Maroon Societies

Maroon Societies Time Period

By the early 16th century, there was a steady stream of Africans escaping slavery and hiding in remote areas. With time, there were enough runaways to begin forming small societies. Life was not easy as they faced treacherous terrain and had to forage for food. Recapture could mean torturous punishments or even death.

By the 18th century, plantations began expanding and European slaveholders on smaller islands overtook the maroon societies that existed. However, on larger islands or areas with more territory, maroon societies only became more established. These societies could grow to large numbers and include multiple generations. In Brazil, for example, the settlement of Palmares had 10,000-20,000 residents at its high peak.

When slavery came to an end in the 19th century, many maroon societies integrated themselves into the greater society. However, some maroon societies avoided assimilation and still exist today with independent and unique cultures. For example, the Saramacca (who formed their society in 1690) have a sort of nation of their own within the country of Suriname.

Maroon Societies in the Caribbean

The Caribbean and Brazil had a distinctly large number of maroon societies (in line with the larger number of slaves in these two places). We are going to focus on the Caribbean and take a look at two examples of maroon societies fighting against Europeans.

Maroon Societies in the Caribbean: Jamaica

In Jamaica, the case of the Windward Maroons and the Leeward Maroons gives us some important insight. The Windward Maroons lived in the East under the rule of Queen Nanni and the Leeward Maroons lived in the West under Kojo. These two societies were at war for a prolonged period before uniting against the British in the mid-18th century.

Fig. 2 - depiction of Trelawney Town

Let’s break this down because we can learn two important things from this example. First of all, it shows that maroon societies were independent of each other and not always on good terms. But it also shows the power maroon societies really had, especially when united. England was the global superpower at the time, and yet, the British were unable to quell maroon resistance and had to agree to a treaty.

Maroon Societies in the Caribbean: Haiti

In Haiti, we can see the power of maroon societies once again. In 1791, a group of maroons came together and decided to attack the slaveholders of what was then Saint-Domingue. Coming from the remote mountains of the North, the group descended upon the plantations. They burned plantations to the ground and killed any white settlers they came upon. This rebellion would turn into the Haitian Revolution.

Fig. 3 - painting of the Haitian Revolution

The Culture of Maroon Societies

As we noted earlier, maroon societies were independent of each other. In Africa, there were (and still are) many distinct societies with their own cultures, languages, and governing systems living side by side. This meant that Africans in maroon societies often didn’t have these key societal elements in common and had to create their own unique blend.

The Significance of Maroon Societies

Maroon societies are significant as they were a large and important form of resistance for enslaved people. Whether it was the individual escaping to join a maroon society or the maroon society as a collective staging an ambush, Africans rejected slavery and fought for their freedom at every chance.

Additionally, the impact of these maroon societies continues far beyond slavery. Some maroon societies became large, self-sustaining societies with their own government, trade systems, military defense, and culture. Whether these societies still exist today, their culture and influence are still present among later generations.