The field outside the royal palace in Kumasi, Ghana, was alive with jubilation as a large crowd gathered to commemorate the centenary of a historic return: the homecoming of an exiled king 100 years ago.
Prempeh I, the Asantehene (king of the Asante people), stood as a symbol of resistance against British colonial ambitions in the late 19th century. When he refused to submit his kingdom to the expanding British Gold Coast Protectorate, a British military force marched 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the coast to Kumasi in 1896. Prempeh, along with 50 relatives, chiefs, and servants, was taken prisoner, and his palace was looted.
The captives were first taken to the coastal fort at Elmina before being shipped to Sierra Leone. In 1900, they were relocated even further to the remote Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Prempeh remained in exile for nearly three decades. By the time the British allowed his return in 1924, he was an elderly man. Arriving in Kumasi dressed in a European suit and hat, he was greeted by thousands of his people, who saw his return as a moment of triumph and resilience.
A Story of Resistance and Pride
Despite the tragedy of his exile, the story of Prempeh and the Asante people became one of unyielding spirit and resistance. At the centenary celebration in Kumasi, the master of ceremonies proclaimed, “The British did all they could, but they couldn’t break the spirit of Asante.”
The current Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has ruled since 1999, was paraded through the crowd on a palanquin, adorned with magnificent gold jewelry. The atmosphere was electric, with the sounds of musket fire, drumming, and the blare of elephant tusk horns filling the air.
The celebrations also had a special guest: Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan. Addressing the crowd, he spoke of the bond between the two regions forged during Prempeh’s exile. “It was an honor, though sad, for us to receive your great king,” he said. “He showed respect to our people and, in return, received the full love of the Seychelles.”
This connection is still felt today through family ties and shared history.
Family Connections Across Continents
Princess Mary Prempeh Marimba, Prempeh’s great-granddaughter, represents one of these lasting bonds. Her grandfather, James Prempeh, the king’s son, married a Seychellois woman and initially stayed on the islands after his father returned to Ghana. Princess Mary, a nursing supervisor in Victoria, Seychelles, traveled to Kumasi with her daughter to reconnect with extended family and delve deeper into her Asante heritage.
“There are so many mixed emotions,” she shared. “My great-grandfather faced incredible hardships, and this is a sad history. But I also come here to celebrate with my family.”
During their exile, the Asante community in Seychelles lived in “Ashanti Town,” located on the Le Rocher sugar plantation on the main island of Mahé. Surrounded by coconut, mango, and breadfruit trees, they created a semblance of home. Prempeh resided in the estate’s villa and was treated with respect and dignity.
In 1901, the community grew further with the arrival of Yaa Asantewaa, the queen mother who led the final Asante resistance against British forces, along with 20 chiefs and attendants.
A King Transformed
Prempeh’s years in exile were transformative. He learned to read and write, embraced Christianity, and became an advocate for education, urging Asante children to attend school. He also introduced Christianity to the Asante exiles, often leading prayers and services.
The Anglican Church of St. Paul’s became a meeting point for exiled royalty, where the Asante sat alongside other political prisoners, including King Mwanga of Buganda and King Kabalega of Bunyoro from modern-day Uganda.
Seychelles, referred to as a “prison without bars” due to its remote location, became a hub for exiled leaders from various parts of the British Empire, including Egypt, Palestine, Zanzibar, the Maldives, Malaysia, and Cyprus.
Despite adapting to life in Seychelles, Prempeh longed to return to Asante. In 1918, he wrote to King George V, pleading for his freedom. “Consider how wretched I am for being taken prisoner… for now 22 years. Father, mother, brother, and nearly three-quarters of the chiefs are dead. The remaining few are blind, aged, or afflicted with diseases,” he wrote.
In 1924, the British finally relented, perhaps recognizing the political risks of Prempeh dying in exile.
The Triumphant Return
In November 1924, Prempeh and about 50 companions, many of whom were born in Seychelles, returned to West Africa by ship. His arrival in Kumasi was met with overwhelming emotion. Thousands camped by the train station to catch a glimpse of their king. Some cheered, others wept, and white headbands signifying victory dotted the crowd.
Although the British insisted on referring to him as “Mr. Edward Prempeh” and recognized him only as a private citizen, the Asante restored him to his royal status. They presented him with the Golden Stool, the sacred symbol of the Asante nation.
Prempeh passed away in 1931, but his successor, Prempeh II, was officially reinstated as Asantehene in 1935.
A Legacy of Exile and Opportunity
For Ivor Agyeman-Duah, an Asante scholar and great-grandson of one of Prempeh’s exiled chiefs, the exile period holds deep personal and historical significance. “Exile brought immense pain, but it also exposed the Asante to the wider world and new opportunities,” he noted. Many descendants of the exiles became ambassadors, civil servants, and scholars, contributing to the development of Asante and Ghana.
One such descendant, Princess Molly Prempeh, now in her 80s, was born in Seychelles and returned to Ghana as a child. Today, she cherishes her dual heritage, recalling fond memories of her visits to Seychelles. “They love the Prempehs in Sesel (Seychelles),” she said.
Her story, like Prempeh’s, reflects a family’s journey through loss, resilience, and the enduring ties between cultures.
A Story That Continues to Inspire
Prempeh’s exile and return remain a testament to the resilience of the Asante people and their unbroken spirit in the face of adversity. His legacy, shaped by both tragedy and triumph, continues to inspire pride in Asante heritage and the enduring connections forged across continents.