Nancy and Grandy Nanny

In this charming historical tale, Nanny, one of Jamaica’s National Heroes, helps a little girl learn on of life’s most important lessons.

“ This book brings one of our nation’s most intriguing historical figures to life. It will help our chil-dren to learn about Nanny, seeing her as a person and not just an image.”Dr. Olive Lewin

Historical note:

In 1517, when the Spanish ruled Jamaica, the first group of Africans arrived as slaves. When the British captured the island in 1655, many of the Spanish left, and their slaves became free. These ex-slaves fled to different hilly areas around the island. There they banded together to fight against the British and protect their freedom. They became known as Maroons and during over three centuries of slavery on the island, some slaves, like Nanny, escaped from the plantations and joined them. Some believe the name Maroon comes from the Spanish word, ‘cimarron’ meaning ‘wild.’ Others believe that the name comes from the phrase “to be marooned” as a group of stranded British soldiers are said to have encountered a group of these ex-slaves and shouted to them that they were marooned. So the ex-slaves thought they were calling out to them and the name stuck.Grandy Nanny, or Nanny as she is more often called, is said to have died in the 1750s, having led her people, the Maroons, in the Eastern part of Jamaica, until that time. Heavy fighting between the British and the Maroons is said to have stopped in 1739.

Today Maroons tell of Nanny having a bigger sister named Sekesu in addition to her brothers. It is said that Skekesu went with her to Portland and helped her to plan and organize battles against the British before eventually “flying” back to Africa never to be heard from again. Nanny is buried at “Bump Grave” in what is now known as Moore Town in Portland, at the eastern end of Jamaica. Today Jamaicans honour Nanny as a National Hero out of respect for her wise, fighting spirit and her commitment to freedom and independence. An artist’s impression of her can be found on the Jamaican five-hundred-dollar ($500) bill

About the Author:
Rebcca Tortello is an education consultant and former teacher. This is her first book for children and she is working on completing a children’s series on Jamica’s National Heroes.