Nana Yaa Asantewaa

NANA YAA ASANTEWAA

When we speak of power and politics we think of men, when controlled by them we call it patriarchy. The world is so structured into a patriarchal way that it is during very few moments and occasions that we speak of matriarchies which is the control of women. A great example of true leadership is the story of the Queen Mother of the Ashanti of Ghana. Her name is Nana Yaa Asantewaa, she was born around 1840 and died in 1921. She wasn’t only a major farmer that cultivated many crops in her farms in Boankra village, but an intellectual advocate of social justice, more specifically the independence of her homeland, Ghana. Around 1880, she was appointed (chosen) queen mother by her brother, Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese, ruler of Ejisu. She was married to a man who practiced polygamy.

As Queen Mother, Yaa Asantewaa was highly respected and yielded power within circles traditionally dominated by men in her country. After the death of Nana Yaa Asantewaa’s brother, around 1896, the British Governor, Frederick Hodgson, demanded the Golden Stool, as a symbol of the British sovereignty over Ashanti’s freedom.        During, the Asante Civil War (1883-1888), a group of elders gathered too find a way to fight off their colonialists. Yaa Asantewaa was unpleased by the lack of courage the men portrayed. Hence, the Queen Mother of the Ashanti called upon the few women who attended the conference to stand up. Nana Yaa Asantewaa, rebelled against the British colonisers for the independence of Ghana (War of the golden stool). Ghana fought their colonizers for a century until the British colony won. She fought bravely against the English until she was exiled to the Seychelles Islands (cell pic). Her dream of an independent Ghana rose on March 6th 1957.

Nana Yaa Asantewaa remains an important female figure in the whole history of Africa. In the beginning of the war, its seems many men were too afraid to fight against the British, Nana Yaa Asantewaa gathered a group of women from the village into the battlefield. This was something that had never been done nor allowed, in the history of Ghana. This event led the Ashantis villagers to apply stockades (barriers, fences), for the first time, in hope of trapping the British during battle. Her courageous story has been taught to many young girls in Africa. In 1960, the school “Yaa Asantewaa Girl’s Secondary School”, in Kumasi was built in the honor of Nana Yaa Asantewaa.  On August 2000, a museum was built in Kwaso, near the Ejisu-Juaben, as a dedication to her. Although, numerous historical items, such as Nana Yaa’s sandals and battle dress (batakarikese) were destroyed by a fire on July 23rd 2004, it has been said that there will be a reconstruction of the museum.

The inspirational story of “Yaa Asantewaa, The Warrior Queen” of Ghana is a great example to call upon one’s courage to fight for what is right. Every culture has its similarity, the Queen Mother always reminded me of France’s Joan of Arc!

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