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7 Jamaican Freedom Fighters Whose Stories Must Be Told on Film

Posted byBy Yanique Dawkins | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

nanny

Nanny

Nanny, a woman from the Ashanti tribe, was a leader of the Maroons, enslaved Africans who had escaped the plantation life at the beginning of the 18th century. She was an outstanding military leader who was a thorn in the side of the British in their battles as she outsmarted, outplanned and outmaneuvered the British at every turn. Besides inspiring her people to ward off the troops, Nanny was also a type of chieftainess or wise woman of the village, who passed down legends and encouraged the continuation of customs, music and songs, that had come with the people from Africa, and which instilled in them confidence and pride. She also had responsibility for the welfare of the women and children in the community; even the king had to call upon her for advice, especially those relating to women. For more than 30 years, she freed more than 800 enslaved people and helped them settle into Maroon communities. In her lifetime and after, she was seen as a symbol of unity and strength for her people during their time of crisis, and her settlement, called Nanny Town, remained under Maroon rule.

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