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

by Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Publisher:

University Press of America

, 2014

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.

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 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

Product Details

• Title : The Making of an African King: Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the ?wutu (Effutu) of Ghana
• Author: Ephirim-Donkor, Anthony
• Publisher: UPA
• Publication Date: 2014
• ISBN: 9780761865049

About Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor is assistant professor and undergraduate director of Africana Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Dr. Ephirim-Donkor teaches African and African Diaspora religions and cultures. He is also known as Nana Dr. Obrafo Owom, the traditional ruler (Odikro) of Gomoa Mprumem, an Akan town in Ghana.