Maroons
Nanny of the Jamaican Maroons
| Throughout the Americas, African slaves escaped from bondage to form independent communities from which to strike at slavery. These people were called Maroons, from the Spanish word "maron," meaning
fierce. Others have speculated that Maroon may be somehow related to the Spanish word "Moor." The Maroons in Suriname, known locally as "Bos Negers" (Bush Negroes) or Djukas (the
name of a particular African ethnic group), were particularly successful in this endeavor. |
| By the end of the 18th
century Suriname had developed into a thriving plantation colony, producing mostly sugar, cocoa and coffee. If slavery was a harsh institution anywhere, in Caribbean and South America it was considered to be doubly so. Many Africans, refusing to endure the cruelties of slavery, escaped into the countryside which to the Europeans was as yet uncharted and forbidding territory. |
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With such a harsh life to endure it is not surprising that the maroon developed a culture that consisted first and foremost of warriors. They would often raid plantations to obtain weapons, ammunition, provisions and liberate women. Often they would
destroy the plantation by burning it down and enact lethal revenge upon their former masters for the oft times vicious treatment they had received at their hands. After a successful raid, the maroons would retreat back into the forests. There they lived in small independent villages and reinforced camps. One group built an impressive palisade fortress in the middle of a swamp that made it nearly inaccessible to their enemies. |
| Only through traitorous acts and Dutch subversion were the secret underground access tunnels revealed, which caused the defeat of the Boni
maroons. Only by playing the maroons against each other and the slaves against the maroons were the planters able to achieve some minor victories. The Dutch government, in cooperation with the planters, organized several raids against the maroons. However, they were mostly unsuccessful, and eventually the government was forced to establish peace treaties with some of the major Maroon societies. These treaties though granting freedom to these maroons and providing them yearly gifts including weapons,
ammunition and provisions, were also subversive actions. For in return, the maroons promised not to raid plantations and to even turn in any new runaways.
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| Another famous maroonsociety sprung up in Jamaica under the guidance of a woman only known as Nanny. Honored by both the Maroons and the British settlers as an outstanding military leader,she became a symbol of unity and strength for her people. Said to be of Asante heritage, she was an important figure in the First Maroon War from 1720 to 1739. Nanny was said to be killed in organizing many acts of guerrilla warfare carried out by the Eastern Maroons to keep away the British troops who attempted to penetrate their mountain homes. Besides inspiring her people to fight off troops Nanny was also a type of Queen Mother or Wise Woman of the village. She often passed down ancient legends and encouraged the continuation of customs, music and songs that had come from Africa in order to instill pride among the people. Like many other freedom fighters, Nanny met her death at the hands of a slave loyal to the British in 1734.
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| By merging African traditions and by adapting to the demands of their new surroundings, the maroons forged a new and unique culture that continues to live to this day. (Information courtesy of Maroon Societies: Rebel Slave Communities in the Americas) |
