The Queen of the Mountains

High in the misty ridges of the Blue Mountains lies a story that echoes through valleys, forests, and memory. It is the story of Nanny of the Maroons, Jamaica’s only female National Hero and a brilliant military strategist who led the Windward Maroons in their resistance against the British during the 18th century.

Today, as the world observes International Women’s Day, it is fitting to look towards the hills where Nanny once organized her people in the region of Nanny Town and later near the Maroon community of Moore Town. These mountains were more than a refuge. They were a classroom of survival, strategy, and cultural preservation.

Central to Maroon communication was the abeng, a cow-horn instrument whose sound could travel astonishing distances across the mountain slopes. With a series of coded blasts, the abeng signalled warnings, called gatherings, and coordinated defence. In the hands of the Maroons, it became both an artistic expression and a sophisticated communication system, an early example of cultural ingenuity meeting strategic necessity.

Even today in Moore Town, the abeng’s call is not merely historical. It is ceremonial and symbolic. It reminds us that education does not exist only in books and classrooms. In the Maroon communities, knowledge lives through stories carefully passed from elders to youth, preserving lessons about courage, resilience, and identity.

Nanny’s leadership, however, extended beyond the battlefield. She was revered as a spiritual guide and community anchor. Her influence was rooted not only in tactical brilliance but also in the quiet strength that bound her people together. Some of the most transformative figures are not the loudest voices in the room. They are the steady presence, the “quiet giants,” whose wisdom shapes communities in lasting ways.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY REFLECTION

Take a moment today to reflect on that spirit of freedom. Look at the landscape or the sky and feel the connection. You will sense that you are not just this body or mind but part of something vast and enduring. In that moment, the mind rises above daily concerns and touches a deeper peace. You realise you are never alone or helpless. You are part of a great ocean of beauty and possibility.

Many Jamaicans recognise her portrait on the Jamaican $500 banknote, yet few have stood before her humble resting place, known as the Bump Grave in Moore Town. It is simple and sacred, much like the quiet power she embodied.

And maybe that is the truest portrait of the Queen of the Mountains: not just a warrior of history, but a timeless reminder that strength, wisdom, and freedom often speak in the calmest voice.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com