The origins of the Maroons date back to 1655 around the time when Tainos and Africans who were freed by the Spanish took to remote parts of the island for refuge from the English invasion and to establish settlements.

Why did the Maroons settled in the mountains?

They fled to the mountainous areas of Jamaica, where it was difficult for their owners to follow and catch them, and formed independent communities as free men and women.

Where did Maroons live and why?

Jamaican Maroons descend from Africans who freed themselves from slavery on the Colony of Jamaica and established communities of free black people in the island’s mountainous interior, primarily in the eastern parishes.

Where did the Maroons settle in Jamaica?

The Spanish called these free slaves “Maroons,” a word derived from “Cimarron,” which means “fierce” or “unruly.” In Jamaica, the Maroons occupied a mountainous region known as the “Cockpit,” creating crude fortresses and a culture derived from African and European traditions.

What was the maroon settlement?

The institution of slavery was threatened when large groups of Africans escaped to geographically secluded regions to form runaway slave communities, often referred to as maroon communities. Such communities were established throughout the Americas, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil.

What did Maroons want?

Some refugee slaves continued to join them through the decades until the abolition of slavery in 1838, but in the main, after the signing of the treaties of 1739 and 1740, the Maroons hunted runaway slaves in return for payment from the British colonial authorities.

What did the Maroons fight for?

It was led by self-liberated Africans who set up communities in the mountains. The name “Maroon” was given to these Africans, and for many years they fought the British colonial Government of Jamaica for their freedom. The maroons were very skilled particularly in guerrilla warfare.

Why did the Maroons leave Jamaica?

For nearly a century and a half, beginning in the 1650s, they had waged an intermittent war with the British administration of the island. They wanted independence. In 1795 the administration in Jamaica decided to remove the Maroons. Three ships brought 543 men, women and children to Halifax in late June 1796.

What language do Maroons Jamaica speak?

Jamaican Maroon language, Maroon Spirit language, Kromanti, Jamaican Maroon Creole or Deep patwa is a ritual language and formerly mother tongue of Jamaican Maroons. It is an English-based creole with a strong Akan component, specifically from the Fante dialect of the Central Region of Ghana.

What is the origin of maroon?

History. The use of the colour known as maroon dates to the mid 17th century and was used to reference unruly and misbehaves individuals. It first appeared in 1707 as a word inscribed as a fugitive slave. On this subject the word ‘marooning’ defined as an act of abandonment in which a male or female slave cannot escape

How did Maroons gain their freedom?

After two exhausting Maroon Wars (1720-1739, 1795-1796), the British capitulated and signed peace treaties with the Maroons, enabling them to remain free and self-governing until slavery was abolished in the British Commonwealth in 1834.
 

What was the Maroons lifestyle?

The daily life of the Maroons focused on caring for their physical and spiritual needs. Daily field work was required to sustain the large populations in Maroon villages. Men, women and older children worked in the fields – hoeing, planting and weeding. Younger children did lighter work, such as feeding the animals.
 

Why did the Maroons leave Jamaica?

For nearly a century and a half, beginning in the 1650s, they had waged an intermittent war with the British administration of the island. They wanted independence. In 1795 the administration in Jamaica decided to remove the Maroons. Three ships brought 543 men, women and children to Halifax in late June 1796.

What language do Maroons Jamaica speak?

Jamaican Maroon language, Maroon Spirit language, Kromanti, Jamaican Maroon Creole or Deep patwa is a ritual language and formerly mother tongue of Jamaican Maroons. It is an English-based creole with a strong Akan component, specifically from the Fante dialect of the Central Region of Ghana.

Are the Maroons indigenous to Jamaica?

Today, they occupy perhaps as much as 22 per cent of global land area and comprise some 5,000 distinct cultural groups, speaking 4,000 of the world’s 7,000 languages. According to the World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples (WDMIP), the Maroons of Jamaica are Indigenous Peoples.