Oxford University press apologises for definition of 'Maroon' in dictionary
Monday, July 20, 2009
THE editor of the Oxford University Press has issued a letter of apology to the people of Jamaica, in relation to the meaning and definition that is now posted in the Concise Oxford Dictionary for the word 'Maroon'. HENRY... they were referred to as a tribe of people somewhere off the coast of some little island
Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry, a historian and publisher, told the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) that he was in receipt of the letter from the Oxford University Press, which was in fact in response to a letter that he had written to them on the subject of the Maroons.
"I have received a letter from the editor of Oxford University Press apologising to the people of Jamaica, that in that description of Maroons (in its Concise Dictionary) there was no mention of the Jamaican Maroons defeating the British in two wars, there was no mention of Nanny our National Hero, instead they were referred to as a tribe of people somewhere off the coast of some little island," Henry said.
According to Henry, the editor promised in his letter to correct the anomaly in future publications of the dictionary.
Henry made the disclosure while delivering the main address at a ceremony to mark the handing over of keys and official opening of the Falmouth Fisherfolk Village, in Falmouth, Trelawny, on Thursday. The Fisherfolk Village has been constructed at a cost of some $9 million by the Port Authority of Jamaica. This is a view to relocating some 100 fisherfolk in Falmouth, to facilitate the planned development of the Falmouth Harbour and Pier.
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WE're not Jewish so they will not do a recall, just like how we got no compo for slavery and the jews ot for WWII. On a further correction of "his story" a UWI Professor is doing a book on the origins of the Maroons that proves they were Muslims. The original "blacks" came from Spain, with Columbus and after, at the time when the Moors (Muslims) were losing their hold on power in Europe. The first set of 'slaves" came form north west Africa which was mostly Islamic. This Prof, who must have been the first Arabic speaking person to visit the modern day Maroons, found them using many Arabic words, which they refer to as their "secret language". On further investigation she found their roots in Islamic Spain. Of course she's getting a fight from so called established historians as she is upsetting accepted "his story". The book will be out soon, Insh'Allah, for all to read and judge for themselves, including Oxford University.
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Assalamu alay kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (Peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)
On a further correction of "his story" a UWI Professor is doing a book on the origins of the Maroons that proves they were Muslims. The original "blacks" came from Spain, with Columbus and after, at the time when the Moors (Muslims) were losing their hold on power in Europe. "The first set of 'slaves" came form north west Africa which was mostly Islamic. This Prof, who must have been the first Arabic speaking person to visit the modern day Maroons, found them using many Arabic words, which they refer to as their "secret language". On further investigation she found their roots in Islamic Spain. Of course she's getting a fight from so called established historians as she is upsetting accepted "his story". The book will be out soon, Insh'Allah, for all to read and judge for themselves, including Oxford University."
Blue suit!!!
Suddenly the Oxford version doesn't sound so bad afterall.
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Rasputin, care to clarify your remarks? do you mean its better to accept the Oxford version than admit they were Muslims? can you refute any of the facts discovered by this professsor? or is it just emotion talking?
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Assalamu alay kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (Peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)
Tman, that is some interesting bit of update that you are providing. I am sure the "establishment" will try to shoot it down and discredit any "other" version of their teachings
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Not all the Moors who came with Columbus were slaves. Some were mariners and government officials who had specialist knoweledge as they were "running things" in Spain for more than 700 years. Jaun de Bolas (,bola Arabic means respectable)and Yassi (Arabic yassa means ruler) were Moors and onetime governors of Jmaica under the Spanish. Others who did not hav ethe education or the means became captives ie slaves when the Moors lost power in Spain. So a mixture of both came with Columbus. A Moorish society, distinct form the Maroons , was established in Jamaica from the time of Columbus. They only became "Maroons" ie "runaways" when the British captured the island 150 years later in 1655,and those who did not escape to Cuba established themselves in the hills and became in time to be called the Maroons. Over the years they were joined by escaped West African slaves, both Muslims and non-Muslims, who fought the British until they were granted autonomy in 17how long. By then they had lost ther Islamic identity although they retained some aspects of it, along with some of the words (Arabic) which they use up till today. The peace treaty signed between Cudjo (also Arabic word) and the British was not signed until the British agreed to start it with the words "In the name of God", "Bismallah" in Arabic which Muslims use when they begin any action. The only such treaty every signed by the British can be seen in the National Archives today. A taste fom the book: "The first sugar mill in Jamaica was erected in 1516 at Sevilla la Nueva, by the original Moorish companions of Columbus who initiated the Spanish colony at New Seville and manned by the enslaved people of Moorish background since the enslaved West Africans had not yet reached the shores of Jamaica. Moorish people skilled in agricultural science and techniques had to be depended upon by the Spaniards just as much as they were dependent upon the military skills and strategies of the Moors for the defense and security of Jamaica." The meeting place in Accompong town is called Jumma today and that is the Arabic word for Friday prayers when all male Muslims gather together. This and nuff other eveidence is in the book and it also shows how the slave rebellions were led by Maroons as a form of jihad, as alll Muslims are commanded to fight injustice. Where she is getting a fight too is when she claims the great "Baptist" rebellion in 18oo was really another jihad led by the Maroons. Cant give whey too much, you have to wait till the book publish later this year.
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Assalamu alay kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (Peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)
