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| Moderated by: The Watcher, Saida.M, safetyblitz, Raven, Miss Brighter Days, LadyDay, Kunjufu, Kibibi, Happiness, Dillinger, Breadfruit, Backatya |
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Bredder Tukoma
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Posted: Sunday February 26th, 2006 08:53 |
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Rastawoman wrote:
Does every Black artist have to preach black power
Elephant man is a dancehall ... artist not a preacher
Respect
Well considering that very very few preachers within Jamaica/ let me rephrase/ NO preachers in Jamaica preach black power then your analogy is skewed.
But to answer your qusetion no of course every artist doesnt have to preach black power. There are mmillions of subject that are open to the dancehall artist. But why should they have license to glorify killing in an already volitile country. Does being an artist exempt you from any form of responsibility for what you say? If he was to sing songs about how much he loves gays and the rights they should have /would your comment simply be " He's only an artist/ not a morally bound politician". I dont think so.
DJ's and dancehall music has always been based on social commentry. With any commentry comes a judgement or a particular standpoint that the commentator commentates from. So if the commentry involves being proud of shotting a boy with your AK47 then what does that say about that particular stand[point. You see people will talk about how the violense within JA needs to stop etc etc/how proud they are of their country/ but on the other hand they big up Elelphant man who glorifies in the killing rate. Seems a bit schizophrenic to me. They defend young women going to their family members funerals in batty-riders/ as if its some unique part of culture and not just general slackness.
So let me ask you this Rastawoman. As a Rastawoman do you support DJ's being able to say anything
" because they are not preachers".
Or maybe you are starting a new sect of Rastafari? One based on promotion of Africans killing each other and "hypocrites sucking their mumma dry". (Eman lyrics). Yes rastawoman lets promote that ... more livity for the people eh?
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DSP
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Posted: Sunday February 26th, 2006 14:19 |
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I read that Jamaica was mostly Ashanti(Coromantee and Akan sect, not sure if Coromantee and Akan are the same sects with different names) with some small Nigerian and Congolese genes here and there. I see it as a home coming or home joining thing, but somma unno too bad mine(my amatuer patois).
btw, Kartel has some nice vibes...
I wonder how Jah Cure's music will change once he gets out of jail.
Last edited on Sunday February 26th, 2006 14:22 by DSP
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Omoshango
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Posted: Sunday February 26th, 2006 15:07 |
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DSP wrote:
I read that Jamaica was mostly Ashanti(Coromantee and Akan sect, not sure if Coromantee and Akan are the same sects with different names)
I understand that Coromantee is not a tribal group, but the name of a major slave-dealing town on the Gold Coast, where a great number of captives were taken, hence they were referred to as Coromantee.
Unless I'm wrong, the people from Coromantee were Akan ethnically.
with some small Nigerian and Congolese genes here and there. I see it as a home coming or home joining thing, but somma unno too bad mine(my amatuer patois).
***sings*** U too bad mind, u too bad mind, u too bad mind...Wheel!
btw, Kartel has some nice vibes...
I wonder how Jah Cure's music will change once he gets out of jail.
According to Timeline, he will be singing gay love songs.
***ducks the incoming verbal missiles***
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MarcusGarveyLives
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Posted: Sunday February 26th, 2006 16:30 |
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Despite the attempts to divert attention from the subject matter of the thread, it appears that most of the people in Jamaica are actually Ghanaians!!!
Which one isn't African?
One God, One Aim, One Destiny
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Ms Price
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 11:44 |
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ebony_goddess wrote: Ms Price wrote: ebony_goddess wrote: jamaicans dont wear dancehall clothes to funerals..
that picture is from 'mr wacky' or 'bogle's' funeral...they wore those outfits as a tribute to him...
that pic is one out the thousands of funerals per year in JA
Hey
Thats true i suppose but when my uncle died over there a year or so back some of the girls did wear un apporiate outfits i mean real ones and stright after he was in the ground, they went to a dance after .
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Ms price
we have a thing called 'dead yaad' or 'nigh night' its similar to a dance but its meant o celebrate the persons life...before and/or after the funeral
thats our 'tradition' watz the prob.
Did'nt say there was'nt i was just making a comment from the intial poster
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Ms Price
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Ms Price
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 12:53 |
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Kunjufu wrote: Ms Price: LMAO...ok If i've scared you please let me apologise to you now....no I'm not going to BAN you for speaking your mind... I might be some things but not that ok...
Because i remeber you guys banning a member for being like anti-african or something and thats not what am about I just wanted to let u guys know...
However if i'm honest i was holding my head in my hands when i read your post...personally I think it would be helpful if people tried not to limit themselves to their own experiences when responding to some threads...
whats that supposed to mean i don't understand, how have i linted myself, you saying am one track minded?
I also think it would be helpful if people not take one specific post from a members as their whole view on life....Marcusgarveylives...i'm quite sure didn't mean for his thoughts to be taken quite so literally as you appeared to have taken them.... in life there is always margins for interpretations, i think you failed to do that in this case..
I did'nt know i was doing that, i don't understand what you mean was Marcusgaveylives meaning this hypothetically? Then if he was, thats strange... I just read his post and disagreed with what he said. Interpretation is a broad concept, like i have said preivously there are at least 7 billion people on this planet with at least 7 billion strands of thought, so interpretation of a argumetent can can be justified in terms of my strand of thought, as a caribbean person.
ps; if you look in Black powers Assimilation thread..I've explained in some detail what some of us mean by AFRICAN...it might help if you read that first..and then comeback and contrast these to your notes ok..
I will defo read the assimilation thread because i don't know what african means anymore within this context am a little confused ...
As a question who is Marcus Garvey?
Mansuma worte
Look Rodders..Elephant man is not only highliting the badness that does exist/ as if a look at any JA newspaper wont reveal this.. but he is revelling and glorying it. Does " Put your AK over the wall/. blood ago run like Duns River Fall" sound like anything positive to you. Do you think it will contribute to calming the badness that does exist.
Not all culture is progressive. Guns are part of young men's culture in Jamaica too. As much as dancehall gun worship is rooted in the culture. I suppose this is something that we dont need less of because "its fi we culture" eh?
Why you love defend badness so much eh Rodders.
"Look into my eyes.. tell me what you see.."
oh hello long time still calling me rodeny then...still don't know why...
errm i don't think so when did i say i defended badness?? I try see good in ALL people, cultures, arguments, and so forth am a lover not a hater. I fundementally believe in turning negatives into positives.
Yes dancehall and bashment has many lyrics which love off guns and killin one another, but at the end of the day they are just lyrics don't watch that and think thats the only thing about dancehall + bashment, they talk about relationships, dancin, family tings, deportation, everything!!...just like if you was gonna read a book, why take them so seriously unless it actually believe it...we all know that Gun culture in JA is bad and is a negative but instead of saying we need to be more like african kings and queens << 'empress' , which is played to the fullest by certain type of people, in my humble opinion as ma gran seh 'dem just chat nuff anancey<<<'the spider' story, dem nu want jamicans an we nuh want dem', why don't people do something about it and turn gun culture into a positive? << Education tyring to make a difference??
Everyone is ready to say this, that and the other but when it comes down to it you don't wanna do anything about it to change it, so dats why we have DANCEHALL+ BASHMENT to try and make the best of a bad situation which is a JA thing to do...
"Look into my eyes.. tell me what you see.."
huh, why do you want me to do that, don't understand?
One Love
Miss price
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 12:56 |
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| Ms Price: are you being serious you really don't know who Marcus Garvey is?
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 13:23 |
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Ms Price: Yes we have excluded Villagers for being Anti African however given your level of awareness..can I take this opportunity to explain the difference between trheir behaviour and yours…
In those instances when we have removed people, it is on the premise that they have maliciously and vindictively pursuing an agenda of promoting sweeping stereotypes and malicious characterisations of Africans, African Carribean and those you might know as Black British..on that basis we remove these type of people with extreme prejudice to the ethos of this site..
The contrast with you Ms Price and certain other Villagers is that you are all ignorant of certain facts, therefore its not quite the same..in this instance it is necessary to struggle..to gain a level of awareness whereby we both at the very least understand each other…That understanding does not require you to BE like me..it just requires you to respect this house, just like I’d respect YOUR house were I in it…does that make sense?
Breadfruit (another moderator here) reminded me of the name of the author..who said something like..if you do not understand global racial supremacy, then everything else will confuse you.. I’m afraid you are a good example of what is meant by that statement… Ms Price, whether you agree with my position or not.. the one thing you must absolutely do is understand the root of all behaviours and the root of how the Jamaican economy was first set up and is now maintained.. If you make yourself aware of that at least you will begin to understand the necessity of why this link to Ghana is an important step… If you understand the geo political context of MGL point on Vybes Kartel and getting away from that get rich quick mentality…then you will begin to understand one of the underlying problems feeding the murder rate in Ja, the death rate on the roads in Ja and feeding the high levels of corruption that is systemic in Ja.. which is why they sacked the police chief last year and are now seeking to bring in an OUTSIDER to head the police force..
When MGL talked about less of the Bashment/ghettogy behaviour and back to the African personality..He absolutely did not mean that you should literally adopt the personality of Africans in the continent.. What he might be suggesting is that we would be far better off working in a unified way, reverting back to the morals that are common in BOTH cultures, it is about adopting behaviour of respect for each other…ie is it in our interest to continue to disrespect our women for money?
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Ms Price
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 14:16 |
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Kunjufu wrote: Ms Price: Yes we have excluded Villagers for being Anti African however given your level of awareness..can I take this opportunity to explain the difference between trheir behaviour and yours…
In those instances when we have removed people, it is on the premise that they have maliciously and vindictively pursuing an agenda of promoting sweeping stereotypes and malicious characterisations of Africans, African Carribean and those you might know as Black British..on that basis we remove these type of people with extreme prejudice to the ethos of this site..
OK
The contrast with you Ms Price and certain other Villagers is that you are all ignorant of certain facts, therefore its not quite the same..in this instance it is necessary to struggle..to gain a level of awareness whereby we both at the very least understand each other…That understanding does not require you to BE like me..it just requires you to respect this house, just like I’d respect YOUR house were I in it…does that make sense?
How can i be ignorant, why was i ignorant, ignornat to what? OMG i don't get you here, what struggle are you talking about? Yea i respect you being african of couse i do, why wouldnt ! ?
Breadfruit (another moderator here) reminded me of the name of the author..who said something like..if you do not understand global racial supremacy, then everything else will confuse you.. I’m afraid you are a good example of what is meant by that statement… Ms Price, whether you agree with my position or not.. the one thing you must absolutely do is understand the root of all behaviours and the root of how the Jamaican economy was first set up and is now maintained.. If you make yourself aware of that at least you will begin to understand the necessity of why this link to Ghana is an important step… If you understand the geo political context of MGL point on Vybes Kartel and getting away from that get rich quick mentality…then you will begin to understand one of the underlying problems feeding the murder rate in Ja, the death rate on the roads in Ja and feeding the high levels of corruption that is systemic in Ja.. which is why they sacked the police chief last year and are now seeking to bring in an OUTSIDER to head the police force..
mmmm i understand caribbean econmics espeically south american politics to an extent and am famillar with geo political and global politics, but i don't belive i just can't believe that racial supermacy is the root here i just can't beleive it, racial supremecy is the root of how jamican culture has reached to bashment? LOL. I can comprehend that the get rich mentality can cause alot of badness, look at all the killings over here in the UK...but I can't register what you are saying about jamaica therefore i am going to have to decline it am sorry.
When MGL talked about less of the Bashment/ghettogy behaviour and back to the African personality..He absolutely did not mean that you should literally adopt the personality of Africans in the continent.. What he might be suggesting is that we would be far better off working in a unified way, reverting back to the morals that are common in BOTH cultures, it is about adopting behaviour of respect for each other…ie is it in our interest to continue to disrespect our women for money?
ohhh i get you slightly but how can we when we are BOTH different? How are black men disrespecting us? You mean rap stars or being with white girls? Well how i look at that argument is that, most american rap stars and actauly some jamican ones have no respect for themselves number one, which as a woman is a huge no no, i look past that and second as a woman if they are disrespecting black women they aint disrespecting me becuase i don't consider myself as those to be disrespected. Any black man worth anything knows that black women should be respected with out a doubt.
PS Yes i don't know who Marcus Garvey is, i have heard his name many times b4, esp around certain types of peoples, but i never actually knew who he was. Was he a war hero or something becasue he has miltary clothes on in those pics ?
One Love
Ms Price.
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 14:45 |
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Ms Price: forgive my bluntness...but is obvious from the various comments you have made that you are IGNORANT of certain facts...I didn't say you were STUPID, or an IMBACILE..I used the word IGNORANT in its proper context ie you are obviously unaware of certain historical facts pertaining to the history of Jamaica... Please do not take offense where there is no offense to be taken..
You say you understand economics and geo politics, well i have to say given the comments that followed on from that statement I seriously doubt that you understand it from an African perspective..hench your confusion about what I'm on about...
If you understand Carribean economics then you MUST know that caribean islands as they stand now are not economically viable by themselves and probably never will be...for a start cheap labour canm now be sought in many other countries other than the carribean. The Caribean has no orignial resources that cannot be found elsewhere in the globe.. Its only major income is from tourism and that by itself cannot sustain it economically... Therefore Jamaica like other islands has to forge economic partnership in order to survive,....that to me is just plain common sense..
You said you cannot understand how Golbal white supremacy is at the root of Jamaica culture..really..where pray tell may i ask do you imagine the idealogy of JAMAICA is founded on....apart from the obvious African names..where did you imagine the term Parish came from or the the names for these various parishes... When you walk arounf Jamaica and there is a church on every corner..who do you THINK introduced that to that island? Why do you think PJ petterson was the 1st Jamaican to voted to that position who was DARK... What skin tone was Manley, Seaga, and Bustmante? Why was Clive Lloyd the FIRST dark skinned Captian of the West Indies cricket team, when before that WHITE men would captian the team?
You say compare the killings in the UK to that of Jamaica..sorry Ms price but I seriously think you're putting your head in the sand...the FACTs are simple people are getting killed in jamaica at a rate of knots and that is strong connections to the Drug culture and the fact that people can now see via Satitlite TV exactly what theyare missing... You say there is no connection to the get rich quick mentality..I seriously disagree...when I visited Portmore and I can see Merc's and Humvee's parked outside Shacks..that is a clear sign of misplaced priorities... When in 2004/5 I hear stories of Police officers from different parishes having a shoot out...that denotes for me a far more serious problem that you appear to be ignorant of or ignoring although together..
When the Cheif of police admits on radio that he is unable to enforce traffic laws, because people are ignoring the police..that smacks of something far more deep rooted... Icould go on..but I think the points well made..you may not like whats being said..it may make you uncomfortable..but it is a FACT..and there are problems and they are related to Economics and the Capitalism which is white based..
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Kunjufu
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Posted: Monday February 27th, 2006 14:53 |
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| Ps: Marcus Garvey is a NATIONAL hero of Jamaica..don't you think it would be advisable to learn about a crucial piece of Jamaican history if you're going to defend Jamaican culture....btw he was never in the military as far as I know..
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Ms Price
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Posted: Tuesday February 28th, 2006 12:29 |
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Kunjufu wrote: Ps: Marcus Garvey is a NATIONAL hero of Jamaica..don't you think it would be advisable to learn about a crucial piece of Jamaican history if you're going to defend Jamaican culture....btw he was never in the military as far as I know..
Hi Kunjufu
thats what i am trying to do, because am only 1/4 jamaican (fully brown/black), but the culture plays a big influence in my life. So am trying to learn more.
Am defending jamicans from a young person's perspective because like i said i have grown up around them all over here in the uk and in america, people always saying bad things about young jamicans. y'all need to leave them alone.... I believe that the jamican history is my grans history not mine still to be honest cause am BRITISH!!. Ii think we should deal with here and now but i still would like to know where some of my culture comes from, my argument always stems from how i have grown and who i am.
What did he do, this Marcus Garvey man did he start a revolution? Am to ashamed to ask anyone who is jamaican/ jamaican decent becuase i will start to hear bare noise..
One Love
Miss price
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Rastawoman
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Posted: Tuesday February 28th, 2006 13:54 |
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What did he do, this Marcus Garvey man did he start a revolution?
http://www.marcusgarveylibrary.org.uk/marcusgarvey.htm
I hope this helps you Miss Price
Ras
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MarcusGarveyLives
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Posted: Tuesday February 28th, 2006 21:15 |
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Leaving aside the rather disturbing issue of how it comes to be that someone with access to the internet and who claims to have Jamaican ancestors is unable to find out who The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey is, perhaps someone else can assist with this ...
Which one isn't African?
Another question that occurs is this one.
This woman is Jamaica's only female National Hero (so far).
Please remind me of the name of the country in which she was born, and from where she came before she and other "Jamaicans" were taken to Jamaica.
Jamaica needs a little less of this ...
and a little more of this ...
Jamaica needs a little less of this ...
and a little more of this ...
He Lives ! Last edited on Tuesday February 28th, 2006 21:17 by MarcusGarveyLives
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Rastawoman
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Posted: Wednesday March 1st, 2006 11:35 |
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Another question that occurs is this one.
This woman is Jamaica's only female National Hero (so far).
Please remind me of the name of the country in which she was born, and from where she came before she and other "Jamaicans" were taken to Jamaica.
Queen Nanny of the Maroons, born in Ghana she belong to either the Ashanti or Akon tribes, but she wasn't actually taken to Jamaica, she came to Jamaica as a free woman, she was said to have been of African Royal blood.
Maroon woman where great warriors who raided plantations and freed slaves, they used to cut off the heads of the british, they say that there strength came from the traditional Ashanti and Akon culture.
I learnt of Nanny Maroon in School, she was a great woman who helped guide the Maroons through the most intense period of resistance against the British, for 15 years, between 1725-1740 although she died sometime in the 1730's
Ras
Last edited on Wednesday March 1st, 2006 12:22 by Rastawoman
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kakrah
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Posted: Wednesday March 1st, 2006 12:06 |
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http://www.jamaicans.com/articles/primearticles/queennanny.shtml
Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons has largely been ignored by historians who have restricted their focus to male figures in Maroon history. However, amongst the Maroons themselves she is held in the highest esteem. Biographical information on Queen Nanny is somewhat vague, with her being mentioned only four times in written historical texts and usually in somewhat derogatory terms. However, she is held up as the most important figure in Maroon history. She was the spiritual, cultural and military leader of the Windward Maroons and her importance stems from the fact that she guided the Maroons through the most intense period of their resistance against the British, between 1725 and 1740.
Queen Nanny is presumed to have been born around the 1680’s in Africa’s Gold Coast (now known as Ghana). She was reported to belong to either the Ashanti or Akan tribe and came to Jamaica as a free woman. It is possible that Queen Nanny brought slaves of her own, reportedly being of royal African blood. It was not uncommon for African dignitaries to keep slaves. She was said to be married to a man named Adou, but had no children. She died in the 1730’s.
Moore Town is now the primary town of the Windward Maroons – it was founded in 1734 after the British destroyed the original Maroon town, which was known as ‘Nanny Town’.
Historical Maroon Identity and Culture
Slaves imported to Jamaica from Africa came from the Gold Coast, the Congo and Madagascar. The dominant group among Maroon communities was from the Gold Coast. In Jamaica this group was referred to as Coromantie or Koromantee. They were fierce and ferocious fighters with a preference for resistance, survival and above all freedom and refused to become slaves. Between 1655 until the 1830’s they led most of the slave rebellions in Jamaica.
Spiritual life was of the utmost importance to the Maroons which was incorporated into every aspect of life, from child rearing to military strategies. Almost every slave rebellion involved African spiritual practices. Leaders, such as Queen Nanny usually practiced Obeah and were able to instill confidence in their followers. Spiritual practices such as Obeah (and voodoo in Haiti) evolved from Africa, and during slavery times were of great significance to the black population. However, under colonial rule as Western culture was imposed on the Caribbean, these African practices became ‘outlawed’ and took on negative connotations.
Among Maroon culture, their ancestors are revered and their importance to everyday life is recognized. The past is a source of pride which is both taught and shared. Amongst modern day Maroons, the history of their resistance against slavery is an extreme form of pride that forms a large part of Maroon identity. The story of the Maroons endurance and ability to hold off the British troops for almost eighty years is one that has never been repeated in history. What saw the Maroons through to freedom were their unfailing courage and determination. Their resistance to slavery drew on the strength of their memory of Africa and its culture. Their African culture and identity instilled in them great confidence and self esteem. So much so, that this diluted the stigma of inferiority imposed by the plantocracy. Therefore, the resistance against slavery by the Maroons was a defense of their culture and identity, their spiritual and political values and preservation of African civilization. This is why Maroon ancestors are an integral part of their day to day lives. At each annual Maroon celebration of the 1739 Peace Treaties there is a ‘private’ element of the festivities at which only Maroons may attend, where the ancestors are said to visit, including Queen Nanny who is honored.
The Significance of Women Maroons
On the plantations women did not escape the brutality of slavery. Marriage and partnerships among slaves were prohibited. For those that managed to form unions in secret, they were forced to endure the removal of their offspring who were separated from their mothers soon after birth and sold into slavery. Many women opted for abortions rather than see their babies endure the same fate (slavery) that had befallen them. Furthermore, women on the plantations were physically exploited by their slave masters by rape and other sexual practices that were often quite sadistic. They too endured hard physical labor within the household doing domestic work and rearing the children of their slave masters. Some occasionally worked on the plantation itself.
By contrast, the Maroon women raised crops and were responsible for most of the agricultural output within their communities. The men hunted wild hogs and raided the plantations for food and supplies and to free slaves. Often, the plantations were ‘raided’ to bring back women into the Maroon communities, without which they would be unable to increase their numbers and ensure the survival of the Maroons as a race. There are legends of great women Maroon warriors who raided the plantations and freed slaves, wielding huge knives that they used to cut off the heads of the British. The strength of women in Maroon communities stemmed from their position within traditional Ashanti or Akan culture. The Ashanti culture was based on a tradition of warrior nations and a history of proud and respected women. Many Ashanti elements were retained in Maroon language and culture.
The Legend of Queen Nanny
Queen Nanny is credited with being the military leader of the Windward Maroons who employed clever strategies which led to their repeated success in battles with the British. She was a master of guerilla warfare and trained Maroon troops in the art of camouflage. Oral history recounts that Nanny herself would cover her soldiers with branches and leaves, instructing them to stand as still as possible so that they would resemble trees. As the British soldiers approached completely unaware that they were surrounded they would swiftly be picked off by the Maroons.
Maroon settlements were sited high up in the mountains with only a narrow path leading to their town. In this way, the British soldiers could clearly be seen on approach as they advanced in single file, allowing them to be picked off one by one. This method was particularly successful with large numbers of British soldiers being killed by a comparatively small number of Maroons.
A famous legend about Queen Nanny is that during 1737 at the height of the Maroon resistance against the British, Nanny and her people were near starvation and she was on the brink of surrender, when she heard voices from her ancestors telling her not to give up. When she awoke she found pumpkins seeds in her pocket which she planted on the hillside. Within a week the seeds grew into large plants laden with pumpkins that provided much needed food for the starving community. To this day, one of the hills near Nanny Town is known as ‘Pumpkin Hill’.
There are two versions of the story of Nanny catching bullets. The first is that Queen Nanny was able to catch bullets with her hands, which was a highly developed art form in some parts of Africa. The other story is that Nanny was able to catch bullets with her buttocks and fart them out again. Renowned historian Edward Braithwaite suggests that the original story took a vulgar twist on account of British colonialists who were known to detest Nanny and were being deliberately offensive about her when they relayed this tale.
The last legend about Queen Nanny is that she placed a large cauldron on the corner of a narrow mountain path near the edge. The pot was said to be boiling even though there was no fire beneath it. British soldiers approaching would curiously look inside, fall in and die. Some were said to collapse and fall over the hill. There have been suggestions that the pot contained special herbs with anaesthetic properties, as Nanny was said to be an herbalist. Contemporary historians maintain that the pot was in fact a circular basin formed by the hollowed out rocks of the Nanny River, joined by the waters of the Stony River. The continuously flowing river kept the water constantly frothy, giving it the appearance of a boiling pot.
The Legacy of Queen Nanny
Queen Nanny is credited with being the single figure who united the Maroons across Jamaica and played a major role the preservation of African culture and knowledge. She was hated by the British. Early historians wrote in derogatory terms about the Maroons, trying to present them as savages no better than animals. Queen Nanny was often portrayed as being bloodthirsty. Thickness’ journal published in 1788 described an encounter with a woman presumed to have been Nanny herself, wearing bracelets and anklets made from the teeth of British soldiers. "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".
Much of the work compiled by Edward Braithwaite was instrumental in seeing Queen Nanny made a National Hero of Jamaica in 1976.This brought about a national recognition of the contribution made by the Maroons in securing liberty from slavery from the British.
The Windward Maroons with Queen Nanny as their leader are a role model for resistance, rebellion and survival. Queen Nanny herself is a symbolic figure for all those who suffer from oppression. Whilst Queen Elizabeth 1 dispatched the pirate John Hawkins on her own ship, the SS Jesus of Lubeck to Africa with orders to transport Africans to Jamaica, Nanny of the Windward Maroons was empowering her people to resist slavery at all costs. Therefore, Queen Nanny is the true Queen of Jamaica.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa
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Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840-1921) was appointed Queen Mother of Edweso, a state in the Asante union in Ghana, by her brother, Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese.
During her brother's reign, Yaa Asantewwa saw the Ashanti Kingdom fall into a terrible spell. King Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese wanted to expand the Ashanti Confederacy into an empire as great as that of Ghana Empire and the Europeans. Thus war was declared on the Fante and Ga, and new alliances were formed with the Dutch and then with the British, which resulted in the loss of the Dutch alliance. To obtain firearms, the King sold his own people as slaves; he also used slaves to build his palace. Many died under his reign. Upset and distressed by her brother's deeds, Yaa Asantewwa rebelled. Yaa Asantewwa's rebellion was a major blow to her brother's plans, because she had the support of the people of Edweso, as well as the Fante people situated in near and around Kumasi. When her brother died in about 1894, Yaa Asantewaa used her prerogative as Queen Mother to nominate her own grandson as King of Edweso. When her grandson was sent into exile in 1896, Yaa Asantewwa became regent. After the British deported the King of the Asante, she became leader in the war of resistance in 1900, supported by some male leaders.
Eyewitness accounts from Edweso indicate that Yaa Asantewaa herself did not physically take up arms to fight. Rather, she was a tactician, strategist, and inspirational leader. She visited the soldiers in the battlefield to ascertain how they were faring. She also gave directions and advice and supplied gunpowder. Eventually, Queen Yaa Asantewaa was captured, but by whom remains a mystery, as does her ultimate fate. Some say she was sent to the Seychelles islands off Africa's east coast, and others say she was turned over to the King and secretly killed, which was the fate of most chiefs who became prisoners of war.
Yaa Asantewaa remains a much-loved figure in Asante history for the courage she showed in confronting injustice and the colonialism of the British.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa"
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