The story of queen mother nana yaa asantewaa is a story of the modern history of the nation of ghana, africa. Yaa asantewaa with the greatest passion yaa asantewaa stood and spoke. Yaa asantewaa girls senior high was established in 1951 by ghanas first president dr. Adu boahen was professor emeritus of history, university of ghana legon, fellow of. Yaa asantewaa the woman who fights before cannons you have accomplished great things you have done well yaa asantewaa c. Her story is that of a queen who rallied masses to fight for their independence. The history of nana yaa asantewaa resistance fighter queen mother of the asante kingdom. 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. 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. Yaa asantewaa was born in ejisu, a central state of the asante kingdom in ghana. Yaa asantewaa was an edwesohemaa queen mother of the edweso tribe of the asante in modern day ghana.
The life and afterlife of yaa asantewaa africa cambridge core. Born around 1840, she was instrumental in the fight against british colonialism. Albert adu boahen has written a concise history of yaa asantewaa and the war. Ashanti african people ashanti war, 1900 history africa general social. Yaa asantewaa or the ashanti cry for freedom african heritage. 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. We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 a. Yaa asantewaa is a reminder of ghanas desire for independence. She was an intellectual, a politician, human right activist, queen and a leader. 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 was queen mother of ejisu in the ashantiasante empire. What a better way to learn about the history of our great nation than through the eye of an artist.
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. 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. Oct 17, 2016 on 17 october 1921, the great ashanti warrior queen yaa asantewaa passed away. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, family, life history, etc. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by.
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. Adu boahen was professor emeritus of history, university of ghana. Womens history month the warrior wins a battle by pressing forward. The life and afterlife of yaa asantewaa researchgate. His suggestions resulted in the 2002 publication of 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.
Adu boahen, 9780852554432, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was. Prempeh, yaa asantewaa, and the final asante war book. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The school was founded in 1960 with funds from the ghana education trust. In ghana it is known as the yaa asantewaa war, after the queen of edweso who was. Olivia the sweetest obsession by nana yaa asantewaa nook. She was sixty years old when she became the warrior queen. Yaa asantewaa of edweso, asante and victoria of great britain by asirifidanquah book.
One african woman possessed the power and respect to command a literal army and that woman was yaa asantewaa. The asantebritish war of 190001 is known outside ghana as the war of the golden stool. Yaa nana asantewaa was born in 1840 in besease, then ashanti. Nana yaa asantewaa, the queenmother of ejisu, and the relevance of her life struggles to feminist movement in ghana. Nov 20, 2003 yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by a. Yaa asantewaa was an influential ashanti queen at the beginning of the twentieth century who remains a powerful symbol today. She was a skilled farmer before ascending to the title queen mother in the 1880s. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 book, 2003. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. The school was named after the great historical revolutionary heroine and queen mother of ejusi, nana yaa asantewaa who led the lead the ashanti people into battle against the british. 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.
Yaa asantewaa is named after the queen mother of ejisu yaa asantewaa who led a war against the british colonialists. Yaa asantewaa 18401921, ghana gender in african biography. Ghana nana yaa asantewaa around 1840 1921 if i need to top my my courage, i think about nana yaa asantewaa. Yaa asantewaah museum yaa asantewaah museum, ashanti region. 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. She was the queen mother of ejisu of the ashanti empire which is part of modern day ghana. Nana yaa asantewaa the joan of arc of africa history.
Aug 11, 2018 nana yaa asantewaas story is one of courage and valour. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. 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. In yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war, adu boahen examines the most famous, the most interesting, and the most decisive of.
Commemorating an african queen ghanaian nationalism, the. The chiefs were discussing how they should make war on the white men and force them to bring back the asantehene. Nana yaa asantewaa the joan of arc of africa history of. Her name is in the ghanaian history text books for leading a rebellion against. The asante confederacy also referred to as the ashanti empire was located in what is now ghana. The ashante considered the war of the golden stool a victory. Mar 19, 2011 part ii in the womens history month series, yaa asantewa.
In ghana, we remember yaa asantewaa, an ashanti queen who lived from 1832 to october 17 1921. In addition to its being an excellent biography of a great woman, this is the best book on the yaa asantewaa war to date. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by gray. The role of nana yaa asantewa in asante war of resistance. Queenmother yaa asantewaa led the fight against british. 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. Asantewaa s brother was said to be among the men exiled with prempeh i, deported because of his. The current queenmother of ejisu is yaa asantewaa ii. Nielsen book data summary the asantebritish war of 19001 is known outside ghana as the war of the golden stool.
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. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was under british military control. He also recommended that a history book be published on her life, personality, and the war of resistance specifically. Although her early years are not recorded yaa asantewaa is said to have been born in. Like the time a judge closed down her court to try to find a way to lock me up or. The investigation pays particular attention to these three key objectives. 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. In 1900 she led the ashanti rebellion known as the war of the golden stoolagainst british colonialism. Yaa asantewaa and the asante british war of 19001 book. Join facebook to connect with yaa asantewaa and others you may know. This project gives you the opportunity to relive these great historical moments as it provides interesting dialogue and graphic representation of events. Yaa asantewaa 1840 1921, ghana may 9, 2016 may 9, 2016.
Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 9789988550998. Adu boahens book makes an important contribution to filling this gap in the historical record. Yaa asantewaa became famous for leading the ashanti rebellion against british colonialism to defend the golden stool. This entry is only available in the rejected princesses book. 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. 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. 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. Yaa asantewaa, the asante warrior queen african roots dw. But while her leadership has been acknowledged in the scholarly literature, up to now her precise role in the war has been unexamined. Join facebook to connect with ashanti yaa asantewaa and others you may know. She often appeared, armed, on the battlefield, and encouraged women to recruit their husbands. In yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war, adu boahen examines the.
In 1900, she led the war of the golden stool against the british, also known as the yaa asantewaa war. Forward with yaa asantewaa african proverbs for daily living. 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. On 17 october 1921, the great ashanti warrior queen yaa asantewaa passed away. Although strong african women are not something rare, finding one in a history book is. Yaa asantewaa 17 october 1840 17 october 1921 was the queen mother of ejisu in the. Yaa asantewaa led a rebellion against the british at a time when the men surrounding her were low in. 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. 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. Yaa asantewaa biography facts, childhood, life history of. 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. 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.
At a critical point in her nations history yaa asantewaa took up the mantle of commander inchief, raising an army of some 20,000. In ghana it is known as the yaa asantewaa war, after the queen of edweso who was its principal inspiration. Historical records and family trees related to yaa asantewaa. She was a fearless queen who bravely fought against the british rule. Yaa asantewaa remains a muchloved figure in asante history and the history of ghana as a. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 by a. The role of nana yaa asantewaa in the 1900 asante war of resistance introduction. Yaa asantewaa and the asante british war of 19001 by a. A story from ghana, a history for primary schools, e. Yaa asantewaa speech takes place on this day in 1900. Adu boahen book the struggle between two great queens, 19001901. The rescue was performed by nigerian soldiers led by europeans. The british supported their campaigns against the asante.
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. 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. At the time, the gold coast westcentral africa was under the british protectorate. Yaa asantewaa the queen mother of ejisu, was at the meeting. Yaa asantewaa biography facts, childhood, life history. 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 is said to have been born in 1840 and died in 1921. The first part examines the historical record concerning yaa asantewaa and sets. Yaa asantewaa and the asantebritish war of 19001 in. 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. Prempeh, yaa asantewaa, and the final asante war by dwayne. Nana yaa asantewaas story is one of courage and valour. What it means to be a virtuous woman and the book of wisdom duration. Dec 12, 2019 yaa asantewaa is the reason why the ashantis still take pride in the golden stool.
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