Kadeem Golebourne
Even though Heroes Day has passed, I feel compelled to write about something that a lot Portlanders have never questioned.
Jamaica has seven (7) National Heroes, the lone female being our Heroine.
Queen Nanny or Nanny of the Maroons was said to have been born in the country of Ghana on the coast of West Africa. She came directly from the Ashanti tribe. She arrived Jamaica in 1700s with her four brothers Johnny, Cudjoe, Accompong and Quao. When she came to Jamaica she made the parish of Portland her home where resided in Moore Town where she was leader of the Windward Maroons, a group of runaway slaves.
My observation is that of all the National Heroes — except for Queen Nanny — have institutions built in their honor. I strongly believe that it is highly disrespectful to a woman who fought physically against our colonial masters. I think that kind of disrespect has also filtered down to female leaders of this present generation. Think about it!! There is Marcus Garvey Technical High in St Ann, Paul Bogle High in St Thomas, Sam Sharpe Teachers College in St James, Norman Manley High and Norman Manley School of Law in St Andrew, Bustamante High in Clarendon and George William Gordon House in Kingston. These are just some of the indsitutions, buildings or places named in honour of the Heroes. With all of these institutions in Jamaica, there is none that celebrates and commemorates the work of our only Heroine.
The work of Nanny cannot be understated because she contributed wholeheartedly to the way of life for a specific group of people in the country. To add to that, some consider that she was the only one of our heroes that really caused our colonial oppressors to beat a hasty retreat. Her guerilla warfare and witchcraft practices gave the English soldiers a lot of headache.
When I was a Grade 6 student at Port Antonio Primary back in 2001, I went on a Heroes Day trip to Moore Town. While in the community the tour guide took us to this structure that they called a monument. The monument is the structure in the community that represents our only Heroine. The monument left me uneasy at the time and I wondered if it was some kind of riddle. Thinking about it now, I have to ask ‘What exactly is that monument saying’?
I want the government to name after Narry an educational institution in the parish of Portland that will properly commemorate and honor the life’s work of Queen Nanny. I am proposing one of two things to be done.
One: Rename Moore Town Primary to Nanny of the Maroons Primary School.
Two: Rename Port Antonio High campus 2 in Fellowship to Nanny of the Maroons Technical High School.
Kadeem Golebourne
