From displacement to statehood: The ecological and political metamorphosis of accompong marronage

Abstract

This study explores Accompong marronage as a form of displacement ecology, showing how the Maroons of Accompong in Jamaica have adapted their strategies for autonomy and resistance from the colonial period to today. Descendants of formerly enslaved Africans and Indigenous Taíno, the Accompong Maroons embody resilience, evolving from military resistance against colonial forces to modern ecological stewardship, state-making, and legal advocacy. Central to their current struggle is their opposition to bauxite mining in Cockpit Country—ancestral land they aim to protect. This conflict reflects broader issues of sovereignty, land rights, and the Maroons’ right to safeguard lands with historical and cultural significance. By applying the concept of marronage metamorphosis, this study situates Accompong’s resistance within displacement ecology, examining how communities actively resist displacement and reshape their environments to sustain autonomy and cultural continuity. These histories of Maroon self-determination provide valuable insights into contemporary struggles for land and identity. It emphasizes the importance of understanding displacement not as an isolated event but as an ongoing process intertwined with historical legacies and contemporary challenges.