Subject: [History, Folklore] Boni - Leader, Warrior and Negotiator
Article:

The first time Boni's name ever appeared in records was 1769. Boni was born around 1730 in a Maroon village. He was a bush-creole. His mother had fled the plantation Barbakoeba (Plantation Annaszorg) around 1730. It was for some time not clear who his father was. Most researchers believe that his father is not the plantation manager Van der Mey as was stated by Captain Stedman. Researchers believe that his father is probably an Amerindian as this was reported in records from statements from other slaves who were close to Boni. Boni had two brothers and an elder sister. Boni had numerous wives. In 1771 records show a Lena (Plantation Lunenburg) and a Lucretia (of Capoerica). In 1784 he had a wife by the name of Flora (of Du Peron). In 1791 his wife was Madam (of Killenstein Nova) and Swaantje (of Poelwijk). In 1792 his wife was Maria. She was the daughter of the 'gaanman' of the Ndjuka. In 1793, the name Lukresi (of Remoncourt) was mentioned as his wife. Only the names of four of Boni's children are known. The best known is his son and successor Agosu. Who was Boni ? He was a warrior, a leader, a spokesman of his people and because of his position a judge of his tribe. Boni was the leader of the guerilla fighters who waged war upon the Dutch. He was the figure who was in charge of warfare and negotiations. Boni stopped raiding plantations during the second Boni-Maroon war (1789-1793). He had given this task to his son and successor Aguso. There are numerous stories about his death in the oral traditions of his people and the Ndjukas. Boni was killed in 1793 by the Ndjuka tribe. They took his corpse and cut off Boni's head to present it to the Dutch governor general. However, the head fell overboard and disappeared in deep water near a spot called by the Ndjukas Sumajee (human head). Other oral tradition stories say that the head was dropped overboard near Bonidoro. Others say Dagu-ede. However, the researchers believe it most likely happened near the Sumajee Falls.


Met dank aan Albert Buys