Boni (guerrilla leader)

The tribe in which Boni was born initially lived along the Cottica River in what is nowadays the Moengo resort in Suriname.

[2] In 1760, the Ndyuka people who lived nearby, signed a peace treaty with the colonists offering them territorial autonomy.

From this strong position, the Boni's conducted numerous raids on plantations in the east of Suriname, especially in the area of the Cottica River.

The militia was reinforced in 1772 by a corps of Zwarte Jagers (black hunters), recruited from 300 freed slaves and led by European officers.

[11] This corps proved successful: after a campaign of seven months, the secret path, which was just under water and gave access to the fort, was betrayed in 1772.

The fort was destroyed, but Boni escaped to the east and crossed the Marowijne River, which bordered French Guiana.

In February 1773, further reinforcements arrived from the Dutch Republic: a regiment of Marines commanded by Colonel Louis Henri Fourgeoud [nl].

[15] 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.

[14] In 1789,[14] the Ndyukas ended the peace treaty and joined the colonists[1] The next year, Fort Aloekoe was conquered, and the plantation owner was released from slavery.

[16] 2°33′49″N 54°01′48″W / 2.5636°N 54.0299°W / 2.5636; -54.0299[17] That night Boni was betrayed, and killed by Bambi, an Ndyuka chief,[1] 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.