Contrary to Otto Friedrich von der Groeben, no portrait of Jan Conny is known today. The historical figure, a merchant indigenous to what is today Ghana, played a significant role in Prussia’s colonial endeavours. Conny’s given name differs across British, French, German, and Dutch historical accounts. The details of his life, like the dates of his birth and death and his birth name, are largely unknown in historical records. Usually, his role in Brandenburg’s colonial presence in Ghana’s Gold Coast has a particular historical focus. In non-European records, especially in the Caribbean, Conny’s life is commemorated during the annual Junkanoo festival. However, Conny played a larger role in Prussia’s colonial history than has been narrated hitherto. Jan Conny’s resistance Detail from fig. 1
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