The Mother of Us All: A History of Queen Nanny, Leader of the Windward Jamaican Maroons

by Gottlieb Karla

The author analyzes the importance of Queen Nanny from cultural, military, historical, and religious point of view. This book marks an attempt to integrate a key figure of New World history into her rightful place as the leader of a critical resistance movement in Jamaica in the first part of the 18th century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Feminism, Biography, Biography Memoir, Historical

134 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 1997

Reviews

[Kribsoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book on the history of Queen Nanny This book provides a great account of Queen Nanny in Jamaica from the perspective of the Maroons Jamaicans and British There are plenty of historical references sprinkled throughout the literature so that the reader can do their own research I have a sense that she was the original Wonder Woman as she lived on a true Paradise Island and could not just stop bullets but also catch" them The book goes into detail about the metaphysical importance of an Obeah woman and how her power kept the strong African spirit alive within the Jamaican Maroons It is empowering to read how such few people were able to defeat the British in so many battles The book is brief but packed with informative information on this little known person. As a man descended from the Akan I felt proud how the African rituals were continued in Jamaica for those that escaped human bondage This is a great read for both men and women

[Patricia Coloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories should be acknowledged. There are spiritual warriors whose power is not addressed by text books... what a great figure, that of Queen Nanny. I learnt a lot from this little book

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I LOVE MY TEAM! ( missing a few)

[Sankofa Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This punchy book is worth the read! It is concise, informational, and deeply inspiring. Karla Gottlieb writes from an empowering perspective, never succumbing to a deficit mindset—a remarkable feat for any historical narrative of Black history. Even when opportunities arose to discount Queen Nanny’s story, Karla dug deep, uncovering the roots of truth within oral histories, myths, and legends.
Karla speaks highly of African history, people, cultures, traditions, and spirituality, offering profound context and perspective. Her greatest gift to the reader is her ability to contextualize Queen Nanny while restoring historical significance to this often-forgotten figure. Sankofa teaches us that we must return to fetch what has been forgotten, and Karla does just that. Through her work, she reminds us that cultural relevance and sustainability are vital pillars that fortified the Maroon community.
With respect and reverence, Karla masterfully navigates this challenging history, which has been distorted and primarily preserved through oral traditions. Sankofa teaches us to learn from the past, and here are the lessons:
Cultural retention provides strength and empowers communities.
History is not merely remembrance—it transcends knowledge to become wisdom.
Historical figures evolve into ancestors and, in time, into goddesses or gods.
African cosmology emphasizes seeing things as a whole rather than in parts. Queen Nanny, when viewed holistically, is multifaceted and transcendent.
We learn about Queen Nanny, the general, the spiritual leader, the strategist, the legend, and the goddess. Karla presents a proactive and towering history of Queen Nanny and the Maroons. She often highlights their magnificent accomplishments with profound phrases that leave a lasting impact. Fighting the British Empire for 83 years with limited resources against massive artillery, securing land, and negotiating peace treaties—Queen Nanny and the Maroons emerge as unstoppable under Karla's pen.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in powerful narratives of resistance, cultural sustainability, and the reclamation of Black historical figures.

[ISRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative albeit a bit repetitive. Sufficient exposition on maroons however after that it goes a bit awry in terms of concise - clear formatted writing. Successfully distinguishes the fact and the later fiction of the in-group maroons versus the out-group of non-maroons of Jamaica as well as the bias of history, white supremacy, sexism, racism and more connecting to African diasporic identities.

[cait · Rating 2 out of 5]

informative but perhaps the worst writing i have ever read for published academic scholarship

[Lucy Goebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

a historical record of a piece of history that history itself tried to ignorantly ignore. short read, powerful woman.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. It's small but dense, packed with a lot of information about Nanny and the Maroon community. I wish this book had been prescribed reading when I was in school. I feel all Jamaicans should read this book, as it helps give context to our history, and the history of our African ancestors who persevered despite seemingly insurmountable odds and suffering. Imagine being stolen from your home, transported against your will to a foreign land under inhumane conditions, and still having the wherewithal not just to escape, but to thrive while freeing others with the same fate AND fighting your enslaver. Doing all this as you face food insecurity, have to hide to avoid re-enslavement and fight an enemy with more advanced weapons while preserving your culture and creating a community hidden in the mountains. Amazing.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I never learn about Queen Nanny in history class? Gottlieb’s book tells the history behind the Grandy Nanny stories from Jamaica. I loved learning about this brave healer and soldier who led the Windward Maroons of Easter Jamaica in the 18th century.

At first I was distracted by the writing style – it reads so much like a term paper because the book is built on the author’s master’s thesis on the Maroons. I was able to forgive the term paper mode because the author is so passionate about Queen Nanny.

I wondered how US history would have been different if there had been Maroon colonies of escaped slaves protecting African culture and serving as beacons of freedom. Now I know that the US did have many small Maroon colonies called outlier colonies. I never learned about those colonies either in high school history class.

In The Mother of Us All, the author was able to inspire me with her passion for Queen Nanny and the Maroon culture and make me want to learn more about Maroon culture in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Suriname, and the outlier colonies in the US.