National heroes · Portland · written in Patois with an English translation
Op inna di hill-dem a Portland, weh di Rio Grande run dung tru di valley, yuh find Moore Town — home a di Windward Maroon-dem. An a deh-so dem memba Grandy Nanny, di only ooman among wi national hero-dem. Nanny a did leader an warrior inna di early 1700-dem. When di English soldier-dem come op inna di mountain fi ketch di Maroon-dem, Nanny an har people fight dem back time an time again. Dem did know di bush betta dan anybody — dem hide, dem wait, an dem move like breeze, so English gun couldn' do much gainst dem. Afta long-long fighting, di English haffi mek peace, an inna 1739 di Maroon-dem get land fi demself. Pon dat deh land dem build Moore Town, pon di Wild Cane River. Till tideh, di Moore Town Maroon-dem still ha dem own Colonel an dem own council weh run di town business. Nanny grave deh a Moore Town — dem call i Bump Grave — an di stone pon i seh shi was indomitable, an seh a shi found di town. Inna 1976 di Jamaica govament mek Nanny a National Hero, an yuh see har face pon di five hundred dolla bill. Likkle but talawa — a so Grandy Nanny did tan.
Up in the hills of Portland, where the Rio Grande runs down through the valley, you find Moore Town — home of the Windward Maroons. And that is where they remember Grandy Nanny, the only woman among our national heroes. Nanny was a leader and warrior in the early 1700s. When the English soldiers came up into the mountains to capture the Maroons, Nanny and her people fought them back time and time again. They knew the bush better than anybody — they hid, they waited, and they moved like the breeze, so English guns could do little against them. After years of fighting, the English had to make peace, and in 1739 the Maroons received land of their own. On that land they built Moore Town, on the Wild Cane River. To this day, the Moore Town Maroons still have their own Colonel and their own council that runs the town's affairs. Nanny's grave is in Moore Town — they call it Bump Grave — and the stone on it says she was indomitable, and that she founded the town. In 1976 the Jamaican government made Nanny a National Hero, and you see her face on the five-hundred-dollar bill. Small but mighty — that is how Grandy Nanny was.
Op iina di il-dem a Portland, we di Rio Grande ron dong chuu di vali, yu fain Moore Town — uom a di Windward Maroon-dem. An a de-so dem memba Grandy Nanny, di onggl uman among wi nashanal iiro-dem. Nanny a did liida an waria iina di orli 1700-dem. Wen di English suoja-dem kom op iina di moutn fi kech di Maroon-dem, Nanny an ar piipl fait dem bak taim an taim agen. Dem did nuo di bush beta dan enibadi — dem aid, dem wiet, an dem muuv laik briiz, so English gon kudn du moch gens dem. Afta lang-lang faitin, di English afi mek piis, an iina 1739 di Maroon-dem get lan fi demself. Pon dat de lan dem bil Moore Town, pon di Wild Cane River. Til tide, di Moore Town Maroon-dem stil a dem uon Colonel an dem uon kounsl we ron di toun bizniz. Nanny griev de a Moore Town — dem kaal i Bump Grave — an di stuon pon i se shi waz indomitable, an se a shi foun di toun. Iina 1976 di Jamieka govament mek Nanny a Nashanal Iiro, an yu si ar fies pon di faiv onjred dala bil. Likl bot talawa — a so Grandy Nanny did tan.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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