The Making of an African King: Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the ?wutu (Effutu) of Ghana

by Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761865032
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	11/24/2014
Edition description:	Revised Edition
Pages:	286
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the 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 Kingdom
Chapter 4: The Nyantir (Aboakyir) Festival
Chapter 5: The Princess Ayonsua 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