NANA YAA ASANTEWAA (1840-1921), THE WOMAN WHO FOUGHT MEN IN FRONT OF CANNONS. AFRICA’S GREATEST QUEEN OF ALL TIME. (Onyankonsroma aseni).
A paraphrase conversation when the British Governor, Sir Frederic Hodgson visited Kumasi.
A thread!
A paraphrase conversation when the British Governor, Sir Frederic Hodgson visited Kumasi.
A thread!
Governor: If you Asantes, gave the Golden Stool to Nana Prempeh to sit on, why don’t you bring it to me to sit on? Though the government has not received the Golden Stool, I will rule the nation with all power and strictness at my disposal.
(Nana Yaa Asantewaa after waiting for the men to speak and seeing that nobody is willing to ask a question, stood up to ask a question).
Nana Yaa Asantewaa: Did you see Nana Prempeh when you were coming to Kumasi?
Governor: Nana Prempeh has been deported to Seychelles Island.
Nana Yaa Asantewaa: Did you see Nana Prempeh when you were coming to Kumasi?
Governor: Nana Prempeh has been deported to Seychelles Island.
Nana Yaa Asantewaa: It is the custom of we the Asantes that whoever occupies a stool is in charge of it and is the person who knew where it was kept. So if you are anxious to get the Golden Stool, bring Nana Prempeh back to show you where the Golden Stool is.
Governor: Nana Prempeh will not be returned.
Nana Yaa Asantewaa: “Tomorrow, ghost widows would get husbands” (last statement).
Yaa Asantewaa is popular and famous for leading the Ashanti rebellion to defend the Golden Stool against British colonial rule.
Nana Yaa Asantewaa: “Tomorrow, ghost widows would get husbands” (last statement).
Yaa Asantewaa is popular and famous for leading the Ashanti rebellion to defend the Golden Stool against British colonial rule.
In 1896, the British exiled her grandson, Nana Kofi Afrane, chief of Ejisu as well as the King of Asante (Prempeh I) to Seychelles.
This was Britain’s way of dealing with African kings in the past, as was the case with the Kingdom of Benin with the capture and exile of Oba
This was Britain’s way of dealing with African kings in the past, as was the case with the Kingdom of Benin with the capture and exile of Oba
Ovonramwen (King of Benin) in 1897 and the King of the Buganda Kingdom of Uganda.
In such times, sending the King into exile was often followed by the plundering of their land. This led to the discovery in Britain of many of Africa’s valued arts and crafts.
In such times, sending the King into exile was often followed by the plundering of their land. This led to the discovery in Britain of many of Africa’s valued arts and crafts.
Until now, Africa has also not been willing to reclaim its lost jewels.
The Golden Stool Story was expected to be further enhanced by the British Governor general of Ghana (then called the Gold Coast) Frederick M. Hodgson.
The Golden Stool Story was expected to be further enhanced by the British Governor general of Ghana (then called the Gold Coast) Frederick M. Hodgson.
The Golden Stool was the symbol of the kingdom of Asante. This led to the Elders’ Conference.
Yaa Asantewaa was deeply frustrated by the actions of her male counterparts, insisting that if the men did not fight, she would gather the women to fight for the land.
Yaa Asantewaa was deeply frustrated by the actions of her male counterparts, insisting that if the men did not fight, she would gather the women to fight for the land.
These are her words to the men of Asante.
“Now I have seen that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it were in the brave days of, the days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, leaders would not sit down to see their king taking without firing a gun.
“Now I have seen that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it were in the brave days of, the days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, leaders would not sit down to see their king taking without firing a gun.
No White man could have dared to speak to chief of the Ashanti in the way the Governor spoke to you leaders this morning. Is it true that the bravery of the Ashanti is no more? I cannot believe it.
It cannot be! I must say this: if you the men of Ashanti will not go forward,
It cannot be! I must say this: if you the men of Ashanti will not go forward,
then we will. We the women will. I shall call upon my fellow women.
We will fight the White men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.”
The best known War of the Golden Stool against the British in 1900 was led by Yaa Asantewaa.
We will fight the White men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.”
The best known War of the Golden Stool against the British in 1900 was led by Yaa Asantewaa.
She was arrested and sent to Seychelles for exile. On October 17, 1921, Yaa Asantewa died in exile.
The last major war led by an African woman was the war of Yaa Asantewa. She has been honored as one of Africa ‘s greatest women to date.
The last major war led by an African woman was the war of Yaa Asantewa. She has been honored as one of Africa ‘s greatest women to date.
She is honored by a school named after her, ‘Yaa Asantewaa Girl’s High School.’
At the end of 1999, Yaa Asantewaa placed 20th out of a hundred nominees in a global competition organized by the BBC Focus on Africa Program to select the African Millennium Personality.
At the end of 1999, Yaa Asantewaa placed 20th out of a hundred nominees in a global competition organized by the BBC Focus on Africa Program to select the African Millennium Personality.
Wilhelmina J. Donkoh once wrote; “The world has been blessed with numerous women of great courage. These include Queen Idia of Benin, Queen Amina of Zaria, Queen Ndeta Yalla of Senegal, Nongqawuse of the Republic of South Africa, Queen of the Ndongo of Angola,
Kimpa Vita of Kongo, Rosa Luxemburg of Polen, Martha Schad of Augsburg, Queen Elisabeth of Great Britain and a host of other brave women leaders. Nana Yaa Asantewaa was the most prominent of the lot, in the African context”.
Her accomplishments may not have been as great as Queen Amina of Zaria or Queen Elizabeth I in terms of span of leadership, but her courage to stand up to fight the British occupation in West Africa in spite of an initially unmotivated front put up by the Asante men
due to how most of their men and leaders, including their King, Prempeh was taken to Seychelles puts her at the top of Africa’s greatest female leaders”
Many Africans often name their daughters after Nana Yaa Asantewaa. The former President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
Many Africans often name their daughters after Nana Yaa Asantewaa. The former President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
for example named his second daughter after her, Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings. Also Anthony A. Williams, the previous Mayor of Washington D.C in the United States named his daughter in honor of Yaa Asantewaa.
An American Girl Theatre Arts Student poses as Yaa Asantewaa in a bulletproof war jacket and combat holding a gun and this image has gone all over the world with some people thinking that the picture is real Yaa Asantewaa.
Yɛ ko ahi ko ee!
Yaa Asantewaa, obaa besia ogyina aprɛmo ano ee wayɛ bi agya yɛ oo.
Yaa Asantewaa
The woman who fights before cannons
You have accomplished great things
You have done well”
Piawwwwwww!!
Yaa Asantewaa, obaa besia ogyina aprɛmo ano ee wayɛ bi agya yɛ oo.
Yaa Asantewaa
The woman who fights before cannons
You have accomplished great things
You have done well”
Piawwwwwww!!
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