Maroon apology: ‘A most glorious day to behold’

Paul Bogle was captured by the Maroons of Jamaica.

Jamaica Observer readers have welcomed the apology from Maroon Queen Gloria Simms for the much regretted role of the Maroons of Jamaica in suppressing slave rebellions in Jamaica, under treaties signed with the British colonial forces 283 years ago. Her apology on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, was carried in the Sunday Observer. Here are some of their many comments:

XAMYCA: This sincere apology from Queen Gloria “Mama G” Simms is long overdue (even though short on formal presentation) and will begin to clarify some of the historical misinformation about our true history… which should always be TRUTHFUL and ACCURATE regardless of the difficulties in acknowledging parts of our past of which we should not be proud. However, reconciliation and trust cannot be established without truth while concealment would be plainly dishonest and add further injury/insult to those who actually suffered. I will hasten to add that despite my awareness of the role of the Maroons in this regard, I have never harboured any animosity towards them, nor to damage their “proud” history despite the “romantic” versions selectively taught to us. To this end, I would like to thank those of us who have used this forum to publicly bring these facts to public attention. Though we live in a society that too frequently sees things only in “black and white”, we must always try to be HONEST and FAIR. The truth is an offence but it’s not a sin. This apology is a welcomed and courageous first step.

Sent through Prince Black X: If Jamaica’s archives and its history holds this apology as sincere as given; then I will respect Maroons who held themselves ‘separatists’ for hundreds of years. The majority of black Jamaicans are yet to adapt the missing culture of Maroons. We are a nation which mingled and created who we are today from the various races who came and a willingness to emerge as “Out of Many One People”. Hallelujah!

Chief Takyi was captured by the Maroons of Jamaica. (contributed)

Sent through Prince Black X: We thank “Mama G” and we thank most sincerely the writer of this article who gives our vision this far-reaching platform to inspire Mama G with the confidence, that her utterance and proud proclamation will not go unnoticed, but will be amplified on the most far-reaching and pristine platforms in Jamaica; to be amplified internationally, as she, on behalf of all Maroons, play her prestigious part in advancing the cause, and the call to make Chief Takyi a national hero of Jamaica.

David: Give thanks indeed. They have spoken across the ages and to the future through you. You are the medium for the voice that speaks to one of the sorest spots in Jamaican history. Give thanks indeed!

Clevon: Better late than never. I have held it against them all these years and am relieved to see that they have finally seen the wickedness of their betrayal. When your own family fight against you it is worse than stranger. This apology provides some comfort.

Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah, OD, cultural liaison: The Jamaica Observer is definitely the No 1 paper in Jamaica, in fact, the No 1 medium of all those delivering news!!! Lovely front page, great news. I am glad my Sister Mama G took her news to YOU!!!

Coreen: One of the best articles I have read in a long time! Easy to read and very informative. Learned a lot.

A statue of Nanny of the Maroons=

darmic3: Chief Takyi (Tacky as I’ve known it), Apongo, Three Finger Jack Mansong, and other freedom fighters are not national heroes, but the sell-out Maroon called Nanny is.

The Maroons should’ve long ago been shamed, instead of being allowed to feel ‘sovereign’ in their ‘gift’ of Accompong, and celebrate their traitorous collusions with the slavers, every January 6. Tacky, Apongo, Bogle and Three Finger Jack Mansong are but four of the freedom fighters caught by gangs of Maroons, for their blood money fee. The latter got the name for losing two fingers in a previous fight with Quashie, the leader of the Maroon bounty hunters. After they cornered him the second time, they beheaded him and marched to Spanish Town, the capital, with his head on a pole. There they collected their £300 bounty. It’s strange how in Jamaica, we honour a sell-out as a national hero, plus politicians who tribalised the country. Parliament was just fussing about Seaga’s and Michael’s faces on money, which is a precursor to making them heroes too. Remember, both are the chief architects of the garrisonisation of Jamaica, which gave birth to the bloody political wars of the 70s and 80s, which gave birth to the gang/gun culture of today.

Mark Chue: Yu a beat hard sah… Safe to say you would not be handling the lumi currency anytime soon…lol

21_18_18_25: A “most-glorious day” to behold. One that should bring solace and gratitude to all well-meaning African descendants touched and scarred by slavery. This declaration, and a sense of responsibility, expressed by the paramount chieftainess and Queen of the Maroons Gamaang Gloria “Mama G” Simms marking April 8, annually, as “National Reconciliation and Truth Day” in recognition of “all atrocities done in history that involved Maroons”, is a day to be glorified by us — all who identify with the Maroon ancestors — as our cousins, brothers and sisters — descendants from the continent of Africa.

Paramount chieftainess and Queen of the Maroons Gamaang Gloria “Mama G” Simms apologised for Maroon role in suppressing slave rebellions. (contributed)

Shane Cromley: SANKOFA! We must understand the past to move forward.

Mike Beckles: Now that they have finally copped to their wrongs, maybe, just maybe, all Jamaicans can begin to accept the Maroons for their struggle to remain free themselves, rather than warriors in the cause of freedom for enslaved Jamaicans.

As a student of history I always felt that the sanitised version of Maroon history we were fed was not in alignment with the real facts of what occurred. Better late than never, however.

gia1: Thank you Chief Gaamang Simms for recognising a long open wound. There are many complexities in our history and the need to face them, call them out and atonement goes a long way towards the healing.

Sam Sharp was captured by the Maroons.

Sean H: The contention that Africans among them were somehow tricked into sending black people, fellow Africans and their descendants, into slavery from which they escaped is disingenuous to say the least. On the other hand, why isn’t Chief Jorge Baracutei Estevez, the head of Taino organisation Higuayagua from Puerto Rico representing for the Taino?

hapley63: Good move, Queen Simms.

Barbara Blake Hannah, cultural liasion official, embraces apology on behalf of Maroons by Queen Gloria Simms. (contributed)