" s i n c e   c h a n g e   i s   i n e v i t a b l e  -  w e   s h o u l d   d i r e c t   t h e   c h a n g e "   ( f r o m   'D e l t a   M a n'   b y   G i l   S c o t t   H e r o n )
From the well known, to the ones you don't know, please read on to learn about some of our most inspirational and loved warriors and healers ... 

QUEEN NANNY OF THE MAROONS
Queen Nanny or Nanny ONH (Order of National Hero) (c. 1685 – unknown, circa 1755), Jamaican National Heroine was a well-known, 18th-century leader of the Jamaican Maroons. Much of what is known about her comes from oral history as little textual evidence exists. However, historical documents refer to her as the "rebels' old obeah woman," and they legally grant "Nanny and the people now residing with her and their heirs ... a certain parcel of Land containing five hundred acres in the parish of Portland. Nanny Town was founded on this land. The Maroons are descendants of West Africans, mainly people from the Ashanti region of what is today Ghana who, having been brought to Jamaica in the course of the Transatlantic slave trade, fled the oppressive experience of slavery on plantations and formed their own communities in the rugged, hilly interior of the island. A minority of slaves originated from other regions of West Africa including the Congo and Madagascar and joined the Maroons in their escapes. This group, referred to as Coromantie or Koromantee, were ferocious fighters who refused to become slaves. Up to the 1650s under Spanish rule, slaves escaped and intermarried with the native islanders, the Arawaks, in their communities on the west of the island. Later, when the British assumed control of the colony, more slaves were able to escape from plantations to join the two main bands of Maroons in Jamaica: Windward and Leeward Maroons, headed respectively by Nanny of the Maroons and Captain Cudjoe. Between 1655 until the 1830’s they led most of the slave rebellions in Jamaica helping to free slaves from the plantations and damaging land and property held by plantation owners. (source-Wikipedia)

MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH (17 August 1887 – 10 June 1940) was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). He founded the Black Star Line, which promoted the return of the African diaspora to their ancestral lands. Garvey was unique in advancing a Pan-African philosophy to inspire a global mass movement and economic empowerment focusing on Africa known as Garveyism. Promoted by the UNIA as a movement of African Redemption, Garveyism would eventually inspire others, ranging from the Nation of Islam to the Rastafari movement (some sects of which proclaim Garvey as a prophet). Garveyism intended persons of African ancestry in the diaspora to "redeem" the nations of Africa and for the European colonial powers to leave the continent. His essential ideas about Africa were stated in an editorial in the Negro World entitled "African Fundamentalism", where he wrote: "Our union must know no clime, boundary, or nationality… to let us hold together under all climes and in every country. (source-Wikipedia)

RAS DANIEL HEARTMAN
Ras Daniel Heartman was born Lloyd George Roberts in Kingston and grew up in the tough area of Whitfield Town. He named himself Ras Daniel Heartman because he was known as 'young Daniel', preaching in the Church Triumphant of Jah Rastafari. Heartman stood for 'man of the heart' among Rasta elders. Heartman had no acting experience when he was cast as Pedro, the best friend of Jimmy Cliff's character Ivan, in the Jamaican cult classic film, The Harder They Come. He never appeared in film again, and focused on his artistic endeavors.. Ras Daniel was well known for his art but also for his impeccable skill as a tailor, making the outfits/hats he wore in the movie.  Although his art earned him critical acclaim locally, he never earned substantially from it and for a time in the 1980's was living on the streets of Kingston. In the latter stages of that decade, he moved to Africa. He fulfilled the objective of the Rastafari faith, and repatriated to Tanzania with his son Ato, Ras Daniel died there in 1990 at age 47, of anemia, two years after he migrated to the east African country. Ato says putting Ras Daniel Heartman back in the spotlight goes beyond his skill as an artist or his role in The Harder They Come. "It is important to understand the impact Ras Daniel had on the Rastafari culture in Jamaica as he was that cymbal long before the music of the Wailers," he explained. "His imagery carries viewers deeper into the culture of Rastafari.. The most important aspect of honoring my father is the preservation, promotion and protection of his intellectual property rights," Ato told the Jamaica Observer. "As an ardent Rastaman, he observed moral law versus Babylon law, so his works have been heavily pirated," he added. The most pirated Heartman piece, Ato says, is Prince Emanuel, a 1972 image of a Rastafarian boy.  Jamaica Naturally is inspired by Ras Daniels courage to always live the life he believed in, although he suffered through many trials and tribulations. To  accomplish his dream of repatriation, is a true testament to his spirit and strength. For more on Ras Daniel,, check out the links here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QFdkKOTFnc   Ras Daniel was handed a Gold Medallion by H.I.M. Haile Selassie on the Emperor's historical 1966 Jamaican visit after he presented Selassie with an original work of art he created for the occasion.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rZlVkBwgpg  see  Ras Daniel at 8.25sec
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JAH PRIEST 
Jah Priest was a Rastafarian from Portland. He was a peaceful and extremely humble man who was also an artist/craftsman. Many visitors to Jamaica  had the fortunate experience to meet him at his craft stall in the Reach Falls area, where he sold his calabash creations. Robert Roskind, a writer and fellow peace lover met him and wrote about him in his book "Rasta Heart". Jah Priest's daughter Nidda carries on the tradition of carving calabash and selling them through their craft shop at  Reach, (and in our online store). Nidda recalls something her father always told her growing up and it was that "Jah help those who help themselves". Jah Priest message of peace and love was felt by everyone he met. He had the ability to say a lot with very few words. His connection to the ancestors was/is beautiful and can be felt through his personality, his music and dance. Thankfully it did not go unnoticed.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LerNYX6sco _    and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I069duVX5G4​   
all photography ©2015 Monique de La Tour (unless otherwise indicated) protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA (contact us about licensing any deLaTour images)