The Making of an African King

Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the ?wutu (Effutu) of Ghana, Revised Edition

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Kingship (chieftaincy) disputes are commonplace in Ghana. These disputes may begin as rivalries among eligible candidates, or when ineligible candidates are elected caretaker kings due to their invaluable services to a royal family. However, upon the demise of the caretaker rulers, sometimes their descendants refuse to cede power, thus creating protracted and sometimes violent power struggles. This is exactly what happened to the Ᾱwutu-ābe (Effutu) of Simpa. In 1898, twenty-seven years after the death of a caretaker ruler elected by the Otuano Royal Family for his invaluable service to the royal family, his nephew contested the throne plunging the Ᾱwutu into a cycle of contentious internecine struggle.
The Making of an African King examines the source of the struggle as seen by colonial administrators, and the final court ruling in June 2013 between the patrilineal Otuano Royal Family against the non-royal Acquah faction that favors the matrilineal system of descent practiced by the Akan.

University Press of America

Pages: 285 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-0-7618-6503-2 • Paperback • November 2014 • $50.99 • (£39.00)

978-0-7618-6504-9 • eBook • November 2014 • $48.00 • (£37.00)

Subjects: History / Africa / West, History / Modern / 19th Century, Political Science / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, Political Science / Peace, Political Science / World / African

The Making of an African King

Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the ?wutu (Effutu) of Ghana, Revised Edition

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Kingship (chieftaincy) disputes are commonplace in Ghana. These disputes may begin as rivalries among eligible candidates, or when ineligible candidates are elected caretaker kings due to their invaluable services to a royal family. However, upon the demise of the caretaker rulers, sometimes their descendants refuse to cede power, thus creating protracted and sometimes violent power struggles. This is exactly what happened to the Ᾱwutu-ābe (Effutu) of Simpa. In 1898, twenty-seven years after the death of a caretaker ruler elected by the Otuano Royal Family for his invaluable service to the royal family, his nephew contested the throne plunging the Ᾱwutu into a cycle of contentious internecine struggle.
The Making of an African King examines the source of the struggle as seen by colonial administrators, and the final court ruling in June 2013 between the patrilineal Otuano Royal Family against the non-royal Acquah faction that favors the matrilineal system of descent practiced by the Akan.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 285 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-0-7618-6503-2 • Paperback • November 2014 • $50.99 • (£39.00)

978-0-7618-6504-9 • eBook • November 2014 • $48.00 • (£37.00)

Subjects: History / Africa / West, History / Modern / 19th Century, Political Science / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, Political Science / Peace, Political Science / World / African

Author

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor is associate professor and chairman of the Department of Africana Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. He is also known as Nana Dr. Ɔbrafo Ɔwom X, the traditional ruler (Ɔdikro) of Gomoa Mprumem, Ghana.

Table of Contents

Note on Revised Edition
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Ᾱwutu-ābe
Chapter 3: Building the Lion’s KingdomChapter 4: The Nyantᴐr (Aboakyir) Festival
Chapter 5: The Princess Ayԑnsua Factor
Chapter 6: Patrilineal Succession Restored
Chapter 7: One Among Many
Chapter 8: The Lion King
Chapter 9: Conclusion
Endnotes
Glossary of Terms
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author