Queen Nanny of the Maroons

Nanny of Maroons, also known as Queen Nanny or Granny Nanny is one of Jamaica’s seven national heroes. It is believed she was born around 1686, in what is today present day Ghana, who after being enslaved became the leader of the Windward Maroons in the 18th century that fought the resistance of colonial rule. What we know of Nanny is a marinade of folk legend and documented records, creating this bigger than life symbolic character, perfectly crafted for storytelling. 

Queen Nanny of the Maroons

Early Life and Leadership

Nanny is thought to be an Asante from West Africa and of a ruling class who was brought to Jamaica as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Some accounts suggest she escaped slavery shortly after arriving in Jamaica, joining other self-emancipated Africans to form Maroon communities in the mountainous regions of the island; of which there were two main groups, the Windward Maroons located in the eastern mountains and the Leeward Maroons resided in the western mountainous regions. By 1720, Nanny had established herself as a leader, successfully raiding plantations for food and weapons and tactfully freeing slaves to join her community in a settlement known as Nanny Town in the Blue Mountains.

Maroon Community

Maroon communities had parallels to West African societies, such as spiritual practices, raising animals, growing similar crops and trading food and weapons between settlements. As a leader, Nanny ensured the survival and independence of her community, overseeing sustainable agriculture, growing crops like yams, bananas, and cassava. She also preserved parts of her language which has still survived in Maroon culture today like the word “afu” for yam. 

The First Maroon War

Her leadership coincided with the First Maroon War (1720–1739), during which Maroon communities united to fiercely resist British colonial forces. Nanny trained her warriors in guerrilla warfare and used her knowledge of the terrain to outmaneuver British troops by setting traps and surprise attacks. Her strategic brilliance made it near impossible for the British to take control of her settlement for any considerable amount of time.

The British suffered heavy losses due to the Maroons’ mastery of ambush tactics which included camouflage, slowing their breathing to avoid detection and the use of decoys to lure enemies into traps. Despite repeated attempts to capture Nanny Town, including a major attack led by Captain Stoddart in 1734, the British were unable to fully subdue Nanny and her followers. Nanny was so good, the British were convinced she had superpowers and her community were convinced she used obeah.  There was no other way she could be so invincible.

Queen Nanny of the Maroons © @blkwomenradical

The Treaty

In 1740, Nanny and other major leaders of the Windward Maroons, most notably Quao, signed a treaty with the British. This agreement granted freedom to Nanny and her followers and allocated 500 acres of land in Portland Parish for their settlement, which became known as New Nanny Town (later renamed Moore Town). The treaty formally recognized the autonomy of the Maroon communities and allowed them to govern themselves under their own leaders. However, it also came with significant compromises. One controversial clause required the Maroons to assist colonial authorities by capturing runaway slaves and returning them to plantation owners. This provision created tension between the Maroons and enslaved Africans who continued to resist oppression.

Despite being a key figure in securing freedom for her people, oral traditions suggest that Nanny was dissatisfied with aspects of the treaty. She reportedly opposed making peace with the British, as she believed it compromised the ideals of true freedom and independence for all enslaved Africans.

Legacy

The Maroon settlements of Jamaica still exist to this day: Accompong in St. Elizabeth, Moore and Charles Town in Portland, and Scotts Hall in St. Mary. A lot of the culture and traditions have survived much to the early preservation of West African culture by the likes of Nanny. Nanny is celebrated as Jamaica’s only female national hero, officially recognized in 1975 for her extraordinary contributions to the fight for freedom. Her image appears on Jamaica’s $500 note, colloquially known as a “Nanny.”