Queen Nanny’s title reflects a Black woman’s royal bearing and her commitment to protect and serve. Born an Ashanti from Ghana, West Africa, Nanny was captured and taken to Jamaica to toil on British plantations. But she refused to remain enslaved. She just said, “No.” Maybe she said, “Hell No!” Nanny escaped and forged thousands of men and women into warriors braving the mountainous countryside in a long and relentless battle against British soldiers. Nanny helped establish free Black communities in Jamaica known as Maroon societies. Her innate abilities, fortified by faith and a strong connection to the Divine, are believed to have been the source of her legendary powers. A spiritually-guided navigator, warrior, herbalist and healer, Queen Nanny’s impact and the Maroon spirit of resistance still lives in Jamaica and beyond.
Many Black girls and others outside of Jamaica unfamiliar with Queen Nanny could benefit from her example. So it’s exciting that Roy T. Anderson produced the narrative film, Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon Chieftainess to breathe new life into her legacy. It may also serve as a beacon for women now assuming leadership roles in communities and governments throughout the African diaspora and the world. Click below to learn more about Queen Nanny and the movie that tells her story.