Yaa Asantewaa - Warrior Queen
The Yaa Asantewaa war of 1900 (also known as the Asante- British war or the last Asante rising) was one of the most iconic wars in Ghana's history. It marked the last war from a series of six wars that attempted to reduce and remove British influence in Ghana's Asante region. The war was spearheaded, managed and strategised by a woman; Yaa Asantewaa.
Image of Yaa Asantewaa with armour
Yaa Asantewaa was the Queen mother of the Asante town of Ejisu, but how did she become one of the most revered female figures in Ghana? In Asante tradition, royal families follow the maternal line. After her brother and former ruler of Ejisu Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese died in a civil war between 1883 and 1888, Yaa Asantewaa nominated her grandson to be the ruler of Ejisu. After the fourth Asante war of 1874 the British gave harsh punishments to the Asante's. These sanctions included deprivation of minors' gold whilst the British acquired a long stretch of gold lands, invasion of the Asante Kings' palace looting it and demanding that the Asante Kingdom should become a protectorate of the British empire.
To avoid further conflict Prempeh I, the then Asante King (Asantehene), sent a delegation of elders (1895) to London to negotiate a peace treaty, but it was rejected by the British. The Asante King wanted to accept the plan offered by the British, believing it would be enough to appease them, but this was not the case. As a result, in 1896 the king of Asante, Prempeh I was exiled to the Seychelles along with Yaa Asantewaa's Grandson the Ejisuhene (the King of Ejisu).
So Yaa Asantewaa was a Queen mother and the rulers of Ejisu were exiled. It, therefore, seemed logical that she would become a representative at this important time. However, in 1900 it wasn't commonplace for women to be at the forefront of military, strategic decisions.
By sending the Asantehene into exile, the British took advantage of the ruler-less situation and began to loot and steal the country's treasures. In a meeting with a gathering of Asante rulers including Yaa Asantewaa March 1900, the British governor of the then 'Gold Coast", Sir Frederick Hodgson demanded the Golden Stool be surrendered to the British authorities. The Golden Stool is the most prized and revered artefact and symbol of the Asante region and it was thought that the removal of a national symbol would make the Asante stumble.
The symbolism of the Golden Stool runs deep. The stool is more than a regional artefact for the Asante's. Allegedly the stool is said to have been summoned from the heavens by a man called Okomfo Anoyke and landed on the first Asante King Osei Tutu (date). Based on this the stool is revered, must never touch the ground and should not be sat on, or touched by others.
Not only did Sir Frederick Hodgson demand the golden stool, he also stated that:
Neither Prempeh I or his rival would be allowed to return to Kumasi.
The powers of the Asantehene (the King of Asante) were now in the hands of those who represented Queen Victoria of England.
The interest of the price of the wars of 1874 and of 1896 at £160,000 would have to be paid by the Asante (Arhin, 2000).
The meeting was said to have broken up quietly but Yaa Asantewaa who was representing her Grandson was said to have been very angry at the "nonsense" she was hearing (Arhin, 2000). In a rousing speech Yaa Asantewaa stated:
"Now I see that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king…in the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king to be taken away without firing a shot. No European could have dared speak to chiefs of Asante in the way the governor spoke to you this morning. Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you, the men of Asante will not go forward, then we will. We, the women, will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight! We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields."
The leaders of Asante chose Yaa Asantewaa to lead the resistance war. What isn't known is exactly why she was chosen, but some of the reason may be down to her rousing speech after the meeting with the then Governor of the Gold Coast. Asante culture greatly respects and reveres its women, but it was very unusual then and even now to have a woman leading a major resistance war. Her duties would have been to consult with others, initiate actions, plan, strategise, mobilise troops and material.
The fact she was chosen for this important role suggests that she displayed strong leadership traits including negotiation, strategy, attention to detail, a clear vision and charisma. Regardless of her gender, she was the best candidate for the job of leading the troops to victory in this landmark event.
The war raged on but the British troops were never able to find the Golden stool. The Asante's lost that war and the Gold Coast became a British Protectorate. Yaa Asantewaa and others were exiled to the Seychelles in 1901 and on 17th October 1921 Yaa Asantewaa died there. In 1924 King Prempeh I returned to Ghana and gave her a proper burial.
The way that Yaa Asantewaa took control at a time when women were not known to do so is extremely interesting. She not only had the courage to speak up for the region, she managed and became a chief strategist in the 1900 war. Even though the outcome of the battle led to the region becoming a protectorate of Britain and other important Asante rulers being exiled to the Seychelles, Yaa Asantewaa's place in the war remains a remarkable symbol of the strength of the nation and the strength of women in African society.
1. Arhin, B (2000) The role of Nana Yaa Asantewaa in the 1900 Asante War of resistance. Le Griot, volume 7.
2. Asirifi - Danquah (2007). The Struggle: Between two Great Queens, 1900-1901. Victoria of Great Britain and Yaa Asantewaa of Ejisu, Asante.
3. Boahen, A. A. (2003). Yaa Asantewaa and the Asante-British war of 1900 - 1
