JAMAICA’S LEADER OF THE MAROON GRANNY NANNY AKA QUEEN NANNY FOUND HER PLACE AT THE HEROES TABLE

A JAMAICAN WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

History should have found her a long time ago but too many times women of great nobility are lost on the path ways of life when historians don’t knock.

photo credit: C. Harrison

By: C. Harrison/October 23, 2015/3:43AM

Stories have been told about her over the years; school children have heard & read stories about her and Jamaican Politicians talked of her each year when hero’s day comes around, even here in the States, our parents tell us about her. So why did it take so long for someone to recognize the gift that this Pioneer gave us is the question.

We were told at the United Nations where we saw a World Premiere Screening on Queen Nanny, Legendary Maroon Chieftainess, recently, which coincided with a decree from the Jamaican Government stating that This Maroon hero, is now a Jamaican National Hero. The Premiere was launched in partnership with the United Nations Remember Slavery Programme and Action4Reel. It was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Jamaica and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations. The Producer of the film is Roy T. Anderson, a Writer, Producer and Director. The theme for 2015 was Women and Slavery. We say its about time.

The program ran for 1 hour and we saw Gloria Simms, a Caribbean actress who bought Queen Nanny to life, in telling her story. The story gave us an about face history lesson on the legend of who Queen Nanny was, what she stood for and how she, leader of the Maroon, lead her people to victory in not only winning a war but drove back the Spaniards from taking over her Maroon township. Nanny, was depicted as a trailblazer who quite possibly is the first woman to ever fought a guerrilla-war-fear in spite of what’s written down in documented history.

The film led us on a journey with actors who set out on a journey following the path of the Spaniards who showed up on the shores of Jamaica, to show us how ill conceivable it was for those Spaniards to win the war for Maroon Town. The factor of why it took so long for the Great Worrier Queen Nanny, to have a place at hero’s circle according to Producer Anderson, was because what we know was only hand to mouth or to God’s ear information and the fact that nothing was written down in stone. All we had was legendary tales and no one was sure if these tales were truth. So it took some doing.

What this Producer did differently and because he himself is a Maroon, he went into Maroon Town and talk to the people, a People who tend to be closed mouth around strangers who may have come calling for information. Very interesting depiction, some in the crowd said that Nanny should’ve had a voice but, other believe that not having a voice Nanny keeps her legend intact. The film will become a film tour with stops in Florida, Texas and other places around the United States and eventually worldwide.

credit C. Harri Writer/Producer/Director: Roy T. Anderson

According to Anderson, his next projected film will be a Buffalo Soldier documentary film. Lead actress Gloria Simms who is also a Maroon, said, “I would say I am a bridge. I want to open a women’s museum in Jamaica. I will centralize it. It will be a gift from the Maroons.”

On hand for this historical launch for opening remarks were: Ms. Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Public Information. H.E.Mr. Courtney Rattray, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Jamaica and H.E.Mr. Edfen Charles, charge` d` Affaires a.I., Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations. Rita Marley, and Una Clarke.

Panelist consist of: Ms. Cristina Gallach, Dr. Harcourt Fuller, Producer and Assistant Professor of History, Georgia State University, Gloria Simms and Ms. Gaynel Curry, Gender and Women’s Right Advisor for the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.