Meaning
A revered elder woman — a matriarch of deep respect and spiritual standing, in the community, the church, or a Rastafari household. Drawing on the West African 'queen mother' tradition of powerful senior women, it honours a woman as a pillar of wisdom, strength, and care.
Examples
-
Di queenmother lead di family wid wisdom.
The matriarch leads the family with wisdom.
-
Respect di queenmother dem inna di community.
Respect the revered elder women in the community.
-
She a true queenmother, everybody look up to har.
She's a true matriarch, everyone looks up to her.
Origin
From the West African institution of the 'queen mother' (a powerful senior woman/royal matriarch), carried into Jamaican respect for elder women. Compare 'empress', 'nana'.
How it’s used
An honouring title for a revered matriarch. Compare 'empress', 'nana', 'lioness'.