The Samba Rebellion, a purported slave revolt in French colonial Louisiana, remains one of the lesser-known events in early American history, recorded primarily through the writings of Antoine-Simon Le Page du Pratz, a French historian who lived in Louisiana.
According to Le Page du Pratz’s Histoire de la Louisiane, the conspiracy took place in 1731, around the same time as the Natchez Revolt, an uprising of the Natchez Native Americans against French colonists. The plot involved an enslaved man named Samba, often referred to as Samba Bambara, linking him to the Bambara people of West Africa.
French Louisiana in the early 18th century was a volatile frontier where enslaved Africans, Indigenous tribes, and European settlers interacted, often tensely. The Natchez Revolt of 1729 had already rattled the colonial powers, as the Natchez people launched a powerful, attack on French settlements killing almost all of the Frenchmen, while sparing most of the women and enslaved Africans. Approximately 230 colonists were killed overall, and the fort and homes were burned to the ground. Against this backdrop, Le Page du Pratz recounts a similar planned uprising among enslaved Africans, with Samba allegedly at the helm. However, unlike the Natchez Revolt, the Samba Rebellion never progressed into open combat but instead was more a conspiracy to rise up than an actual rebellion.
Samba, an African-born man enslaved by the French, allegedly played a prominent role in the conspiracy. Le Page du Pratz describes Samba as someone who had not only experienced enslavement in Africa but had also been involved in prior uprisings during his forced journey to the Americas. Further, Samba reportedly served as an interpreter and overseer under the French, positions that may have allowed him to establish a broader network among the enslaved and gain a deeper understanding of colonial operations.
The conspiracy was reportedly uncovered before it could be carried out due to an argument between an enslaved woman and a French marine who was intoxicated at the time. This conflict brought the conspiracy to light, leading to the arrest of the alleged conspirators. Le Page du Pratz claimed that he himself was involved in apprehending the accused.
Le Page du Pratz’s account suggests Samba was a formidable figure, willing to resist colonial authorities even under torture. When colonial officials uncovered the conspiracy, Samba refused to confess or provide information, despite severe physical torture. In contrast, eight other slaves admitted their involvement, ultimately sealing the fate of those accused.
Under orders from Governor Étienne Perier, Samba, was ultimately sentenced to death alongside his co-conspirators; they were executed in Jackson Square (then known as Place d’Armes) in New Orleans. The methods of execution were brutal: the men were executed by the breaking wheel, a form of torture involving the shattering of limbs, while the sole woman involved was hanged.
The Samba Rebellion, as recounted by Le Page du Pratz, may have been only a conspiracy rather than a full-fledged revolt. Nonetheless, it serves as a reminder of the ever-present resistance among enslaved Africans and their relentless pursuit of freedom, even in the harshest conditions.
Reference
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/9153/9153-h/9153-h.htm
