By Ann Wood
Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean, South Africa, Canada and areas in the United States on various dates. This day commemorates the emancipation of African slaves. It also observes areas regBy Ann Woodarding the abolition of other forms of slavery.
Emancipation Day in Guyana is celebrated on August 1 and commemorates the abolition of slavery in Guyana in 1834.
A former slave, Cuffy, has become the symbol of the abolition of slavery in Guyana. Cuffy became famous due to his leading the 1763 revolt of more than 2,500 slaves against the colony regime. He was an Akan man who was captured in his native West Africa and stolen for slavery to work in the plantations of the Dutch colony of Berbice. He died in 1763 and is considered a national hero in Guyana.
The anniversary of the Cuffy slave rebellion, February 23, has been celebrated as the Republic Day in Guyana since 1970. Cuffy is immortalised by the 1763 Monument located at the Square of the Revolution. The monument was designed by the late Guyanese artist, Philip Moore.
In 1977, Guyana issued a series of stamps featuring the Cuffy monument to commemorate the 1763 slave revolt and the abolition of slavery in Guyana. It is catalogued in the Scott Catalog as #’s 263-66. These stamps are featured today.
Ann Wood is president of the Guyana Philatelic Society. The members of the Guyana Philatelic Society are people from all walks of life who collect new issues from Guyana to those who have only very limited stamp budgets. But above all, the stamp club offers the friendship, knowledge and experience of its members who are there to help stamp collectors with advice on all aspects of collecting. Visit www.guyanastamps.com for more information on stamp collection.
