Afua Kobi ( fl. 1834–1884) was an ''asantehemaa'' of the

Ashanti Empire The Asante Empire (Asante Twi: ), today commonly called the Ashanti Empire, was an Akan state that lasted between 1701 to 1901, in what is now modern-day Ghana. It expanded from the Ashanti Region to include most of Ghana as well as parts of Iv ...

. Afua Kobi, an Asante ruler in the Asante Kingdom in present day

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, was an "''asantehemaa"'', that refers to a "queen mother". She informed the Asante royal council to avoid the war with

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

in the 19th century, but was active in the ensuing war. Afua Kobi was born into Asante aristocracy and was the daughter of ''asantehene'', the king Owusu Afriye and ''asantehemaa'' Afua Sapon, and became the ninth ''asantehemaa'' in the Asante dynasty.

Personal life

After being the ninth Asantehemaa in the Asante dynasty, she married one of the ruling ''asantehenes's'' council. Between 1835 and 1850, they had five children which includes two out of those five children became ''asantehenes'' and one later became ''asantehemaa''. After the death of her husband, Kofi Nti, Afua married Boakye Tenten, who was also a council member, however, they had no further children. Therefore, her descendants held their key position leading in to the twentieth century when her great-great grandson was elected to the Asante throne known as " The Golden Stool.

History

Despite the fact that Afua was ninth ''asantehemaa'' in the Asante Dynasty, her sons were not considered to be serious candidates for the Asante throne. However, as the conflict with the British escalated, the war began, one of her children,

Kofi Karikari Kofi Karikari (–)Cameron Duodu"Obituary of Beryl Karikari" ''The Guardian'', 5 March 2007. was the tenth King of the Ashanti Empire, and grandnephew of Kwaku Dua I, whose sudden death in April 1867 sparked internal strife about the succession. ...

were enlisted to become ''asantehene''. He was persuaded to make an oath that he would not seek throne, meaning he would give up his chances in becoming a candidate to the Asante throne. In 1867, Kofi was elected to the Golden Stool after the executions and the other candidates being exiled. Even though Kofi was supported by those who recommended the war with the British, His position regarding on handling the British colonialism remained unclear. His Mother, in her position as the ''asantehemaa,'' she took action, and in 1872, this was her response to the British governor "I am only a woman, but would fight the governor with my left hand" (Aidoo,1981, p. 71). She was against a war with the

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, and in 1873 she spoke before her son and the council of military chiefs warning them that such a conflict would destroy their empire. Nevertheless, the chiefs chose to fight; they lost, and Kofi Karikari was replaced by his younger brother

Mensa Bonsu Mensa Bonsu ( – ) was the tenth king of the Ashanti Empire, from 1874 until his forced abdication on 8 March 1883. Biography Accession to the Asante throne Mensa Bonsu was the son of Afua Kobi. He became Asantehene (king of the Asante) afte ...

. She remained as senior counselor in 1881, although neither son achieved anything of note during his reign. Afua Kobi's daughter was Yaa Akyaa, who was eventually successful in seeing her children installed on the throne, and who in 1884 kicked her brother Mensa Bonsu from the throne; he and his mother were then exiled by Yaa Akyaa's agency.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kobi, Afua Ashanti royalty African queen mothers 19th-century African people