Kingdom of Sanwi

Kingdom of Sanwi

Pre-European kingdoms
Total population
20,000 (est.)
Regions with significant populations
Krindjabo, Africa
Languages
Anyi language
Religion
Akan religion and Christianity

The Kingdom of Sanwi is a kingdom located in the south-east corner of the Republic of Ivory Coast in West Africa.

It was established in about 1740 by Anyi migrants from Ghana with its capital at Krindjabo. In 1843, the kingdom became a protectorate of France. In 1959, it merged with Ivory Coast.^[1]

In the early 19th century, Sanwi was a vassal to the Ashanti Empire until this status was destroyed as a result of French colonial expansion in the region.^[2]

The kingdom declared American singer Michael Jackson to be Prince of the Sanwi in 1992.^[3] Reciprocal visits by Jackson and King Amon N'Douffou IV were made to Krindjabo and Los Angeles respectively. After Jackson's death in 2009, an elaborate two-day funeral was held in Sanwi. Jesse Jackson was declared prince in August of that year when he was crowned Prince Nana by Amon N'Douffou V.^[4]

References

1. Boone, Catherine (17 October 2003). Political Topographies of the African State: Territorial Authority and Institutional Choice. Cambridge University Press. p. 232. ISBN 9780521532648.
2. Daddieh, Cyril K. (2016). Historical Dictionary of Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast). Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 422–423. ISBN 9780810873896.
3. Pflanz, Mike (3 August 2009). "Royal Ivory Coast funeral for tribe 'prince' Michael Jackson". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
4. "Jesse Jackson named prince of African tribe". The Telegraph. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2019.

External links

• European Delegation of Sanwi Kingdom (in French)