Boahen makes meticulous use of oral tradition, research from the colonial archives, and secondary works in recreating the politicalmilitary details and climate of opinion on all sides surrounding the yaa asantewaa war. The chiefs were discussing how they should make war on the white men and force them to bring back the asantehene. Forward with yaa asantewaa african proverbs for daily living. Nana yaa asantewaas story is one of courage and valour.
Yaa nana asantewaa was born in 1840 in besease, then ashanti. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was under british military control. Adu boahens book makes an important contribution to filling this gap in the historical record. Yaa asantewaa was born 17 october 1840 17 october 1921 was the queen mother of ejisu in the ashanti empire now part of modernday ghana,appointed by her brother nana akwasi afrane opese. It was known as the yaa asantewaa war because yaa asantewaa, the reigning queen, mother of ashanti, was the inspiring spirit and one of the leaders of this effort to save the ashanti kingdom. A second yaa asantewaa festival was held 15 august 2006, in ejisu the yaa asantewaa centre in maida vale, west london, is an africancaribbean arts and community centre.
Ghana nana yaa asantewaa around 1840 1921 if i need to top my my courage, i think about nana yaa asantewaa. The rescue was performed by nigerian soldiers led by europeans. Born around 1840, she was instrumental in the fight against british colonialism. As an old woman, led an incredibly successful rebellion against british colonialism, known as the war of the golden stool, or the yaa asantewaa war. The first part examines the historical record concerning yaa asantewaa and sets this within the conflicted. The ashante considered the war of the golden stool a victory. In yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war, adu boahen examines the. A story from ghana, a history for primary schools, e. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by a. In yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war, adu boahen examines the most famous, the most interesting, and the most decisive of.
In ghana, we remember yaa asantewaa, an ashanti queen who lived from 1832 to october 17 1921. Adu boahen book the struggle between two great queens, 19001901. Yaa asantewaa with the greatest passion yaa asantewaa stood and spoke. Ashanti yaa asantewaa uploaded a video 6 months ago. Yaa asantewaa speech takes place on this day in 1900. Yaa asantewaa was an influential ashanti queen at the beginning of the twentieth century who remains a powerful symbol today. Subject matter at the centenary commemoration of the 1900 war, the object of this paper is to examine the role of nana yaa asantewaa, the queen mother of ejisu, an asante principality, in.
Prempeh, yaa asantewaa, and the final asante war book. She often appeared, armed, on the battlefield, and encouraged women to recruit their husbands. In 1900 she led the ashanti war known as the war of the golden stool, also known as the yaa asantewaa war, against. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was. Yaa asantewaa biography facts, childhood, life history of. His suggestions resulted in the 2002 publication of yaa asantewaa. Yaa asantewaa was an edwesohemaa queen mother of the edweso tribe of the asante in modern day ghana.
Adu boahen was professor emeritus of history, university of ghana. Yaa asantewaa girls senior high school is an allfemale boarding school located in tanoso, a suburb of kumasi in the ashanti region of ghana, west africa. Yaa asantewaa or the ashanti cry for freedom african. The asantebritish war of 190001 is known outside ghana as the war of the golden stool. Yaa asantewaa is said to have been born in 1840 and died in 1921. Her story is that of a queen who rallied masses to fight for their independence. Adu boahen was professor emeritus of history, university of ghana legon, fellow of.
Oct 17, 2016 on 17 october 1921, the great ashanti warrior queen yaa asantewaa passed away. Yaa asantewaa 1840 1921, ghana may 9, 2016 may 9, 2016. Yaa asantewaa 18401921, ghana gender in african biography. Dec 12, 2019 yaa asantewaa is the reason why the ashantis still take pride in the golden stool. The role of nana yaa asantewaa in the 1900 asante war of resistance introduction. Yaa asantewaa 17 october 1840 17 october 1921 was the queen mother of ejisu in the. Womens history month the warrior wins a battle by pressing forward.
Albert adu boahen has written a concise history of yaa asantewaa and the war. Ashanti african people ashanti war, 1900 history africa general social. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. In addition to its being an excellent biography of a great woman, this is the best book on the yaa asantewaa war to date. Asantewaa s brother was said to be among the men exiled with prempeh i, deported because of his. Yaa asantewaa 17 october 1840 17 october 1921 was the queen mother of ejisu in the ashanti empire now part of modernday ghana, appointed by her brother nana akwasi afrane opese, the edwesuhene, or ruler, of edwesu. Nana yaa asantewaa, the queenmother of ejisu, and the relevance of her life struggles to feminist movement in ghana. But while her leadership has been acknowledged in the scholarly literature, up to now her precise role in the war has been unexamined. She was sixty years old when she became the warrior queen. Yaa asantewaa biography facts, childhood, life history.
Yaa asantewaa girls senior high was established in 1951 by ghanas first president dr. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was under the british protectorate. In ghana it is known as the yaa asantewaa war, after the queen of edweso who was its principal inspiration. She was a skilled farmer before ascending to the title queen mother in the 1880s. In ghana it is known as the yaa asantewaa war, after the queen of edweso who was. Further, the book s detailed description of the weapons and strategies used by the asante and the british adds to the growing field of african military history. Chantal korsah is a londonborn ghanaian emerging writer and playwright, who has had several poems and short stories published in literary blogs and anthologies and is currently working on her first novel and on producing her first written play, a biographical play. This is a wellresearched, well reasoned and finely written book, which will long stand as the standard treatment of the great queen mother, yaa asantewaa, and the asantebritish war of 190001. Queenmother yaa asantewaa led the fight against british. What it means to be a virtuous woman and the book of wisdom duration. The school was founded in 1960 with funds from the ghana education trust. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 a. Yaa asantewaa and the asante british war of 19001 by a.
Her story has inspired countless others, and she has remained adored by the ghanaian people. The ashantibritish war of the golden stool was led by queen mother nana yaa asantewaa with an army of 5,000. Prempeh, yaa asantewaa, and the final asante war by dwayne. Historical records and family trees related to yaa asantewaa. She was an abolitionist, a liberator and military strategist whose name should be widely read not only in african history books, but globally. She was the queen mother of ejisu of the ashanti empire which is part of modern day ghana. The role of nana yaa asantewa in asante war of resistance. Nielsen book data summary the asantebritish war of 19001 is known outside ghana as the war of the golden stool. The current queenmother of ejisu is yaa asantewaa ii. What a better way to learn about the history of our great nation than through the eye of an artist. The british supported their campaigns against the asante. Yaa asantewaa the woman who fights before cannons you have accomplished great things you have done well yaa asantewaa c. In 1900 she led the ashanti rebellion known as the war of the golden stoolagainst british colonialism. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 book, 2003.
Yaa asantewaa is named after the queen mother of ejisu yaa asantewaa who led a war against the british colonialists. Her name is in the ghanaian history text books for leading a rebellion against. Ivor wilks in journal of african history there has long been a need for the definitive story of yaa asantewaa, the famed queen mother of kumasi, who was the inspirational leader behind the great asante war of resistance of 190001 against british domination. Yaa asantewaa was queen mother of ejisu in the ashantiasante empire. We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. She was appointed queen mother of ejisu, by her brother nana akwasi okpese, the ejisuhene the ruler of ejisu a respected and powerful position in asante. While yaa asantewaa was captured by the british and deported, her bravery stirred a kingdomwide movement for the return of prempeh i and for independence. Chantal korsah is a londonborn ghanaian emerging writer and playwright, who has had several poems and short stories published in literary blogs and anthologies and is currently working on her first novel and on producing her first written play, a biographical play about yaa asantewaa, the famed ashanti queen mother. In 1896, asantehene king prempeh i of the asanteman federation was captured and exiled to the seychelles islands by the british who had come to call the area the british gold coast. It was decided that they would rebel, and that yaa asantewaa would lead the war the first and only woman to in asante history to do so. Yaa asantewaa remains a muchloved figure in asante history and the history of ghana as a. The life and afterlife of yaa asantewaa researchgate. The first part examines the historical record concerning yaa asantewaa and sets. Yaa asantewaa, the asante warrior queen african roots dw.
Nana yaa asantewaa the joan of arc of africa history of. This entry is only available in the rejected princesses book. This project gives you the opportunity to relive these great historical moments as it provides interesting dialogue and graphic representation of events. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, family, life history, etc. The history of nana yaa asantewaa resistance fighter queen mother of the asante kingdom. The war of the golden stool or the yaa asantewaa war began on this day in ghana, after british rulers insulted the proud ashanti tribe in 1900.
Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by gray. She was a fearless queen who bravely fought against the british rule. Yaa asantewaah museum yaa asantewaah museum, ashanti region. Queen mother yaa asantewaa and other asante leaders were sent into exile, sir frederick mitchell hodgson was reassigned in 1900 to barbados, and no subsequent british administrator asked to sit on the golden stool. Mar 19, 2011 part ii in the womens history month series, yaa asantewa. The investigation pays particular attention to these three key objectives. Jun 22, 2006 boahen makes meticulous use of oral tradition, research from the colonial archives, and secondary works in recreating the politicalmilitary details and climate of opinion on all sides surrounding the yaa asantewaa war. Yaa asantewaa is a reminder of ghanas desire for independence. At a critical point in her nations history yaa asantewaa took up the mantle of commander inchief, raising an army of some 20,000. Nov 20, 2003 yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by a.
Yaa asantewaa or the ashanti cry for freedom african heritage. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 in. The 1st annual festival of saint yaa asantewaa and the exiled kings features two weeks of commemorative heritage events to mark the special history of the royal exiles in paradise. In 1900 she led the ashanti war known as the war of the golden stool, also known as the yaa asantewaa war, against british colonialism.
The asante confederacy also referred to as the ashanti empire was located in what is now ghana. Apr, 2019 it was decided that they would rebel, and that yaa asantewaa would lead the war the first and only woman to in asante history to do so. Adu boahen, 9780852554432, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Although strong african women are not something rare, finding one in a history book is. Although her early years are not recorded yaa asantewaa is said to have been born in. In the evening the chiefs held a secret meeting at kumasi.
In yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war, adu boahen examines the most famous, the most interesting, and the most decisive of the angloasante wars p. Olivia the sweetest obsession by nana yaa asantewaa nook. The life and afterlife of yaa asantewaa africa cambridge core. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by. Yaa asantewaa became famous for leading the ashanti rebellion against british colonialism to defend the golden stool. Yaa asantewaah museum yaa asantewaah museum, ashanti. One african woman possessed the power and respect to command a literal army and that woman was yaa asantewaa. Yaa asantewaa led a rebellion against the british at a time when the men surrounding her were low in. Commemorating an african queen ghanaian nationalism, the. She was appointed queen mother of ejisu, by her brother nana akwasi okpese, the ejisuhene the ruler of ejisu a respected and powerful position in asa. In this months kickass women in history, we take a trip to the ashanti empire, where reigned yaa asantewaa, queen mother during the war of the golden stool. Join facebook to connect with ashanti yaa asantewaa and others you may know.
Yaa asantewaa of edweso, asante and victoria of great britain by asirifidanquah book. Nana yaa asantewaa the joan of arc of africa history. In 1900, she led the war of the golden stool against the british, also known as the yaa asantewaa war. Like the time a judge closed down her court to try to find a way to lock me up or. Yaa asantewaa the queen mother of ejisu, was at the meeting. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 9789988550998. On 17 october 1921, the great ashanti warrior queen yaa asantewaa passed away. May 09, 2016 in their own communities women possess power and demand respect but what they did with that power and respect has rarely changed the course of history.
Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Yaa asantewaa was born in ejisu, a central state of the asante kingdom in ghana. The story of queen mother nana yaa asantewaa is a story of the modern history of the nation of ghana, africa. Yaa asantewaa and the asante british war of 19001 book. Join facebook to connect with yaa asantewaa and others you may know. Aug 11, 2018 nana yaa asantewaas story is one of courage and valour. He also recommended that a history book be published on her life, personality, and the war of resistance specifically.