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Flashmag! Issue 164 September 2025
Their struggle against British rule was waged with exceptional determination in the early XVIIIᵉ century, a period known as the First Maroon War. The most emblematic figure of this resistance is the legendary Queen Nanny. Born around 1686, probably of Akan( now Ghana) origin, Nanny became a military leader of considerable influence and an imperishable symbol of resistance against colonial oppression. Her mastery of guerrilla tactics, her ability to use the mountainous terrain to her advantage and her reputation for possessing supernatural powers played a crucial role in the Maroons’ success. The Maroons finally forced the British, in 1739- 1740, to sign a peace treaty recognizing their freedom, granting them land and conferring significant autonomy. Karla Gottlieb, in The Mother of Us All: A History of Queen Nanny, Leader of the Windward Jamaican Maroons( 2000), portrays Nanny as an outstanding mother figure and strategist who embodied the indomitable spirit of freedom.
Colombia’ s Palenques, a unique African fortress
Afro-Colombian resistance to slavery took many forms, similar to those seen in Haiti or Brazil, but marked by local specificities. The most emblematic was marronage: runaway slaves founded free, fortified communities called palenques. The most famous, San Basilio de Palenque, was established by the legendary Benkos Biohó, who became a symbol of black freedom. Like the quilombos of Brazil and the maroon villages of the Caribbean, these palenques became both military strongholds and cultural sanctuaries. As early as the 16th century, resistance struck hard: in 1530, insurgent slaves razed the town of Santa Marta to the ground, and Cartagena de Indias- the region’ s main slave port- was rocked by several revolts, including the Black Conspiracy of 1693. These armed rebellions demonstrate the constant desire to break the colonial order. *** Translated with www. DeepL. com / Translator( free version) ***
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