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The Making of an African King

Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the Awutu (Effutu) of Ghana

The Making of an African King cover

The Making of an African King

Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle Among the Awutu (Effutu) of Ghana

Description

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-abe (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.

Table of Contents

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

Product details

Published Nov 24 2014
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 285
ISBN 9780761865049
Imprint University Press of America
Illustrations 2 BW Illustrations
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor is associate professor of r…

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