Documenting Resistance: Igbo Fugitives in Colonial Jamaica

An 18th-century Jamaican newspaper advertisement offers a reward for capturing escaped enslaved people, preserved in a historical compilation of such notices (Rucker, 2013). This document lists over 100 individuals identified as Igbo (recorded as “Eboe”), providing valuable evidence of resistance among enslaved communities, especially that of the Igbo.

The written record

The advertisement explains the brutal system of colonial slavery, where enslavers publicly sought the return of freedom-seekers through paid notices. The high number of Igbo individuals listed suggests a significant Igbo presence in Jamaica and their active resistance to enslavement.

Historical context