Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II

Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II (1907 – 15 November 2016) was the Queen mother (Ohemaa) of the Ashanti Kingdom and mother of the current Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, who is the youngest son of her five children. She was the 13th Queen mother of the Ashanti Kingdom.[2][3][4][5][6]

Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II
Reign 6 February 1977 – 15 November 2016
Coronation2 June 1976
PredecessorNana Amma Serwaa Nyarko II
SuccessorNana Konadu Yiadom III[1]
Born1907
Died (aged 109)

Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II died on 15 November 2016 in her sleep, aged 109.[7][8][9][10] She was buried at dawn in a full ceremony at the Breman Royal Mausoleum (Ban mu) on January 20, 2017, after her remains were removed from the Bantama Royal Mausoleum in order to receive final traditional rites.[11]

Before her death, she was Asantehemaa (Queen mother) of the Ashanti Kingdom for 39 years. The Ashanti people believe that the Queen mother, buried first in the Bantama Mausoleum, must meet first with the royal ancestors before moving on the final resting place.[11]

It is currently believed that she was the oldest member ever of a royal family anywhere in the world.

Burial

The late Queen mother was laid in state for three days and buried on Thursday, 19 January 2017. On this day, a curfew was placed on the citizens of Kumasi, everyone was supposed to stay indoors from 8pm to 4am. This directive was announced by the chief linguist of Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, Nana Nsuase Agyeman Poku Agyemang III on Friday January 6, 2017.[12]

Awards and recognition

The Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem Girls Senior High School was named after her. A roundabout in Kumasi is named for her.[13]

References
  1. "Asantehene explains why he chose his sister as Asantehemaa". Ghana Web. 7 May 2017.
  2. "Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, the Asantehemaa, female ruler of the Asante nation, arrives at the Asantehene's jubilee surrounded by royal fan bearers. 25th anniversary jubilee celebrations of Ghana's Asantehene, Opoku Ware II, Kumase, Ghana". Retrieved 16 November 2016. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "When Osei Tutu II marked 13 years on the Golden Stool". Ghanaian Chronicle. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. "Queenmothers of Asante". Ashanti. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. "KING OSEI TUTU". asantekotokodc.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. "Tutu II Osei, Asantehene". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  7. "Queenmother of Asante Kingdom dies at 109". Ghana Web. 15 November 2016.
  8. "Asantehemaa Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem is dead; Reigned for 39yrs". 3News. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  9. Dapatem, Donald Ato. "Sorrow at Manhyia as Asanteman marks one-week observation of queenmother". Graphic Online. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  10. "Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II". The Times. 30 November 2016.
  11. Frimpong, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor, George Ernest Asare & Enoch Darfah. "Asantehemaa laid to rest". Graphic Online. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  12. Online, Peace FM. "Asantehemaa Burial: Stay Indoors – Chiefs Warn". Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
  13. Kenu, Daniel K. (2015-02-19). "Afua Kobi Ampem girls donate to K'si Children's Home". graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
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