Maroon Societies: Origins and Development

Maroon Societies: new communities

Running away and joining or forming maroon communities was an important resistance

strategy for enslaved Africans. Marronage occurred in all territories as enslaved

Africans sought freedom in hideouts such as caves, forests, mountains or unoccupied

territories.

Life in Maroon communities was organized around the recollection of life in West Africa,

allocation of responsibility to all members and the cultivation of food to sustain the

group. Supplies of food, weaponry and essential items were supplemented with ration

taken in attacks on plantations. Loyalty to the group leader was mandatory

(compulsory).

Mainland and Island Maroons

Particular physical features favoured the development of Maroon communities. These

were dense forests crossed by wide rivers, difficult mountain terrain and extensive

areas of unoccupied land far from settlements. This meant that large Maroon

communities developed in the mainland territories and larger island units; smaller

communities existed on the smaller islands.

War and treaties

The first Maroons in Jamaica escaped during the English attack in 1655. Their numbers

were increased by other rebels and runaways and by captives from raids on plantations.

Maroons practiced guerilla warfare: sniping and ambushing from cliffs and trees, using

decoys and forest roadways to track their enemies and piling stones on cliffs

overlooking the roadways and letting them loose on unsuspecting soldiers.

Their frequent attacks on estates made life difficult for plantation owners in Jamaica,

where several Maroon wars were fought. Ultimately peace was made with the Maroons

by treaties that gave them rights to extensive areas of land, but demanded guarantees

that they would not harbour any further runaways. Maroon leaders were very important

in holding their communities together.

Cudjoe of Jamaica

Cudjoe was a Coromantee and skilful guerrilla fighter who escaped during a revolution

in Jamaica in 1690 and formed a maroon camp. Members raided plantations taking

livestock and encouraging enslaved men and women to join them. Planters employed

armed bands and organized troops to beat back the Maroons. Cudjoe and his brothers,

Johnny and Accompong, fought years of battles with the British troops and held them

off. They built permanent settlements in the Cockpit Country. In 1739, after 80 years of
conflict, the British signed a peace treaty with Cudjoe and the western Maroons, giving

them 2500 acres of land. There were further conflicts and in 1796 the Maroons of

Trelawny were defeated and banished from Jamaica.

Nanny of the Maroons

Nanny was the sister of Cudjoe. She had been enslaved and became an active leader

in the Maroon community who settled in the north east of Jamaica. She became famous

for her understanding of tactics in the fight against the colonial power. She is now one of

the National Heroes in Jamaica.

Homework

Describe the features which facilitated the development of Maroon communities in the

Caribbean.