Boni

Bokilifu Boni (usually just Boni) (c. 1730 – 19 February 1793) was a freedom fighter and guerrilla leader in Suriname, when it was under Dutch colonial rule. Born in Cottica to an enslaved African mother who escaped from her Dutch master, he grew up with her among the Maroons in the forest. He was such a powerful leader that his followers were known as Boni's people after him (they later became known as the Aluku). They built a fort in the lowlands and conducted raids against Dutch plantations along the coast. Under pressure from Dutch regular army and hundreds of freedmen, they went east across the river into French Guiana. Boni continued to conduct raids from there, but was ultimately killed in warfare.

Biography According to legend, Boni was born into slavery as the mixed-race son of a Dutchman and an enslaved African woman. While pregnant, she fled into the forest, to the Cottica-Maroons. There, Boni was born about 1730. In 1765, Boni succeeded Asikan Sylvester as the leader of his tribe. and named after the Boekoe Creek. The wetlands provided strategic defences, and they armed the garrison with rifles and a cannon.

The remaining Boni's moved southwards, and settled along the Lawa River, a river that formed the border between French Guiana and Suriname. The Ndyuka initially attacked them for encroaching into their territory. In late 1779, after negotiations, a peace treaty was signed between the two tribes. Boni was offered a daughter of the Ndyuka granman as a wife. The treaty worried Paramaribo, however the Ndyuka assured the colonists that Boni had agreed not to attack the plantations, if his people were left alone.

Peace was maintained until 1788 when plantation Clarenbeek was attacked. Five soldiers were killed, and the plantation owner was taken away to serve a slave for the tribe. In 1789, the Ndyukas ended the peace treaty and joined the colonists The next year, Fort Aloekoe was conquered, and the plantation owner was released from slavery. In 1791 Lieutenant colonel Beutler chased the Boni's from Suriname into French Guiana.

On 19 February 1793 Boni had made his camp on a place called Akuba Booko Goo (English: Akuba's Broken Gourd) near rapids with the same name in the Marouini River. That night Boni was betrayed, and killed by Bambi, an Ndyuka chief, who was under great pressure from Lieutenant Stoelman, commander of the Redi Musus.

Boni is still a legendary figure among the Suriname community, where the Maroons fought for their rights to independence until 1887 when the Kwinti finally signed a peace treaty.