READ: Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu (Graphic Biography)

Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu in Asante, was a leader of resistance to British conquest. Her actions demonstrate one strategy of resistance to colonialism.

The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: skimming for gist

This will be your quickest read. It should help you get the general idea of what the graphic biography will be about. Pay attention to the title, headings, images, and layout. Ask yourself: what is this graphic biography going to be about?

Second read: understanding content

For this reading, you should be looking for unfamiliar vocabulary words, the major claim and key supporting details, and analysis and evidence. You should also spend some time looking at the images and the way in which the page is designed.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

What kind of a state was Asante, and who was Yaa Asantewaa?
What was the role of the Queen mother, or Ohemaa?
What happened in 1895 and how did it affect Yaa Asantewaa?
What happened in 1900, and how did Yaa Asantewaa respond?
How does the artist represent Yaa Asantewaa’s leadership through art in this biography?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

In this read, you should use the graphic biography as evidence to support, extend, or challenge claims made in the course.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

How does this biography of Yaa Asantewaa support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about reactions and resistance to colonial rule in this period?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.

Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu (Graphic Biography)

Writer: Trevor Getz

Artist: Liz Clarke

Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu in Asante, was a leader of resistance to British conquest. Her actions demonstrate one strategy of resistance to colonialism.

Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.

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