Meaning
Mother — the Patois pronunciation of 'mother'. Beyond one's own mother, 'madda' is used respectfully for an older woman or a spiritual leader, as for the 'madda' who presides at a balm yard or in a Revival church, and it extends in 'big madda' (grandmother/matriarch) and 'godmadda'. Warm and honouring, it carries the deep reverence for the mother and the mothering figure that runs through Jamaican family and religious life, naming both one's own mother and the maternal authority of respected women.
Examples
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Mi madda cook di best rice an peas.
My mother cooks the best rice and peas.
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Respect di madda dem inna di community.
Respect the mothers/elder women in the community.
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Di madda at di church pray fi everybody.
The (spiritual) mother at the church prays for everyone.
Origin
The Patois pronunciation of 'mother', the 'th' becoming 'd'.
How it’s used
Means 'mother'; also a respectful title for an elder woman or spiritual leader. See [[balm-yaad]].