Queen Nanny - Leader of Jamaica's Maroon Community

The Maroons were runaways, rebels unwilling to yield to the oppressive forces of slavery. The most famous Maroon military leader was a woman, that is right, Granny Nanny. The British lived to regret the day they put Nanny on the slave boat. Nanny was born in Africa (of the Ashanti tribe) and brought to Jamaica as a slave. The Ashanti’s were one of the most powerful tribes of West Africa. The women were held in the highest regard and participated in every aspect of decision-making, even fighting and leading battles.

In Ashanti Culture, before decisions are made, the words, “Ye kop bisa aberewa”, meaning, "We are going to consult the old woman",   are spoken.

"This statement places the woman as the final arbiter in all decisions in the Ashanti community. When a tribunal sits to settle a case, its members finally retire to make a decision and this final act culminating in giving justice is referred to as "consulting the old woman."  The woman is the custodian of all knowledge and treasures of the community. Women are known as reputed connoisseurs and must not be challenged in their specialty. It is only among themselves that criticisms may be whispered and even insinuations made. However inferior an Ashanti woman may appear to an outside observer she is the final decisive factor in all the activities of, and the arbiter of what is good or bad for the whole community. Queen Nanny was about to open a can of “you know what”, on her captures. "

Queen Nanny was enslaved, along with her five brothers. Instead of being a respected vessel, through which life began, women in Jamaica were reduced to laborers and breeders. Queen Nanny was not having any of this, and together with her five brothers escaped to the mountains. They started the first of many Maroon communities made up of escaped and freed slaves. The first settlement, nestled in the Blue Mountains, was aptly named Nanny Town.

Nanny Town was a village in the Blue Mountains of Portland Parish, north-eastern Jamaica, used as a stronghold for Maroons (escaped slaves) led by Granny Nanny; the town held out against repeated British attacks before being destroyed in 1734.[1]

Granny Nanny was born in Ghana, West Africa, as a member of the Ashanti tribe, part of the Akan people. She was enslaved and brought to Jamaica. Experiencing the cruel treatment of slaves on the Jamaican plantations, she and her five brothers, Cudjoe, Accompong, Johnny, Cuffy and Quao decided to join the autonomous African community of Maroons. This community originated from people formerly enslaved by the Spanish, who had refused to submit to British control. This community developed as many more slaves escaped the plantations and joined the Maroons. By the time of the First Maroon War, the newly run away slaves were also known as Maroons.

Nanny's family then made the decision to split up in order to be able to organize better resistance to the plantation economy across Jamaica than was possible if they stuck together. Cudjoe went to Clarendon where about a hundred Maroons from Cottawood soon joined him, while Accompong went to St. Elizabeth, while Nanny and Quao made their way to Portland.

By 1720, Nanny and Quao had organized and gained control of this town of Maroons located in the Blue Mountains. It was around this time that the town was given the title of Nanny Town. Nanny town encompassed more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) of land for the run away slaves to live as well as raise animals and grow crops. Due to the town being led by Nanny and Quao, it was organized very similar to a typical Ashanti tribe in Africa.

The Maroons were able to survive on the mountains by sending traders to the cities to exchange food for weapons and cloth. The Maroons were also known for raiding plantations for weapons and food, burning the plantation, and leading the slaves back to Nanny Town.

Nanny town was an excellent location for a stronghold due to it overlooking Stony River via a 900-foot ridge making a surprise attack by the British virtually impossible. The Maroons at Nanny town also organized lookouts for such an attack as well as designated warriors who could be summoned by the sound of a horn called an Abeng.

Granny Nanny was very adept at organizing plans to free slaves. Over the span of fifty years, Nanny has been credited with freeing over eight-hundred slaves. Nanny also helped these slaves remain free and healthy due to her vast knowledge of herbs and her role as a spiritual leader. However, freeing slaves upset the British very much. Between 1728 and 1734, Nanny town was attacked by the British repeatedly, but not once was it harmed. This was accomplished due to the Maroons being much more skilled in fighting in an area of high rainfall as well as disguising themselves as bushes and trees. The Maroons also utilized decoys to trick the British into a surprise attack. A non-disguised Maroon would run out into view of the British and then in the direction of the fellow Maroons, who were disguised, thus repeatedly crushing the British.

In 1994, Nanny’s image was placed on a Jamaican Five-Hundred Dollar bill.  This gesture immortalized her in the hearts and minds of the Jamaican people.