Prince Klaas Monument

What if I told you that the seemingly peaceful pasture we’re standing in was once a stage for a pivotal moment in Antiguan history? This is the site where the Prince Klaas Monument stands, a tribute to a man who dared to challenge the shackles of slavery. Prince Klaas, a name whispered with reverence by Antiguans, was no ordinary slave. Born in Ghana, he was captured and brought to Antigua around 1701. His owner, Thomas Kerby, was a prominent figure, the Speaker of the Antigua House of Assembly. Kerby placed immense trust in Klaas, allowing him freedoms unheard of for an enslaved man. Klaas was permitted to conduct trade and even earned his own money, granting him a degree of autonomy that fueled his ambitions. In the heart of this very pasture, on a Sunday in 1736, a large gathering of enslaved Africans took place. It was a day for them to momentarily escape the harsh realities of their existence, to find solace in dance and music. On this day, however, the atmosphere crackled with an undercurrent of defiance. At the center stood Prince Klaas, adorned in finery, his movements not just those of a dancer, but of a leader. He was crowned, symbolically, as the king of the Coromantee, his ancestral tribe. This act, a potent symbol of resistance, sent ripples of fear through the ruling white elite. The following day, Klaas was executed, his story tragically cut short, but his legacy as a symbol of rebellion against oppression continues to resonate through the Prince Klaas Monument.