Afro-Kittitians and Nevisians are Saint Kitts and Nevis people whose ancestry lies within the continent of Africa, most notably West Africa.
As of 2013, black people are the predominant ethnic group in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
History
The initial arrival of Africans in St. Kitts and Nevis was in the late 17th century as a result of the slave trade. St Kitts, the largest of the two islands, has geography well suited for sugar plantations, but was plagued by colonial warfare in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Nevis, which has similar geography and was relatively sheltered, became an early center of the slave trade in the West Indies. The first census of Nevis, conducted in 1671, recorded 1,739 African slaves. Six years later this number grew to 3,849, consisting of 1,422 men, 1,321 women, and 1,106 children. In contrast, a census in St. Kitts recorded 1,436 African slaves one year later. Attracted by the stability of Nevis, the Royal African Company headquartered their West Indian slave trade in the port city of Charlestown: from 1674 to 1688 more than 6,000 slaves were sold at auction here.
In the early years of the plantation system on St. Kitts and Nevis, slaves were forced to clear the forests in preparation for sugar production. The difficulty of this work, combined with poor rations, resulted in a slave death rate “that was incredibly high on the two islands during the later part of 17th century”. As the clearing work neared completion, planters tried to combat the high death rate by initiating a one-year “seasoning period” in which newly arrived slaves were supervised by older, trustworthy slaves. By the end of the 18th century over 65% percent of the islands’ slave populations were native born and slave importation had decreased to fewer than 100 a year.
There is little recorded information about the family structures of slaves on St. Kitts and Nevis, but slave “marriages” appear to have been encouraged as they were sometimes recorded by planters. Children might grow up partially in a nuclear family situation, but were socialized as a group. Oral traditions, such as the Anansi spider from West Africa, were passed down. Around the age of 4 or 5 children were first put to work, generally in groups called a “hogmeat gang”. In these “gangs” 5 or 6 children were supervised by a slave woman while they did lighter work such as weeding and feeding animals. At night, children would eat small meals, often prepared by their mothers, consisting mostly of imported grain.
In December the slave population had slightly more freedom and were often given extra beef and pork. The white population on the islands however organized guards to monitor the activities of slaves during their time off. In general, the white population was wary of slaves revolting. In 1639 the French had to dispatch 500 men to put down an uprising on St. Kitts. African slaves resisted bondage in other ways, such as taking food from their masters to supplement their meager rations, and meeting to elect their own officials.
On the eve of emancipation approximately 11% of the population on the islands were freed colored people. Skilled slaves could buy their freedom by earning wages for their crafts, such as carpentry and masonry, on their day off. Freedom could also be gained legislatively and through wills. Children with slave mothers and white fathers enjoyed relative freedom of movement, but were still barred from owning land and thus participating in government.
Communities of freed people developed, with inhabitants mostly working trades but in some cases earning a living as merchants. From the 1770s onwards, freed people would often migrate to Trinidad or Demerara to earn higher wages.
Emancipation to 1900
In 1833 the British Empire outlawed slavery, but full legal freedom didn't come to St. Kitts and Nevis until 1838. Instead, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis set up a form of modified slavery called apprenticeship. Under this system, former slave holders continued to own all farmable land and slaves had to buy their freedom by working 45 hours a week for a period of 4 to 6 years.
Since Saturdays were market day, when slaves had traditionally sold wares for income, having to work 6 days a week was a large hindrance for apprentices attempting to purchase their freedom.
Slaves heard that the island of Antigua had granted full freedom to slaves and recognized the change to the apprenticeship system was simply bondage under another name.
In addition, some absentee slave owners on St. Kitts freed all, or most, of their slaves. Thus the transition from apprenticeship to slavery was met with resistance, both “quiet and disquiet”.