Kwakoe, Slavery memorial and statue in Paramaribo, Suriname
Kwakoe is a memorial in Paramaribo showing the liberation of enslaved people through a statue of a figure breaking free from chains, located at the corner of Zwartenhovenbrug Street and Dr. Sophie Redmond Street. The sculpture was created by artist Jozef Klas and depicts a powerful moment of freedom and human triumph.
The memorial opened in 1963 on the 100th anniversary of slavery abolition in Suriname. This moment marked an important recognition by the country of the struggles and sacrifices that led to freedom.
The name comes from the Kromanti language spoken by Maroons in Suriname and refers to Wednesday, the day slavery was abolished. The memorial serves as a gathering place where people come together to remember and discuss this chapter of the country's past.
The memorial is located near the Ondrobon bus station and is easily reached on foot. The site serves as a common reference point and is typically busy during daytime hours, making access straightforward.
In 1978, sculptor Jozef Klas chained himself to his own sculpture in protest against being denied Surinamese citizenship. This unusual act of resistance tied the statue's history directly to the artist's personal struggle for recognition and belonging.
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