Making of an African King

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 -wutu--be (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 -wutu 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.

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor, PhD, is professor of Africana Studies focusing on religion and developmental psychological theories at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Professor Anthony Ephirim-Donkor is also known as Nana Professor -br-fo -wom X, the traditional ruler of Gomoa Mprumem, Ghana.

Note on Revised Edition Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The ?wutu-abe Chapter 3: Building the Lion's Kingdom Chapter 4: The Nyant?r (Aboakyir) Festival Chapter 5: The Princess Ay?nsua 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