Mourners of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II in Kumasi have been praising the Asantehemaa as a mother, unifier and conflict resolution expert.
But there is more to the personality of the queenmother whose death has drawn thousands of people across the world to the Asante Kingdom.
Here are 10 facts about the Asantehemaa you didn’t know about:
1. She was born in 1905, four years after the War of the Golden Stool in 1900, which was led by the Ejisuhemaa Nana Yaa Asantewaa. She lived to be 111 years .
2. She was named Afia Kobi at birth after the former Asante Queenmother Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem I, and then again chose the stool name Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II when she ascended the throne in 1977.
3. Her father was Kwadwo Afodo) from Kwabre Achiase, who was also the son of former Asantehene Mensah Bonsu.
4. She was a trader who dealt in traditional cloth at the central market before she became the queen.
5. She got married twice, the first to Opanyin Kofi Fofie with whom she had 3 children; two females and one male. The children were: Nana Konadu(Alive), Nana Ama Serwaa(Dead), and Nana Poku(Dead).
6. Her second marriage was to Nana Boakye Dankwa of Kantinkyire, with whom she had two children; Barima Prempeh(Dead) and Barima Kwaku Dua ( Present Asantehene)
7. Her favorite food were: Fufuo, 3to(Ogoo), Adibi, mpotopoto.
8. Her best friend was the mother of the former President John Agyekum Kufuor
9. Her favorite games were; Ampe, Kete, and Nwomkro.
10. She worked with two Kings during her reign, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (who is her biological son).