-----A SPECIAL EDITION-----

about the  Belanda Hitam....

 

FROM  THE EDITOR:

I just decided that I will leave Jakarta for a few days. The reason for this sudden escape to Java will surprise you: I want to locate descendants of KNIL soldiers that were born in Ghana.

This remarkable urge to jump in my car to go to a small city called Purweredjo, started two days ago when I stumbled over the existence of a "Java Hill" in a dark corner of Africa. I became intrigued by the origin of the name, and the awoken awareness that traditional Indonesian batik is very popular on the west coast of Africa. This is the story:  

Between 1831 and 1872 some 3,000 African recruits sailed from Elmina (now part of Ghana) to Batavia. They had been recruited to serve in the Dutch colonial army, which throughout most of the 19th century experienced a chronic shortage of European manpower. After their contracts expired, some returned to the Gold Coast where these veterans settled in Elmina on allocated plots behind St. George's Castle, on a hill still known today as Java Hill. Others, having established families during their long years of army service, opted to settle in the East Indies. They became the founding fathers of the Indo-African communities in the Javanese towns of Purworedjo, Semarang, Salatiga and Solo. On Java, the African soldiers and their descendents became known as 'Belanda Hitam' - Black Dutchmen. An army career became a family tradition, for many sons and grandsons of the African soldiers also served in the Dutch army. After Indonesia's independence, most Indo-Africans opted for repatriation to the Netherlands (around 1950 some 60 families left Indonesia and went to Holland).

2e Luitenant Jan Kooi, "Black Dutch" veteran of the Aceh War, originally from Ashanti Kingdom in West Africa.

The shortage of manpower in the Dutch colonial army became particularly acute in the wake of the Java war (1825-1830) which took the lives of 8,000 European soldiers and many more native soldiers. The Department of Colonies turned to the almost forgotten Dutch Possessions on the Guinea Coast, where commercial activity was at a low ebb following the abolition of the slave trade in 1814. These neglected outposts now had the opportunity to make themselves useful in the eyes of the Dutch government as a supplier of manpower to the army. Army policy dictated however that roughly half the troops had to consist of Europeans, who were deemed more reliable and better qualified. The African soldiers were counted as part of the European contingent. The largest Indo-African community lived in the garrison town of Purworedjo in central Java, where in 1859 King William III allocated them a plot of land.

After half a day searching for articles on the internet about this African-Indo history, I remembered I had a dark waitress working for me, who often jokingly was referred to as: the 'African waitress of BuGils'. Many BuGils customers will still remember her. She retired two years ago and is now living on Bali. I called her to check from what kampung she originated and guess what? Yes, indeed: Purworedjo. Her hobby? Sunbathing! (not something Indonesians normally like to do). She was fierce, hard working and 'branie'. Her nick name was Singga (lion). Co-incidence? I don't think so. And while I have problems finding staff in the Big Durian, I considered the option to go to Purworedjo and try to trace more girls like Singga. I need staff and I need them badly. Should I go to Java to find them?

Picture above and left: Singga from Purworedjo when she was still working in BuGils.

Just now I went to a very nice Jazz afternoon in the Oriental Bar in the Mandarin hotel, where the first person I met was a friendly, older Indonesian woman. I started to chat with her and she told me her grandmother was from Dutch origin. It also turned out that her grandfather -and this gave me cold shiver - had been the last regent of Purworedjo! I couldn't believe it! In whole my life I had never heard of a city named Purworedjo, and now, in just one weekend, this city is all over me! Before I could tell her about my recent interest in the history of this town with its Black Belanda's, she insisted I really should visit this town one day.

Family picture of the family Comijs (19th century)

I am not superstitious but for some reason - and I don't know why - I know that I have to go there. Tomorrow morning early I am heading for Central Java. Lens, the manager from Eastern Promise will join me on this trip. Where to start if you want to Trace KNIL descendants from Ghana? I do know that the Dutch changed their African names into Dutch names such as Land , Recht, Klink, Boom, Wit, Hek and Molemans. I guess I have to start with a look in a telephone book or so. While I try to finish story, my father called me, asking why I hadn't contacted them for so long. 'Just too busy, dad. And now I am going away for two or three days. I am chasing Africans in Java'. There was a long silence at the other end of line. I suddenly realised the absurdness of my words. I could hear the thoughts dazzling in his head: 'More bars!? Looking for Africans!? A shortage of female staff!?'  He paused for a few seconds and then he just said, in a very calm voice: 'Come home son... Come home....'  The conversation ended. It was the shortest call with my parents ever. Maybe he was right. Maybe I should go home again to Friesland, but just for a few days. It's his birthday soon and I haven't been celebrating this with the family for 15 years. It would be a nice surprise...
 

 I will try to keep you updated with my investigations and the ultimate goal to find some new BuGils staff. In this case with African roots... Keep posted.  Bartele

Sources:

THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS:

http://www.bartele.com/2007/20070126.htm
http://www.bartele.com/2007/jan19nl03/LATEST20070119.htm
http://www.bartele.com/2007/jan12nl02/latest.html 

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