Bussa Emancipation Statue, Bronze memorial statue at Ramsay Roundabout, Bridgetown, Barbados.
The Bussa Emancipation Statue is a bronze figure at Ramsay Roundabout in Bridgetown, depicted with raised arms and broken chains visible at the wrists. The work stands at the intersection of ABC Highway and Highway 5, symbolizing liberation from enslavement.
The memorial was created in 1985 by sculptor Karl Broodhagen and honors General Bussa, who led approximately 400 people in the largest rebellion of 1816 against the plantation system. That uprising represented a pivotal moment of resistance against slavery on the island.
The monument carries inscriptions in local dialect celebrating freedom and referencing Queen Victoria and the 1833 Act ending slavery. The statue serves as a gathering place where the community reflects on these transformative moments.
The statue is located at a major traffic intersection and is easily accessible by public transportation from the Oistins Fish Market bus terminal. You can combine a visit with nearby local markets in the area.
The statue served as the backdrop for a remarkable diplomatic moment when Cuban President Fidel Castro delivered a speech here in 1998 during an official visit. This event connected international politics with the island's local history.
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