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Around 1600 Queen Nana Ikuro of Nsuta (Ghana)
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Followed by Nana Yita as head
of the Akan speaking people, which is closely related to the Asante (Ashanti)
royal family. In 1701 it was one of the founding states of the Asante
Confederation
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Around 1600 Queen Nana Ankeyeo Nyame of Kokofu
(Ghana)
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Succeeded by Nana Aberewa
Ampen as head of the Akan speaking people, which was another of the founding
states of the Asante Confederation
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Around 1600 Queen Nana Adifa of Dwaben (Ghana)
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Ruler of an Akan-speaking people, closely related to the Asante
(Ahanti) royal family, and alto took part in the founding, of the Asante
Confederation 100 years later.
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Ca. 1610 Queen Dodi Akaibi of Ga-Adamge
(Ghana)
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Succeeded by son, Okai Koi,
who was killed 1677.
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Ca. 1660-17.. Queen Regnant Nana .... of Nsuta
(Ghana)
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Succeeded her aunt, Queen Nana
Yita.
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1700-ca. 1750 1st Asantehemaa Nana Nyarko Kusi
Amoa of Asante (Ghana)
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different interpretations of the role of the Queen Mother of the Asante, but it
seems that she held the important office of "ohemaa" - the second highest
political position in the state. Theoretically an Ashanti Queen Mother was next
to the king in the sense that she automatically took upon the king's
responsibilities should a condition arise which made it later for the latter to
administer. She was a full member and co-President of the governing body and she
took part in all-important decisions. She was de facto royal co-ordinator and
possessed traditional legitimacy in determining the right successor to the stool
of the Ashanti King. She exercised a general supervisory authority over women
but did not in fact represent the overall interest of the women. Nyaaako was mother of king Opoku Ware I (1720-50) and the 4th
Asantehemaa Konadu Yaadom I, who was in office (Ca.1778-1809 |
Pic
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Ca. 1710-ca. 60 Queen Regnant Asea Poku of Baule
(Ashante-Brong) (Cote d'Ivoire)
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The Baule belong to the Akan peoples who inhabit Ghana and Côte
d'Ivoire. During the Asante rise to power the Baule Queen, Aura Poku, was in
direct competition with the Asante king. When the Asante prevailed, the Queen
led her people away to the land they now occupy. The male descendant of Aura
Poku still lives in the palace she established. Succeeded by niece
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Pic
Ca. 1750-60 Queen Awura Danse Poukou of Baule (The Ivory
Coast)
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Successor of Asak Poku, who reigned from the beginning of the
century, and was succeeded by a niece, whose name is not known.
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Pic
1750-... 2nd Asantehemaa Nana Nkatia Ntem Abamoo
of Asante (Ghana)
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As
Asantehemaa, or Queen mother, during the reign of king Kusi Obodom (1750-64),
she was a full member and co-President of the governing body and she took part
in all important decisions. She was de facto royal co-ordinator and possessed
traditional legitimacy in determining the right successor to the stool of the
Ashanti King. She exercised a general supervisory authority over women but did
not in fact represent the overall interest of the women. Nana Nkatia was
succeeded by Kaua Afriye at a not known time.
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From 1760 Queen of Baule (Ashanti-Brong) (Cote
d'Ivoire)
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Succeeded her aunt, Awura Danse Poukou. Since then the kingdom has
been ruled by kings, who inherit their position along matrilineal lines. There
are various subchiefs in charge of the kings' local populations, and all the
chiefs rely on political advisors who help in the decision making process.
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1770-93 Denkyirahene Amoako Atta Yiadom of Denkyira
(Ghana)
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Reigned after Amoako Atta Kuma
(1725-70). The state was founded in 1500 under the name of Agona, but was
renamed in 1620. In 1701 it was defeated by the Asante and became a tributary
kingdom.
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1777-78 Regent The Asantehemaa Nana Akua Afriyie of Asante
(Ghana)
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It is not exactly known when
she took office as Queen Mother as successor of Nana Nketia Ntem Abamoo. She was
mother of King Osei Kwadwo (Around 1764-77) and of three daughters. The oldest,
Akyamaa, was the mother of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98) and the 6.
Asantehemaa. The second daughter, Sewaa Okuwa was mother of the 5. Asantehemaa.
Akua Afriye was succeeded by the third daughter, Konadu Yaadom I, as the 4.
Asantehemaa.
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Ca.1778-1809 4th Asantehemaa Nana Kwaadu Yiadom
I of Asante (Ghana)
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Succeeded her mother, Akua
Afriye, as Queen Mother, and was mother of four kings; Osei Kwame, Opoku Fofie,
(1798-1801), Osei Bonsu (1801-24) and Osei Yaw Akoto (1824-33) and of two
Asantehemaas, Nana Ama Serwaa and Yaa Dufie. She lived (1752-1809).
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Pic
1809-ca. 19 5th Asantehemaa Nana Adoma Akosua of
Asante (Ghana)
1814 Regent
As Asantehemaa, or Queen mother, during the reign of
Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba (1804-24), she was left in charge of the government while
the king went to the coast to visit his troops on the battlefield there. In the
period, Adoma Akosua received a Dutch embassy with which she discussed trade.
Succeeded on the post by cousin, Ama Sewaa, and lived (1765-1819).
1817-26 The 24th Okyehene and the Ohemaa Nana Afia
Dokuaa of Okyeman (Akyem Abuakwa)
(Ghana)
The first and only woman to hold the office of ruler
as well as that of Ohemaa (Queen mother) in the history of Akyem Abuakwa, and
ascended the Ofori stool in 1817 in lieu of a male heir to her uncle, Kofi
Asante (1811-1816). She maintained the tradition of resistance to Asante
overlordship and joined an anti-Asante alliance of coastal chiefs and the
British Administration on the coast. She personally fought at the head of the
Akyem Abuakwa contingent at the battle of Katamanso in 1826. It was the allied
victory at Datamanso and the ensuing Treaty of 1831 that liberated Akyem
Abuakwa and the Southern states from Asante’s claims to suzerainty over them.
Nana Dokua was also a first class administrator. She set up towns and villages
into the present divisions for the purposes of war and administration, as well
as preventing break-ups or revolts in her kingdom. She married Barima Twum
Ampofo of the Oyoko clan of Barekeseso in Ashanti, whom she made the
Asiakwahene. She had two male twins, who successively became kings after her
death.
Ca. 1819-24/33 6th Asantehemaa Nana Ama Sewaa of
Asante (Ghana)
As Asantehemaa, or Queen mother, during the reigns
of Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba (1804-24) and perhaps also trough that of Osei Yaw
Akoto (1824-34), she acted as counsel, political acumen, historical
perspective, and detailed knowledge of royal genealogy. She also helped to
maintain the delicate balance of power between the elite and the powerful
chiefs of the federated states. She was mother of King Nana Kwaku Dua I and
Asanthemaa Nana Afia Sarpong, and lived (1763-1824/33).
1824/33-1835 7th
Asantehemaa Yaa Dufie of Asante (Ghana)
Queen mother, during the reigns of Osei Yaw Akoto
(1824-34), and Kwaku Dua I Panyin (ca. 1797-1834-67). She was succeeded on the
post by her cousin, Nana Afia Sarpong, and lived (1770-1835).
1831 Head of Diplomatic Missions Akyaawaa Oyiakwan
for Asante (Ghana)
A daughter of the the Asante King, Asantehene Osei
Kwadwo (1764-77), she headed two different diplomatic missions that
successfully negotiated the Maclean Treaty in April 1831 with the British and
with the Danes at Christiansborg Castle in August of the same year. (b. ca.
1774).
1835-1859 8th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Sapong of Asante
(Ghana)
The daughter of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98),
she was the second Queen Mother during the reign of Kwaku Dua I Panyin (ca.
1797-1834-67), and was succeeded as Asantehemaa by her only child, Aufa Kobi
Serwaa Ampen I, who was in office (1859-1884). Afia Sapon lived (1790-1859).
Pic
1838-48 The Dwabenhene Ama Sewa of Dwaben (Dwabehene
or Dwabeii) (Ghana)
1843-48 Reigning Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene
Took over as chief and led her people back to Asante
from exile in Akyem Abuakwa in the south east of the Gold Coast after the death
of her two sons in succession. Indeed, her daughter, Nana Afrakoma Panin and
her granddaughter Nana Akua Saponmaa both held the dual offices of Dwabenhemaa
and Dwabenhene (Queen Mother and King) concurrently.
From 1848 Reigning Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene Nana
Afrakoma Panin of Dwaben (Dwabehene or Dwabeii) (Ghana)
Succeeded mother, Ama Sewa, and was succeeded by
daughter, Nana Akua Saponmaa, as holder of the dual offices of Dwabenhemaa and
Dwabenhene (Queen Mother and King).
Succeessor of
her mother, Nana Afrakoma Panin, at a not known time.
1859-84 Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampen I of
Asante (Ghana)
As Asantehemaa, or Queen mother, during the reigns
of the kings Kwaku Dua I Panyin (1834-67), Kofi Kakari (1867-84), Mensa Bonsu
Kumaa (1874-83) and Kwaku Dua II Kumaa (1884), she was a full member and
co-President of the governing body and she took part in all important
decisions. The de facto royal co-ordinator and possessed traditional legitimacy
in determining the right successor to the stool of the Ashanti King. She mother
of the kings Nana Kofi Kaakari and Nana Mensa Bonsu, and was succeeded on the
post by daughter Yaa Akyeaa. She lived (1765-1819).
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1860-86 Dwabenhemaa Nana Akosua Afrakomaa II of Dwaben
(Ghana)
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A Queen who wielded much power and
authority in Dwaben, a Core Member of the Kingdom of Asante. She reigned in
conjunction with her father, Nana Asafo Agyei( who was a regent of the male
stool of Dwaben). She was also very wealthy in her own right as attested to, by
the following description of her, as she was seen in Cape Coast in
1876.
"According to Captain A.B. Ellis who saw the visitors, the Dwabenhemaa, Afrakumaa II, made the greatest impression on the spectators. The wealth of young, handsome queenmother was worthy of note: She was attired in a rich silk "country cloth" (kente) of great value, and her arms, from the wrist to the elbow, were covered with strings of gold ornaments and aggrey beads; gold anklets appeared on each leg, and her well-shaped neck was almost hidden by the mass of gold necklets which encircled it. 12 or 14 young girls, likewise bedecked with gold ornaments, attended her, bearing horse-tails with which to whisk away the impertinent flies.)" |
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1884-1917 10th Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyeaa of Asante
(Ghana)
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Mother the kings Kwaku Dua (1860-84) the 12th Asantahene in
1884, of Premph I (1888) and grandmother of Premph II. She had through strategic
political marriages built the military power to secure the Golden Stool for her
son. The British authorities offered to take the Asante under their protection,
but Prempeh refused each request. In 1896 the British authorities entered Kumase
and arrested Prempeh and Yaa Akayaa as well as Prempeh's father, and they were
all send in exile. Succeeded as 11th Asantehemaa by daughter, Konadu Yaadom II,
who was in office until 1944. Yaa Akyaa lived (ca. 1837-1917).
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1887-1900 Edwesohemaa Nana Yaa Asantewaa of Edweso
(Ghana)
1896-1900 Regent of Edweso 1900 Leader of the Resistance |
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Appointed Queen Mother by her
brother, Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpesé, the Edwesohene, as successor to Nana Ampobin
I. When her brother died in about 1894, she used her prerogative as Queen Mother
to nominate her own grandson, to succeed to the vacant office. When he was sent
into exile in 1896 she became regent. After the British deported the king of the
Asante, she became leader of the resistance supported by some male leaders.
Eyewitness accounts from Edweso indicate that she herself did not physically
take up arms to fight. Her role has been described as being mainly
inspirational. She was known to have visited the soldiers in the battlefield to
ascertain how they were faring. She also gave directions and advice as well as
supplied gunpowder. In the end she was captured and sent to Seychelles islands
off Africa's east coast, while most of the captured chiefs became
prisoners-of-war. She lived (1850-1921).
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1917-44
11th
Asantehemaa
Kwaadu Yaadom II of Asante
(Ghana)
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Elected Queen Mother after the death of her mother, Yaa Akyaa. In the period 1900-35 there was no Asantehene or king of the Asante. From 1926-35 the kingdom was ruled by chiefs with the title of Kumasehene. The last of those, Otumfuo Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, began his reign in 1931, became Asantehene in 1935, and ruled until 1970. Konadu Yaadom II was followed on the post by her cousin, Nana Ama Sewas Nyaako, who was in office until 1977.d
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Credit / Source: http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1600.htm
Thanks so much for this! Its so nice to have a concrete list of our history and keeping women leaders front and center.
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