Queen Yaa had humble beginnings as a skilled farmer before ascending to the title Queen Mother in the 1880s. It is believed that she was chosen for this title due her elder brother who was a powerful ruler at the time and her matrilineal aspect of the Ashanti culture.
BEFORE the ASCENSION
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BEFORE the NORTH STAR
Queen Yaa held many responsibilities, including being the Gatekeeper of the Golden Stool. The Golden Stool is an emblem of the Ashanti kingdom, cultural system, and power.
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BEFORE becoming ETERNAL
British colonizers removed the King and other Ashanti leaders to the Seychelles Islands in an effort to acquire the Golden Stool. Colonial Governor Frederick Hodgson demanded that it be surrendered to allow himself to sit on the emblem as a symbol of British power.
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ASCENSION
When the remaining leaders of the community debated with fear on how to respond to the British, Queen Yaa proclaimed that if the men of the kingdom would not defend the people, then the women would rise to the challenge.
Queen Yaa’s message invigorated the Men and challenged traditional gender roles. Her leadership and passion led to her role as Commander in Chief of the Ashanti army with Men & Women warriors to fight against the British.
NORTH STAR
Queen Yaa led the rebellion in the fifth and final war that resulted in a death toll higher than all previous wars between the Ashanti & British combined. She was captured during the rebellion and exiled but became an image of strength for her culture.
ETERNAL
Yaa Asantewaa's story serves as a rallying cry and teaches us that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, one person's unwavering resolve can spark a movement.
She reminds us that the fight for justice is often a long and arduous journey, but it is a journey worth undertaking.
IMPACT