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Published: April 10th 2011
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Hi all
yesterday Gideon took me to the cultural centre and to the Kings Palace museum both of which were very interesting, not only did we see how the local traditional clothes were made but we also learnt about the traditional history of the Ashanti kings.
at all times the king is forbidden to put his feet on the floor including bathtimes so he sits on his little stool and puts his feet on two ivory tusks when he dries himself! In our colonial days when we were greedy peeps we arrived in Ghana and saw the kings gold stool and decided we wanted it and when he wouldnt hand it over we threw our toys out of the pram and caused a war! due to this the king had a fake one made incase it was stolen! Clever King!
During the civil war around 1883 -88 the king was exhiled to seyschelles (surely there are worse places to be sent!) and the lady I was telling you about the other day, Asantewaa, she realised that the Ashanti region was going to fall as everyone feared fighting for the king... this is what she said
Now I see that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it in the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king to be taken away without firing a shot. No European could have dared speak to chiefs of Asante in the way the governor spoke to you this morning. Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you, the men of Asante, will not go forward, then we will. We, the women, will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.
she bravely led the battle in the 1900, she was soon exiled to the seychelles also where she died and was buried but more recently her remains have been brought home.
Asantewaas dream of a British free Ashanti town came just over 50 years later.
It was international womans day this weekend and this is one of the women that should always be celebrated!
Gideon said that I remind him of her because I am adventurous and want to know everything, although I am not sure I would be brave enough to lead people into battle!
In the afternoon against all advice I got a taxi and I went to the golden Tulip hotel round the corner and spent the afternoon cooling off by the pool and reading my book "the Elephant Whisperer" - recommended
This morning Gideon and I headed for the Newmont goldmines and I met another colleague Edmond, we had lunch and then I was shown my accomodation, unfortunatly there is no internet access but Edmond has loaned me his dongle for tonight so that I can make skype calls and catch up on my blogs. Note to self bring a towel next time I come here, drying myself under the ceiling fan may be exhilerating but not practical!
Have a good day all and enjoy the pics I shall leave you with
xxx
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