EPISODE · Jul 3, 2026 · 4 MIN
The Dutch Slave Revolt on St. Jan 1733
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1733, enslaved Africans on the Danish Caribbean island of St. Jan (now St. John) staged one of the most organized and enduring slave revolts in colonial history. Led by a woman named Breffu, from the Akan people of the Gold Coast, the rebels seized control of the island's forts and plantations, holding out for months against Danish, French, and Dutch forces. This episode explores the cultural background of the Akan warriors, the brutal conditions of sugar slavery, the strategic brilliance of the revolt, and its violent suppression. We also examine the broader context of the West Indian slave trade and the role of the Dutch West India Company in supplying enslaved labor to the Danish colonies. Listen as Lucas and Luna uncover the story of Breffu and the fight for freedom on St. Jan. #StJan1733 #Breffu #SlaveRevolt #Akan #GoldCoast #DanishWestIndies #WIC #SugarSlavery #CaribbeanHistory #Resistance #AtlanticWorld #18thCentury #Colonialism #Slavery #History #FexingoHistory #NetherlandsHistory #StJohn Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1733, enslaved Africans on the Danish Caribbean island of St. Jan (now St. John) staged one of the most organized and enduring slave revolts in colonial history. Led by a woman named Breffu, from the Akan people of the Gold Coast, the rebels seized control of the island's forts and plantations, holding out for months against Danish, French, and Dutch forces. This episode explores the cultural background of the Akan warriors, the brutal conditions of sugar slavery, the strategic brilliance of the revolt, and its violent suppression. We also examine the broader context of the West Indian slave trade and the role of the Dutch West India Company in supplying enslaved labor to the Danish colonies. Listen as Lucas and Luna uncover the story of Breffu and the fight for freedom on St. Jan. #StJan1733 #Breffu #SlaveRevolt #Akan #GoldCoast #DanishWestIndies #WIC #SugarSlavery #CaribbeanHistory #Resistance #AtlanticWorld #18thCentury #Colonialism #Slavery #History #FexingoHistory #NetherlandsHistory #StJohn Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch Slave Revolt on St. Jan 1733
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