Yaa Asantewaa festival committee inaugurated

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15 July ’99

Mr. Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, on Wednesday inaugurated a 14-member preparatory committee, planning the Yaa Asantewaa Festival for next year.

Nana Aboagye Agyei II, Ejisuhene and Member of the Council of State, is the chairman of the committee.

Yaa Asantewaa, the queenmother of Ejisu, led the Ashantis to fight British expeditionary forces in 1900.

Mr. Yankah said the festival would place the heroine in her right perspective since "her exploits have not been celebrated in a way a legendary figure should be honoured.

He said Yaa Asantewaa represents the courage of a woman who showed resistance to the British invading forces, adding that in other parts of the World, Yaa Asantewaa would have been recorded in grace and honour.

The Regional Minister said the year 2000 marks the centenary celebration of the Yaa Asantewaa war and that the celebration was being planned to take place in the first week of August next year.

He said a bust will be raised for Yaa Asantewaa while a book in her honour would be sold during the celebrations.

Mr. Yankah said a durbar of queenmothers would also take place during the celebrations, adding "the festival would be celebrated every two years".

The Regional Minister said a Kente festival will be part of the celebration, saying Kente should be established as an export product instead of individuals exporting them.

Nana Aboagye Agyei said the members of the committee have accepted the challenge and gave the assurance that the festival would be organised to bring honour and prestige to the Asante heroine.

It is gratifying that Yaa Asantewaa should be remembered at a time the nation was embarking on women Empowerment, Nana Aboagye Agyei added.

GRi../