In Both Asante and Benin cultures the Queen Mother is considered the co-ruler along with the King. However, the Queen Mother has the ultimate veto power of the King. She is also allowed to appoint her own ministers and holds a strong decision in the ministers the King chooses as well. The Queen mother also participates in the council meetings as dominant authority. Ultimately the Queen Mother had the decision who became the next king within both cultures.
Unlike most Western civilizations the female in African cultures can hold a great deal of power, especially in the position of Queen Mother. The role of woman in society, looking at the core meaning of the word Nkosikazi in relation to African Queenship noting the likes of Nzinga of Ndonga and Matamba, Modjadji The Rain Queen, etc. has changed. Today things have changed, man is head of the family. Has it always been like this? How was it like before the colonization? How can we restore that character of our society?
Nkosikazi – She is the real king
