Accompong, located in the lush and verdant hills of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, is a village steeped in history and rich cultural heritage. Named after its founder Accompong, the village pays homage to one of the prominent leaders of the Maroon resistance. Accompong was the brother of renowned warriors Quao, Cuffy, Cudjoe, and Nanny—heroic figures of the Ashanti lineage from West Africa who played pivotal roles in resisting enslavement and colonial oppression. Their strategic brilliance and military training from the Ashanti region made them formidable opponents of the British.
The village was officially established in 1739 when the Maroons signed a historic Peace Treaty with the British, marking the end of hostilities and granting the Maroons land and autonomy. This agreement made the Maroons the first group of black people in the New World to win their freedom through armed resistance. Accompong remains a proud testament to their struggle and triumph.
Each year on January 6th, the communi…
