New tour to take guests back to daily life on a 18th century slave plantation

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THE stories of the slaves living at the former Clifton plantation will come alive with the launch of a new experience that will take people through what daily life was like for an enslaved person on that particular site.

The Living History Tour will be launched during the All Things Bahamian – Living History Festival, held on Sunday, August 6, 10am to 7pm, at the Clifton Heritage National Park. The event is held annually to commemorate Emancipation Day.

Jazz Cleare, assistant manager of Events and Marketing at Clifton Heritage, said the event will serve as the soft launch of the history tour, which will allow guests to go back in time to the 18th century when the plantation was fully operational.

“The significant difference between this event compared to the last event is that not only will you learn about the history of the slaves, but you will be given an experiential tour. Guests will be able to see, smell and partake in the daily life of the enslaved Africans on the plantations,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Speaking about the rich history found at Clifton Heritage, Jazz said: “Clifton Heritage National Park comprises three slave plantations and sits on 208 acres of land. We have preserved and told the story of the three civilisations – the Lucayan, the Loyalist and the enslaved Africans – that lived on these grounds.”

Clifton was originally inhabited by the indigenous Lucayans, and archaeological evidence proves their presence dates back to the year 1100 AD. It was later occupied by buccaneers and freebooters.

In the late 18th century, it became the site of a Loyalist plantation. At that time, it took a four-hour ride on horseback to reach the city of Nassau.

The great house, with architecture resembling that of Louisiana and South Carolina, was built by John Wood in 1788. It was later owned by William Wylly (or Whylly), who was the Attorney General of the Bahamas and a controversial figure.

It is recorded that he encouraged his slaves to marry, and in return he built them their own houses. His overseer for the plantation was of African origin, and also the pastor of a local church. The great house burned and collapsed in 1851. One of the remaining buildings was apparently a tavern and continued in its use until the 1960s.

THE ALL Things Bahamian – Living History Festival seeks celebrate local history and culture.

“Aside from the 50th Independence Anniversary, this year will mark 189 years since Emancipation in the Bahamas,” said Jazz. “We seek to honour our ancestors for their strides that led to our freedom and celebrate the techniques they crafted and passed down from generation to generation.

The All Things Bahamian – Living History Festival, she explained, is designed to be an annual signature event at the Clifton Heritage National Park to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved Africans.

Guests are given the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the importance of preserving the history of the Heritage Park.

“Hopefully, at the end of the event and tour, guests will gain a better understanding of the significance of Clifton,” she said.

Jazz said the festival’s overall goal is to promote the history of the Bahamian people and, most importantly, their culture.

“We also want to provide a platform to showcase small Bahamian-owned businesses to a broader audience,” she added.

The festival will feature a live performance by Melody and Mario, the singing duo who invested their time and have shown great interest in promoting the Clifton Heritage National Park over the years, said Jazz.

There will also be games and activities, including a fun competition, throughout the day. Arts and crafts will be available on-site, as well as food and beverage vendors offering native dishes and local favorites.

Following All Things Bahamian, next up on the calendar at Clifton is the Arts, Craft & Music Heritage Festival. This three-day event will take place October 27-29.