Caribbean region next to North America and north of South America , and is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. It lies on the boundary of the South American and Caribbean plates. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown . Inhabited by Kalinago people since the 13th century, and prior to that by other Indigenous peoples , Spanish navigators took possession of Barbados in
2376-415: Is around 15% of the total land area, equivalent to 6,300 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 6,300 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 5% of
2475-562: Is ranked as one of its leading tourist destinations. The name "Barbados" is from either the Portuguese term os barbados or the Spanish equivalent, los barbados , both meaning "the bearded ones". It is unclear whether "bearded" refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree ( Ficus citrifolia ), a species of banyan indigenous to the island, or to the allegedly bearded Kalinago (Island Caribs) who once inhabited
2574-403: Is the first land east of Barbados according to the belief of the locals. The country generally experiences two seasons, one of which includes noticeably higher rainfall. Known as the " wet season ", this period runs from June to December. By contrast, the " dry season " runs from December to May. Annual precipitation ranges between 1,000 and 2,300 mm (40 and 90 in). From December to May
2673-461: Is uncertain which European nation arrived first in Barbados, which probably would have been at some point in the 15th century or 16th century. One lesser-known source points to earlier revealed works antedating contemporary sources, indicating it could have been the Spanish. Many, if not most, believe the Portuguese , en route to Brazil, were the first Europeans to come upon the island. The island
2772-579: Is uncertain, but several theories exist. The National Cultural Foundation of Barbados says that "Bim" was a word commonly used by slaves , and that it derives from the Igbo term bém from bé mụ́ meaning "my home, kindred, kind"; the Igbo phoneme [e] in the Igbo orthography is very close to / ɪ / . The name could have arisen due to the relatively large percentage of Igbo slaves from modern-day southeastern Nigeria arriving in Barbados in
2871-417: The 2008 Barbadian general election , but the new Prime Minister David Thompson died in 2010 and was replaced by Freundel Stuart . The BLP returned to power in 2018 under Mia Mottley , who became Barbados's first female prime minister. The Government of Barbados announced on 15 September 2020 that it intended to become a republic by 30 November 2021, the 55th anniversary of its independence, resulting in
2970-666: The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in 1938. He became the first Premier of Barbados in 1953, followed by fellow BLP-founder Hugh Gordon Cummins from 1958 to 1961. A group of left-leaning politicians who advocated swifter moves to independence broke off from the BLP and founded the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in 1955. The DLP subsequently won the 1961 Barbadian general election and their leader Errol Barrow became premier. Full internal self-government
3069-665: The British Film Institute (BFI). It was released to acclaim in 1981 and was called "one of the most important feature films ever made in Britain". About a young woman's love life, and mostly shot in London's Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove communities, it was "the first British film to give a black woman a voice of any kind". It was only the second British feature to have been made by a black director, following Horace Ové 's 1975 Pressure . Burning an Illusion won
Menelik Shabazz - Misplaced Pages Continue
3168-816: The House of Assembly in 1639, in an effort to appease the planters, who might otherwise have opposed his controversial appointment. In the period 1640–1660, the West Indies attracted more than two-thirds of the total number of English emigrants to the Americas. By 1650, there were 44,000 settlers in the West Indies, as compared to 12,000 on the Chesapeake and 23,000 in New England . Most English arrivals were indentured. After five years of labour, they were given "freedom dues" of about £10, usually in goods. Before
3267-582: The Main Development Region for tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic, and is often spared the worst effects of the region's storms during the rainy season. On average, a major hurricane makes landfall in Barbados about once every 26 years. The last significant hit from a hurricane to cause severe damage to Barbados was Hurricane Janet in 1955; in 2010 the island was struck by Hurricane Tomas , but this caused only minor damage across
3366-524: The Maroons . Bogle is depicted on the heads side of the Jamaican 10-cent coin. His face was also depicted on the Jamaican two-dollar bill, from 1969 until 1989, when the two-dollar bill was phased out. Since 2023, he has been featured on the fifty dollar bill alongside George William Gordon. The identity of the sitter in the photograph used for these depictions is disputed. The Paul Bogle High School in
3465-565: The Pre-Columbian era was Ichirouganaim , according to accounts by descendants of the Indigenous Arawakan -speaking tribes in other regional areas, with possible translations including "Red land with white teeth" or "Redstone island with teeth outside (reefs)" or simply "Teeth". Colloquially, Barbadians refer to their home island as "Bim" or other nicknames associated with Barbados, including "Bimshire". The origin
3564-476: The Sahara Desert . Some particularly intense dust episodes have been blamed partly for the impacts on the health of coral reefs surrounding Barbados or asthmatic episodes, but evidence has not wholly supported the former claim. Access to biocapacity in Barbados is much lower than world average. In 2016, Barbados had 0.17 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than
3663-652: The 1630s as Chesapeake production expanded. Around the same time, fighting during the War of the Three Kingdoms and the Interregnum spilled over into Barbados and Barbadian territorial waters. The island was not involved in the war until after the execution of Charles I , when the island's government fell under the control of Royalists (ironically the Governor, Philip Bell, remaining loyal to Parliament while
3762-575: The 1650s, this estimate is "quite likely exaggerated". Another estimate that 12,000 Irish prisoners had arrived in Barbados by 1655 has been described as "probably exaggerated" by historian Richard B. Sheridan. According to historian Thomas Bartlett , it is "generally accepted" that approximately 10,000 Irish were deported to the West Indies and approximately 40,000 came as voluntary indentured servants, while many also travelled as voluntary, un-indentured emigrants. The introduction of sugar cane from Dutch Brazil in 1640 completely transformed society,
3861-631: The 18th century. The words "Bim" and "Bimshire" are recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary and Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionaries . Another possible source for "Bim" is reported to be in the Agricultural Reporter of 25 April 1868, where the Rev. N. Greenidge (father of one of the island's most famous scholars, Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge ) suggested that Bimshire was "introduced by an old planter listing it as
3960-579: The 1980s of Kuumba film production company and Ceddo Film and Video Workshop, as well as being "founding father of the BFM media project" as the publisher of Black Filmmaker Magazine (BFM) and creator of BFM International Film Festival. Shabazz was born in St John , Barbados, in 1954. His family immigrated to the United Kingdom when he was five years old. He had watched mobile cinema in his village as
4059-510: The 21st century, a second treatment plant has been proposed along the island's west coast. Being so densely populated, Barbados has made great efforts to protect its underground aquifers . As a coral-limestone island, Barbados is highly permeable to seepage of surface water into the earth. The government has placed great emphasis on protecting the catchment areas that lead directly into the huge network of underground aquifers and streams. On occasion illegal squatters have breached these areas, and
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4158-519: The BLP under Tom Adams . Adams adopted a more conservative and strongly pro-Western stance, allowing the Americans to use Barbados as the launchpad for their invasion of Grenada in 1983. Adams died in office in 1985 and was replaced by Harold Bernard St. John ; however, St. John lost the 1986 Barbadian general election , which saw the return of the DLP under Errol Barrow, who had been highly critical of
4257-638: The Barbadian House of Assembly , under the influence of Humphrey Walrond, supported Charles II ). To try to bring the recalcitrant colony to heel, the Commonwealth Parliament passed an act on 3 October 1650 prohibiting trade between England and Barbados, and because the island also traded with the Netherlands, further Navigation Acts were passed, prohibiting any but English vessels trading with Dutch colonies . These acts were
4356-584: The Caribbean and throughout the UK and US at such venues and educational institutions as the National Film and Television School , University of Southampton , University of Leeds , University of North East London, University of Westminster , London International Film School, British Film Institute, New York University and Howard University . Some of his work (including The Story of Lover's Rock , Step Forward Youth , Breaking Point , Blood Ah Go Run , Catch
4455-601: The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU). Barbados has nearly 90 kilometres (56 miles) of coral reefs just offshore and two protected marine parks have been established off the west coast. Overfishing is another threat which faces Barbados. Although on the opposite side of the Atlantic, and some 4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles) west of Africa, Barbados is one of many places in the American continent that experience heightened levels of mineral dust from
4554-783: The Grand Prix at the Amiens International Film Festival in France , and its star Cassie McFarlane won the Evening Standard Award for "Most Promising New Actress". Blood Ah Go Run , made in 1981, documents the response of the Black community to the New Cross fire , including the "Black People's Day of Action"—in the words of Assata Shakur , "Superbly captured by the filmmaker Menelik Shabazz, collectively as we marched past Fleet Street,
4653-469: The US intervention in Grenada. Barrow, too, died in office, and was replaced by Lloyd Erskine Sandiford , who remained Prime Minister until 1994. Owen Arthur of the BLP won the 1994 Barbadian general election , remaining prime minister until 2008. Arthur was a strong advocate of republicanism, though a planned referendum to replace Queen Elizabeth as Head of State in 2008 never took place. The DLP won
4752-667: The West Indian islands of Saint Kitts, Nevis, Saint Martin, and Barbados. It was introduced to the West Indies in the late 17th century when slave trade ships travelled to the Caribbean from West Africa. The green monkey is considered a very curious and mischievous/troublesome animal by locals. The 2010 national census conducted by the Barbados Statistical Service reported a resident population of 277,821, of which 144,803 were female and 133,018 were male. The life expectancy for Barbados residents as of 2020
4851-521: The answers but cleverly points the fingers back in the right direction", while the film critic of The Observer stated: "Interviews, poetry, dance and music combine in Menelik Shabazz's frank, funny and accessible account of heterosexual modern love. Focusing on the first-hand experiences of the black British community – from young singletons out and about at carnival to a couple who have been married for 50 years – this shoestring-budget doc lends
4950-575: The average temperatures range from 21 to 31 °C (70 to 88 °F), while between June and November, they range from 23 to 31 °C (73 to 88 °F). On the Köppen climate classification scale, much of Barbados is regarded as a tropical monsoon climate (Am). However, breezes of 12 to 16 km/h (7 to 10 mph) abound throughout the year and give Barbados a climate which is moderately tropical. Infrequent natural hazards include earthquakes, landslips , and hurricanes . Barbados lies outside
5049-403: The biggest of its kind in Europe. He said: "BFM was the outcome of my frustrations in the film industry. I wanted to channel that anger into something positive which initially started as a magazine (Black Filmmaker) and the intention to pass on information to the next generation about the film industry. One thing that was happening at the time was a lack of young people entering into the industry on
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#17327797877085148-555: The city of London was brought to a standstill"—and the subsequent uprising in Brixton . In 1982, Shabazz co-founded Kuumba Productions with Imruh Bakari and Henry Martin to provide an outlet for independent film projects, and produced for Channel 4 the drama Big George is Dead (1983), directed by Henry Martin, and the documentary I am Not Two Islands . In 1984, with founding members including Bakari, Lazell Daley and Milton Bryan, Shabazz also formed Ceddo Film and Video Workshop,
5247-603: The countries of Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ; 180 km (110 mi) south-east of Martinique and 400 km (250 mi) north-east of Trinidad and Tobago . It is flat in comparison to its island neighbours to the west, the Windward Islands . The island rises gently to the central highland region known as Scotland District, with the highest point being Mount Hillaby 340 m (1,120 ft) above sea level. In Barbados forest cover
5346-498: The country as it was only at Tropical Storm strength at the time of impact. Barbados is susceptible to environmental pressures. As one of the world's most densely populated isles , the government worked during the 1990s to aggressively integrate the growing south coast of the island into the Bridgetown Sewage Treatment Plant to reduce contamination of offshore coral reefs. As of the first decade of
5445-469: The country became the Queen of Barbados . The monarch then was represented locally by a governor-general . The Barrow government sought to diversify the economy away from agriculture, seeking to boost industry and the tourism sector. Barbados was also at the forefront of regional integration efforts, spearheading the creation of CARIFTA and CARICOM . The DLP lost the 1976 Barbadian general election to
5544-558: The day. It may have contributed to the fall of the government. In 1866 John Stuart Mill set up and chaired the Jamaica Committee to examine the atrocities committed in Jamaica in the course of ending the rebellion. Thomas Carlyle set up a rival committee to defend Eyre. His supporters included John Ruskin , Charles Kingsley , Charles Dickens and Alfred, Lord Tennyson . The Morant Bay rebellion turned out to be one of
5643-445: The defining points in Jamaica's struggle for both political and economical enhancement. Bogle's demonstration ultimately achieved its objectives and paved the way for new attitudes. In 1969 Paul Bogle was named a National Hero along with George William Gordon , Marcus Garvey , Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley . In the 1970s, two other National Heroes were added in the form of Samuel Sharpe and Queen Nanny of
5742-636: The economy and the physical landscape. Barbados eventually had one of the world's biggest sugar industries. One group instrumental in ensuring the early success of the industry was the Sephardic Jews , who had originally been expelled from the Iberian peninsula , to end up in Dutch Brazil . As the effects of the new crop increased, so did the shift in the ethnic composition of Barbados and surrounding islands. The workable sugar plantation required
5841-576: The end of royalist privateering as a major threat. The conditions of the surrender were incorporated into the Charter of Barbados ( Treaty of Oistins ), which was signed at the Mermaid's Inn, Oistins , on 17 January 1652. Starting with Cromwell , a large percentage of the white labourer population were indentured servants and involuntarily transported people from Ireland. Irish servants in Barbados were often treated poorly, and Barbadian planters gained
5940-717: The first president of Barbados , and was subsequently elected on 20 October. Mason took office on 30 November 2021. Prince Charles , the heir apparent to the Barbadian Crown at the time, attended the swearing-in ceremony in Bridgetown at the invitation of the Government of Barbados. Queen Elizabeth sent a message of congratulations to President Mason and the people of Barbados, saying: "As you celebrate this momentous day, I send you and all Barbadians my warmest good wishes for your happiness, peace and prosperity in
6039-419: The forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 1% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership , 0% private ownership and 99% with ownership listed as other or unknown. In the parish of Saint Michael lies Barbados's capital and main city, Bridgetown , containing one third of the country's population. Other major towns scattered across the island include Holetown , in
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#17327797877086138-471: The future." A survey that was conducted between 23 October 2021 and 10 November 2021, by the University of the West Indies showed 34% of respondents being in favour of transitioning to a republic, while 30% were indifferent. Notably, no overall majority was found in the survey; with 24% not indicating a preference and the remaining 12% being opposed to the removal of Queen Elizabeth. On 20 June 2022,
6237-411: The government has removed squatters to preserve the cleanliness of the underground springs which provide the island's drinking water. The government has placed a huge emphasis on keeping Barbados clean with the aim of protecting the environment and preserving offshore coral reefs which surround the island. Many initiatives to mitigate human pressures on the coastal regions of Barbados and seas come from
6336-570: The increasing unrest the British sent a commission, called the West Indies Royal Commission, or Moyne Commission , in 1938, which recommended enacting many of the requested reforms on the islands. As a result, Afro-Barbadians began to play a much more prominent role in the colony's politics, with universal suffrage being introduced in 1950. Prominent among these early activists was Grantley Herbert Adams , who helped found
6435-538: The island c. 1600 BC . More permanent Amerindian settlement of Barbados dates to about the 4th to 7th centuries AD, by a group known as the Saladoid -Barrancoid. Settlements of Arawaks from South America appeared by around 800 AD and again in the 12th–13th century. The Kalinago (called " Caribs " by the Spanish) visited the island regularly, although there is no evidence of permanent settlement. It
6534-414: The island emerged from the ocean as a body of soft rock known as a diapir rose from the mantle beneath its present-day location. This process is still ongoing, raising Barbados at an average rate of 30 centimeters per thousand years. Dozens of inland sea reefs still dominate coastal features within terraces and cliffs on the island. Archeological evidence suggests humans may have first settled or visited
6633-592: The island filled up with large sugar plantations worked by African slaves. By 1660 there was near parity with 27,000 Black people and 26,000 White people. By 1666 at least 12,000 white smallholders had been bought out, died, or left the island, many choosing to emigrate to Jamaica or the American Colonies (notably the Carolinas). As a result, Barbados enacted a slave code as a way of legislatively controlling its enslaved Black population. The law's text
6732-509: The island in the name of King James I . In 1627, the first permanent settlers arrived from England, and Barbados became an English and later British colony . During this period, the colony operated on a plantation economy , relying on the labour of African slaves who worked on the island's plantations. Slavery continued until it was phased out through most of the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 . On 30 November 1966, Barbados moved towards political independence and assumed
6831-411: The island, in the Scotland District, has resulted in the formation of various caves and gullies . On the Atlantic east coast of the island coastal landforms , including stacks , have been created due to the limestone composition of the area. Also notable in the island is the rocky cape known as Pico Teneriffe or Pico de Tenerife, which is named after the fact that the island of Tenerife in Spain
6930-423: The island, or, more fancifully, to a visual impression of a beard formed by the sea foam that sprays over the outlying coral reefs. In 1519, a map produced by the Genoese mapmaker Visconte Maggiolo showed and named Barbados in its correct position. Furthermore, the island of Barbuda in the Leewards is very similar in name and was once named " Las Barbudas " by the Spanish. The original name for Barbados in
7029-421: The late 15th century, claiming it for the Crown of Castile . It first appeared on a Spanish map in 1511. The Portuguese Empire claimed the island between 1532 and 1536, but abandoned it in 1620 with their only remnants being an introduction of wild boars for a good supply of meat whenever the island was visited. An English ship, the Olive Blossom , arrived in Barbados on 14 May 1625; its men took possession of
7128-510: The life of Paul Bogle and the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion . It includes an interview Shabazz made with Bogle's great-grandson Philip Bogle (who died the following year), whom Shabazz met while visiting Jamaica with historian Cecil Gutzmore. In 2011 Shabazz's film in the "romantic reggae" genre, entitled The Story Of Lover's Rock (which was inspired by an announcement of the Lovers Rock Gala Awards organised by Castro Brown),
7227-607: The mid-1630s, they also received 5 to 10 acres (2 to 4 hectares) of land, but after that time the island filled and there was no more free land. During the Cromwellian era (1650s) this included a large number of prisoners-of-war, vagrants and people who were illicitly kidnapped, who were forcibly transported to the island and sold as servants. These last two groups were predominantly Irish, as several thousand were infamously rounded up by English merchants and sold into servitude in Barbados and other Caribbean islands during this period,
7326-439: The oppression of the negroes". Bogle concentrated on improving the conditions of the poor. As awareness of social injustices and people's grievances grew, Bogle led a group of small farmers 45 miles to the capital, Spanish Town , hoping to meet with Governor Eyre to discuss their issues, but they were denied an audience. The people of Stony Gut lost confidence and trust in the Government, and Bogle's supporters grew in number in
7425-676: The parish of Saint James ; Oistins , in the parish of Christ Church ; and Speightstown , in the parish of Saint Peter . Barbados lies on the boundary of the South American and the Caribbean Plates . The subduction of the South American Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate scrapes sediment from the South American Plate and deposits it above the subduction zone forming an accretionary prism . The rate of this depositing of material allows Barbados to rise at
7524-562: The parish of his birth is named after him. He is referred to together with Toussaint L'Ouverture , leader of the Haitian Revolution , in the name of the London-based publishing company Bogle-L'Ouverture . As a national hero, Paul Bogle is referenced in many works of Jamaican culture. Most notably, dancehall performer Gerald Levy 's stage name was "Bogle" (also "Mr Bogle" and "Father Bogle"). Third World produced
7623-538: The parish. On 7 October 1865, Bogle and some supporters attended a trial of two men from Stony Gut. One was convicted and sentenced to prison on charges of trespassing on a long abandoned plantation. A member of Bogle's group protested in court over the case, but was immediately arrested, angering the crowd further. He was rescued moments later when Bogle and his men took to the market square and retaliated. The police were severely beaten and forced to retreat. On Monday, 9 October 1865, warrants were issued against Bogle and
7722-558: The people in Jamaica. After leading the Morant Bay rebellion , Bogle was captured, tried and convicted by the colonial government (who had declared martial law ), and hanged on 24 October 1865 in the Morant Bay court house. Bogle had become a friend of a wealthy landowner and fellow Baptist George William Gordon , a bi-racial man who served in the Assembly as one of two representatives from St. Thomas-in-the-East parish . Gordon
7821-584: The period when white servants were used for plantation labour in Barbados, and while a "steady stream" of Irish servants entered the Barbados throughout the 17th century, Cromwellian efforts to pacify Ireland created a "veritable tidal wave" of Irish labourers who were sent to Barbados during the 1650s. Due to inadequate historical records, the total number of Irish labourers sent to Barbados is unknown, and estimates have been "highly contentious". While one historical source estimated that as many as 50,000 Irish people were deported to either Barbados or Virginia during
7920-528: The rebels and suppress the rebellion. The troops destroyed Stony Gut and Bogle's chapel, killing more than 400 persons outright across the parish, including women and children. They arrested more than 300 persons, including Bogle. Jamaican Maroons from Moore Town eventually captured Bogle and delivered him to the colonial government . He was tried under martial law and quickly executed, as were many others. Others, including women, and children were brought back to Morant Bay to be tried under martial law. Gordon
8019-587: The replacement of the Barbadian monarchy with a president elected through electoral college . Barbados would then cease to be a Commonwealth realm , but could maintain membership in the Commonwealth of Nations , like Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago . On 20 September 2021, just over a full year after the announcement for the transition was made, the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021
8118-422: The same breath as Jesus Christ and Marcus Garvey , concluding: "I'll never forget no way they turned their backs on Paul Bogle, so don't you forget no youth who you are and where you stand in the struggle." Paul Bogle is mentioned in the songs "See them a come" and "Innocent blood" by the reggae band Culture . Tarrus Riley also mentions Paul Bogle in the song "Shaka Zulu Pickney", alluding to his ancestry as
8217-579: The second-largest hawksbill turtle-breeding population in the Caribbean. The driving of vehicles on beaches can crush nests buried in the sand and such activity is discouraged in nesting areas. Barbados is also the host to the green monkey . The green monkey is found in West Africa from Senegal to the Volta River. It has been introduced to the Cape Verde islands off north-western Africa, and
8316-755: The social backdrop in the volatile era of the 70s and 80s – as well as the lack of mainstream success in the UK." His film Looking for Love (largely self-funded), an insightful look into the lives and loves of singletons in the digital era, made its debut at the BFI in May 2015 to a sold-out audience, and in August went on to national release in key UK cinemas, including: Vue Cinemas in Shepherds Bush, Birmingham and Westfield Stratford; Tricycle Theatre , Kilburn ; Hackney Picturehouse ; Ritzy Cinema ; Dalston Rio (with
8415-477: The status of a Commonwealth realm , becoming a separate jurisdiction with Elizabeth II as the Queen of Barbados . On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned to a republic within the Commonwealth , replacing its monarchy with a ceremonial president. Barbados's population is predominantly of African ancestry. While it is technically an Atlantic island, Barbados is closely associated with the Caribbean and
8514-461: The subject of widespread national debate. In January 1866, a Royal Commission was sent to investigate the events. Governor Eyre was suspended and recalled to England and eventually dismissed. The national government changed that of Jamaica. The House of Assembly resigned its charter, and Jamaica was made a Crown Colony , governed directly by Britain. The "Eyre Controversy" turned into a long and increasingly public issue, dividing well-known figures of
8613-576: The track "Maangamizi" from his album The Thieves Banquet , saying: "Probably don't know the Haitian Revolution caused the French to sell half of America, nor know the role that Africans played in the Civil War for that same America. If you ain't heard of Nanny of the Maroons or Bogle, you probably believe what they told you." Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician Junior Reid mentions Paul Bogle in
8712-449: The world average of 1.6 global hectares per person. In 2016 Barbados used 0.84 global hectares of biocapacity per person - their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use approximately five times as much biocapacity as Barbados contains. As a result, Barbados is running a biocapacity deficit. Barbados is host to four species of nesting turtles ( green turtles , loggerheads , hawksbill turtles , and leatherbacks ) and has
8811-495: Was "to empower black film production, training and film screenings". Funded by Channel 4 and the British Film Institute, Ceddo carried out groundbreaking film production and community training initiatives, and hosted a number of screenings with filmmakers, such as Spike Lee ( School Daze ). In 1996, as part of the six-part BBC Education series Hidden Empire , he made the drama documentary Catch A Fire about
8910-483: Was announced delayed by August 2023, with the final report submitted 30 June 2024. Barbados is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the other West Indies Islands. Barbados is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles . It is 34 kilometres (21 miles) long and up to 23 km (14 mi) wide, covering an area of 439 km (169 sq mi). It lies about 168 km (104 mi) east of both
9009-425: Was convicted of conspiracy and hanged on 23 October, and Bogle was hanged the following day. Back in Britain there was public outcry, and increased opposition from liberals against Eyre's handling of the situation, with accusations against him of murder. Supporters praised the governor for acting quickly in the crisis to suppress a potentially larger rebellion. By the end of 1865 the "Governor Eyre Case" had become
9108-439: Was enacted in 1961. Barbados joined the short-lived British West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962, later gaining full independence on 30 November 1966. Errol Barrow became the country's first prime minister. Barbados opted to remain within the Commonwealth of Nations . The effect of political independence meant that the United Kingdom government ceased to having sovereignty over Barbados, Elizabeth II , instead, reigning in
9207-479: Was established as a proprietary colony and funded by Sir William Courten , a City of London merchant who acquired the title to Barbados and several other islands. The first colonists were actually tenants, and much of the profits of their labour returned to Courten and his company. Courten's title was later transferred to James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle , in what was called the "Great Barbados Robbery". Carlisle then chose as governor Henry Powell , who established
9306-453: Was influential in laws in other colonies. By 1680 there were 20,000 free whites and 46,000 enslaved Africans; by 1724, there were 18,000 free whites and 55,000 enslaved Africans. The harsh conditions endured by the slaves resulted in several planned slave rebellions, the largest of which was Bussa's rebellion in 1816 which was rapidly suppressed by the colonial authorities. In 1819, another slave revolt broke out on Easter Day. The revolt
9405-460: Was instrumental in Bogle being appointed deacon of Stony Gut Baptist Church in 1864. Conditions were hard for black peasants, due to social discrimination, flooding and crop failure, and epidemics. The required payment of poll taxes prevented most of them from voting. In August 1865, Gordon criticised the governor of Jamaica , Edward John Eyre , for sanctioning "everything done by the higher class to
9504-660: Was introduced to the Parliament of Barbados. Passed on 6 October, the Bill made amendments to the Constitution of Barbados, introducing the office of the president of Barbados to replace the role of Elizabeth II as Queen of Barbados. The following week, on 12 October 2021, incumbent Governor-General of Barbados Sandra Mason was jointly nominated by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition as candidate to be
9603-585: Was largely ignored by Europeans, though Spanish slave raiding is thought to have reduced the native population, with many fleeing to other islands. The first English ship, which had arrived on 14 May 1625, was captained by John Powell. The first settlement began on 17 February 1627, near what is now Holetown (formerly Jamestown, after King James I of England), by a group led by John Powell's younger brother, Henry , consisting of 80 settlers and 10 English indentured labourers . Some sources state that some Africans were amongst these first settlers. The settlement
9702-452: Was one of the highest grossing documentaries in UK cinemas. He described it as a "fusion documentary": "It looks at lover's rock through interviews, comedy, live performance, dance and archive footage. It tells the story of its south London origins to success in Japan and becoming a global brand. In between, we look at the underground scene around the music – its intimate dance, the soundsystems,
9801-531: Was put down in blood, with heads being displayed on stakes. Nevertheless, the brutality of the repression shocked even England and strengthened the abolitionist movement. Growing opposition to slavery led to its abolition in the British Empire in 1833. The plantocracy class retained control of political and economic power on the island, with most workers living in relative poverty. The 1780 hurricane killed more than 4,000 people on Barbados. In 1854,
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