A huge celebration took place in Kumasi, Ghana, honoring King Prempeh I, who returned 100 years ago after being exiled by the British.
The field outside the royal palace was full of excited people. Prempeh was the Asante king (known as the “Asantehene”) in the late 1800s who resisted British efforts to take over Asante lands as part of the Gold Coast colony.
In 1896, British forces marched 200km to Kumasi, captured Prempeh, and took 50 of his relatives, chiefs, and servants as prisoners. They looted his palace and sent the group to Elmina, then Sierra Leone, and finally to the remote Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean.
Prempeh spent nearly 30 years in exile before being allowed to return in 1924. By then, he was an old man who arrived in Kumasi wearing European-style clothes.
The BBC explains how this story is both tragic and inspiring. It shows the Asante people’s pride and resistance.
Even though the British tried to destroy their spirit, they failed, said speakers at the event. The current Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, joined the celebration in grand style, carried through the crowd on a palanquin and adorned with gold jewelry.
BBC notes that Prempeh’s exile also created lasting connections between Asante and Seychelles. Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan attended the event and shared that Prempeh earned the love and respect of the Seychellois people during his time there.
His descendants, like Princess Mary Prempeh, continue to celebrate this unique bond. Mary, a nurse in Seychelles, traveled to Kumasi to reconnect with her Asante roots and family.
While in Seychelles, Prempeh lived in a villa on a sugar plantation and encouraged education. He converted to Christianity and promoted the faith among other Asante exiles.
The BBC describes how Prempeh and other exiles shared their struggles with kings and leaders from other colonized regions, such as Uganda, Egypt, and Palestine, who were also sent to Seychelles by the British.
Years later, Prempeh pleaded with the British to return home, writing emotional letters about how many of his loved ones had died in exile.
In 1924, the British allowed him and others to go back, perhaps fearing his death in exile could cause unrest. His return was emotional, with crowds gathering to welcome him back as their king, even though the British labeled him a private citizen. The people of Asante restored his royal status and presented him with the sacred Golden Stool.
As BBC highlights, while exile was painful, it also brought new opportunities. Prempeh’s family and other exiles gained exposure to education and global experiences that helped them contribute significantly to Asante and Ghana’s future.
Scholars like Ivor Agyeman-Duah emphasize how their resilience and knowledge continue to inspire modern Asante culture.
Princess Molly Prempeh, another descendant, shared her personal story with BBC. Born in Seychelles, she returned to Ghana as a child but has revisited the islands of her birth.
She cherishes the memories and languages of both cultures, keeping her family’s legacy alive.
This incredible story, reported by the BBC, reminds us of the strength of the human spirit in the face of injustice and the enduring power of cultural pride.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgxj343elmo