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From the beginning of the 1700's the black enslaved
men started a number of rebellions throughout the Virreinato of New
Granada. There was big uprisings in the Caribbean coast, Panama,
Antioquia, Cundinamarca and the Oriental Pampas. Barūle Regnum was
scenario of one of the most important slave revolutions: in Murgana (Tado),
in 1727 more than 200 men and women took arms against their oppressor.
At the head of the Cimarron group was the legendary Barūle. There was a
state
of alarm among the landlords and Spaniard
provincial and Crown authorities. He and the Mina brothers Antonio and
Mateo succeeded in grouping more than 2000 enslaved from around the
rivers Novita and San Juan. There is no information about his place or
exact date of birth, but he appears in the 1759's slave census of the
Chocó Province.
Among the enslaved rebels from
Tado there was a group with a common characteristic: they had been
brought from Jamaica and spoke fluent English. It is not known if they
were native from than British Colony, but it is assumed they had stayed
there enough time to learn the language.
These enslaved, called "the
Jamaicans" due to their place from which they arrived, were considered a
treat to the new "masters" because they had been under the British rule
and had also received a Christian Protestant doctrine.
In the report to the Popayan
Council, preserved in the Cauca Archives, the Governor of Chocó
Juliįn de Trespalacios y Mier
stated his
concern about the possible bad influence of these slaves over the
others. Other than Barule, Trespalacios mentions
Bernabé Mina, José Nongo
and
Nicolįs Nanga. Because of their origins
Trespalacios
related
the Tado and surrounding towns rebellions, to the British interests in
the mining region of Chocó and the Cimarron war at the end of the XVII
century in Jamaica. The upraising was so big, that it forced the British
to sign a treaty with the rebels. Many of them were re-sold and sent to
the Chocó mines, where they planted the freedom seed.
Among the causes for salve insurrections was, the straining to hunger and inhuman punishment methods, raping of
their women and family dismemberment as well as the increment of the slave
labor of the Free State
of Tado (1715).
It is believed
that HM, King Barūle's African ascendance
could be from the: chamba, mandinga,
mina, or carabalķ; due to the integration and
communication that he had with the minas and his tendency to
revolt, known of these groups.
By 1727 the slaves of a Ranch organized a
committee represented by HM, Barūle and the
Mina brothers and in an unexpected day of November, they initiated
their War action into freedom. They killed their master and fourteen
more Spaniards. After dominating the Territory, the Maroons from Tado
proclaimed HM, Barūle as Sovereign and King, and the
palisade structured an authoritarian government with a military
organization.
On February 18 of 1728, the War for Freedom
breaks out between Maroons and the Spanish Army for the domination of
the area, but the deficient logistics and lock of communication among the
Maroons, originated a great disadvantage from which the Spanish Army took
advantage to win the confrontation.
On February 19 of 1728, HM, King Barūle is executed together
with the Mina brothers, by the Spanish Lieutenant Trespalacios Mier,
alter being betrayed.
The movement of HM, King Barūle represented his dream of
freedom and dignity of the black community.
Today, one of his
descendants
HM, Giunėur Bomani Barūle Mōsi
is
continuing along with the fight in favor of the black community and the
'Cultural Restoration' of all AfroColombians through his
Reforming Movement Barūle Regnum. |
