The “War Of The Golden Stool” or the “Yaa Asantewaa War” began in Ghana after British rulers insulted the proud Ashanti tribe in 1900.
The British and the Ashanti clashed over the tribe’s Golden Stool throne, and a woman, Yaa Asantewaa, led her people in the month’s long battle.
The British and the Ashanti clashed over the tribe’s Golden Stool throne, and a woman, Yaa Asantewaa, led her people in the month’s long battle.
The war was the final result of a series of discussions and conflicts between the British colonists and the Ashanti people, which was centered around the Golden Stool throne.
According to Ashanti legend, the high priest Okomfo Anokye summoned the Golden Stool from the skies to land in the lap of the first king, Osei Tutu.
The stool is believed to hold the spirit of the entire Ashanti people.
The stool is believed to hold the spirit of the entire Ashanti people.
Therefore, the British made an egregious move when the then Frederick Hodgson, demanded to not only sit upon the throne but also for the Ashanti to hand the throne over to them.
The Ashanti respect foreigners so they greeted Hodgson as an honored guest in Kumasi.
The Ashanti respect foreigners so they greeted Hodgson as an honored guest in Kumasi.
King Prempheh I, who warred with the British in 1893, was in exile thus putting Sir Hodgson in the position to demand the stool and lands under the order of the Queen of England.
Below are the Speech that sparked the war.
Below are the Speech that sparked the war.
Hodgson’s bold words fell upon the ears of the Ashanti in attendance at the gathering, angering them with his disrespect and flagrant insult of demanding the Golden Stool.
In a meeting later on to discuss the disrespect shown to the Ashanti Empire, Yaa Asantewaa challenged the male elders when it appeared there was a disagreement on how to retaliate. Here is an account of what she said:
Yaa Asantewaa, gathered soldiers to attack Sir Hodsgon’s forces. Hodsgon’s forces tried to locate the Golden Stool to no avail, and Yaa Asantewaa’s forces were able to wage small assaults, forcing their enemy to escape.
Consequently, the British returned with a larger armed force but were still met with resistance by thousands of Ashanti warriors. Queen Mother Asantewaa bravely defended her lands and did her best to inspire her people to continue the fight.
Her valiant efforts, although impressive and largely effective, would eventually get vanquished by the better-armed British forces in September of that year.
While she and other resistance fighters were captured and exiled, they successfully defended the Golden Stool from capture
While she and other resistance fighters were captured and exiled, they successfully defended the Golden Stool from capture
Yaa Asantewaa and other fighters were exiled from the Gold Coast to the Seychelles, with the Queen Mother dying in the Seychelles on October 17, 1921. Three years later, King Prempeh I returned from exile and would give Yaa Asantewaa a proper Ashanti burial.
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