Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa
of the Ejisu Clan of the Asante (b. 1863 - d. October 1923)
Yaa Asantewaa was named Queen Mother of the Ejisuhene (part of the Asante or Ashanti Confederacy) past times her exiled blood brother Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese. Prior to European colonization, the Ashanti people developed an influential West African empire. Asantewaa was the Gatekeeper of the "Golden Stool" (Sika 'dwa) during this powerful Ashanti Confederacy (Asanteman), an independent federation of Asanti tribal families that ruled from 1701 to 1896.
The Flag of The Republic of Ghana
containing epitome of the Golden Stool
The storey of Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa is a storey of the modern history of the land of Ghana, Africa. In 1896, Asantehene (King) Prempeh I of the Asanteman federation was captured as well as exiled to the Seychelles islands by the British who had come upward to telephone telephone the expanse the British "Gold Coast." Asantewaa's blood brother was said to live on alongside the men exiled with Prempeh I, deported because of his opposition to British dominion inwards West Africa.
In 1900, British colonial governor Frederick Hodgson called a coming together inwards the urban essence of Kumasi of the Ashantehene local rulers. At the meeting, Hodgson stated that King Prempeh I would top on to endure an exile from his native reason as well as that the Ashanti people were to give upward to the British their historical, ancestral Golden Stool - a dynastic symbol of the Ashanti empire. In fact, ability was transferred to each Asantahene past times a ceremonial crowning that involved the sacred Golden Stool. The colonial governor demanded that it live on surrendered to permit Hodgson to sit down on the Sika 'dwa equally a symbol of British power.
The Sika 'dwa or Golden Stool
At this time, Yaa Asantewaa was the Gatekeeper of the Golden Stool. After this meetings, the Ashantehenes of the federation gathered to utter over the British development. Upon hearing to a greater extent than or less of the Ashantehenes entertain give upward to the British demands, it is reported that the Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa rose as well as said the following:
"Now I receive got seen that to a greater extent than or less of you lot fearfulness to teach forwards to create create for our King.If it were inwards the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, as well as Opoku Ware, leaders would non sit down downwards to consider their King taken away without firing a shot.
No white human being could receive got dared to speak to a leader of the Ashanti inwards the agency the Governor spoke to you lot this morning.
Is it truthful that the bravery of the Ashanti is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be!
I must say this, if you lot the men of Ashanti volition non teach forward, as well as thus nosotros will. We the women will. I shall telephone telephone upon my swain women. We volition create create the white men. We volition create create till the concluding of us falls inwards the battlefields."
-- Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewa
Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa (picture of unknown date)
The Ashanti-British "War of the Golden Stool" was led past times Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa with an regular army of 5,000. While Yaa Asantewaa was captured past times the British as well as deported, her bravery stirred a kingdom-wide displace for the homecoming of Prempeh I as well as for independence.
Early map of West Africa (cir. 1625 map of pre-Asanti/Akan federated state)
Ashanti Empire (Asante Empire) during the 19th Century
Today, Ashanti is an administrative portion inwards cardinal Republic of Ghana where almost of the inhabitants are Ashanti people who speak Twi, an Akan linguistic communication group, like to Fante. In 1935 the Golden Stool was used inwards the ceremony to crown Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II (ruled 1935-1970). Independence from the British colonialist was secured inwards 1957. On August 3, 2000, a museum was dedicated to Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa at Kwaso inwards the Ejisu-Juaben District of Ghana.
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