Due to the popularity of last week’s post, I decided to continue the exploration of incredible women from foreign countries, as most of the women I have researched have been from America. This week we journey to the Maroons of Jamaica to visit Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons, a largely ignored yet highly important figure in the Maroon’s history.
Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons has a rather elusive and vague history as she has only been mentioned 4 times in written history, yet she serves as one of the most important historical figures in the Maroons. For those of you who don’t know, a Maroon is a settlement of African-
descended people that formed away from slavery. Due to their unique mixes of people (African, indigenous, and various others) new cultures combining the traditions and history of each group of people were formed, along with new government systems. Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons served as both the spiritual and military leader of her people, famously leading them into battle against the British in 1725.
Thought to be born around 1680 off the coast of Ghana, Queen Nanny was said to belong to either the Ashanti or Akan tribe and came to Jamaica as a free woman. Some recording show that, as a possible descendant of royal African bloodlines, she brought slaves of her over with her, which was common practice for royals at the time. Along with slaves, she also brought her
husband, Adou, with her to the Maroons of Jamaica.
The legend of Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons is far above the legend of even some of the greatest American and European generals. She was said to be a master of guerilla warfare and specially trained her military in the art of camouflage, dressing her soldiers and herself in branches and leaves to stand perfectly still for hours at a time. When British troops came marching into the Maroons in 1725, they were swiftly picked off by the “trees” they passed unsuspectingly. Queen Nanny was rumored to not only be a great leader, but also a version of a bloodthirsty superhero. Several legends exist around her ability to catch bullets mid-air, one version saying this was due to her high training in the “art of combat”, another saying she would catch them in her rear-end and “fart” them back out again. While the first explanation is actually highly possible (many Africans were trained for this at the time), the second explanation is most likely from a British report, of whom were obviously not fans of the Queen. While many more legends exist of Queen Nanny (using herbs to kill British soldiers, etc.) one first-hand account said that queen nanny wore “bracelets and anklets made of teeth from the British soldiers” and “The old hag had a girdle around her waist with nine or ten different knives hanging in sheaths to it, many of which I have no doubt have been plunged in human flesh and blood”. Needless to say, Queen Nanny was one for the ages.
She was officially made a national hero of Jamaica in 1976, by Edward Braithwaite, someone who was instrumental in the telling of her story and how her involvement was crucial to the Maroons in securing liberty from the British. Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons is a symbol of rebellion and survival, serving not only her people while she was alive, but also serving all of those who came after her with inspiration and a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere, anytime, no matter if you wear a necklace of pearl or teeth.
Reference
https://www.britannica.com/topic/maroon-community
Wow, this was incredibly well-written, and I had to physically stop myself from grasping at my phone to go on Wikipedia to learn more about Queen Nanny. Super interesting topic!
I am so glad you found Queen Nanny and wrote about her even though she is not in much of written history. Her story is insane, and she must have been one scary woman.
I am so glad you found Queen Nanny and wrote about her even though she is not in much of written history. Her story is insane and she must have been one scary woman.
I love the empowerment of your blog. I lived most of my life thinking men were the real “alpha” species, however, you blogs have shown we have nothing on these females. And the fact that most of these women fly under the radar. Just amazing that they are finally getting their recognition.
I love how you pick out such interesting historical figures, even people that may not be mentioned much in history. These blogs are definitely teaching me so much! Super well written and new information to me, I had never heard of Queen Nanny before!