Maroon History, Music, and Sacred Sounds in the Americas: A Jamaican Case

Jamaica's Windward Maroons preserve a rich tradition of music and spirituality, serving as a living archive of Africana heritage. Their sacred sounds, rooted in ancestor veneration, encapsulate oral histories, cultural identity, and spiritual practices, including the reverence for Granny Nanny—a legendary 18th-century leader—whose stronghold, Old Nanny Town, is now part of the UNESCO-listed Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. This study highlights how Maroon music, such as Kromanti and Kumina, intertwines with their complex history, including sacred oaths and treaties, offering insights into the resilience and continuity of Africana spirituality in the Americas.

Fuller, H. (2017). Maroon History, Music, and Sacred Sounds in the Americas: A Jamaican Case. Journal of Africana Religions, 5(2), 275–282. https://doi.org/10.5325/jafrireli.5.2.0275