Oheneba Explained

Oheneba is a regal rank given to both female or male child of a king or chief. It is the equivalent of prince or princess (from Latin princeps, meaning principal citizen).

Most often, the term has been used for the child of a king, or for the daughter of a king.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

The twi word derives, via the twi and akan word ohene, meaning "the chief or king" and ''ba'' also via a twi and akan word, meaning child, with the two meaning the ''chief's child'' or the ''king's child''.

Oheneba as a courtesy title

In the Akan tradition and Akan chieftaincy, the child of a king or chief does not ascend the throne when his or her father dies due to their Matrilineal inheritance and succession.^{[5] [6] [7]} However the children are given the title Oheneba which means the ''chief's child'' or the ''king's child''.^{[8] [9]} The title is maintained even when their fathers (the king) passes on.

Notable people with the title Oheneba;

• Oheneba Lesley Akyaa Opoku Ware (Daughter of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the 15th King of the Ashanti Kingdom (Asantehene)^[10]
• Oheneba Adusei Poku (Son of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the 15th King of the Ashanti Kingdom (Asantehene)^{[11] [12]}
• Oheneba Mensah Bonsu (Hiahene) (Caretaker and Uncle of Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II)^{[13] [14]}

Oheneba as a given name

Oheneba as a name; Oheneba can be a given name of a male child in Akan ethnic group to signify how precious the child is in the Akan parlance.

Notable people with the given name;

• Oheneba Boachie-Adjei
• Oheneba Kow Aduako Richardson
• Oheneba Krabea^{[15] [16]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Christaller, Johann Gottlieb. A Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language Called Tshi (Chwee, Tw̌i): With a Grammatical Introduction and Appendices on the Geography of the Gold Coast and Other Subjects. 1881. Evangelical Missionary Society. en.
2. Book: Studies, University of Ghana Institute of African. Research Review - Institute of African Studies. 1966. Institute of African Studies.. en.
3. Book: Boateng, Joe. A. The Royal In-Law. Integritas Services. 2009. 978-0-7978-0026-7. Switzerland. 106.
4. Book: History in Africa. 2004. African Studies Association.. en.
5. Book: Ayittey, G. B. N.. Chapter 4. The African Chief. 2006-01-01. Brill Nijhoff. 978-90-474-4003-1. EN.
6. Henige. David. 1975. Akan Stool Succession under Colonial Rule-Continuity or Change?. The Journal of African History. 16. 2. 285–301. 10.1017/S002185370000116X. 180816. 162709947 . 0021-8537.
7. Owiredu. P. A.. 1959. The Akan System of Inheritance Today and Tomorrow. African Affairs. 58. 231. 161–165. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a094638. 719384. 0001-9909.
8. Book: Berry, Sara. Chiefs Know Their Boundaries: Essays on Property, Power, and the Past in Asante, 1896-1996. 2001. ABC-CLIO, LLC. 978-0-325-07002-5. en.
9. Book: Romero, Patricia W.. Life Histories of African Women. 1988. Ashfield Press. 978-0-948660-04-7. en.
10. News: 23 March 1996. Her Highness Lady Victoria Opoku-Ware II. 25. The Times. London. 18 October 2021.
11. Book: Damirifa Due: Tributes to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II (late Asantehene 1970-1999).. 1999. en.
12. Book: Ghana Studies. 2003. African Studies Program, University of Wisconsin. 2003. 5-8. 109–133.
13. Web site: Meet Asantehene, his wife and children. 2021-12-05. Graphic Online. en-gb.
14. Book: The Enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene. 1999. en.
15. Web site: 2021-09-17. Oheneba Nkrabea now a GIS student on $160,000 scholarship. 2021-12-04. The Ghana Report. en.
16. Web site: Starrfm.com.gh. Rasta case: I was scared the judge will be bribed - Oheneba Nkrabea — Starr Fm. June 2021 . 2021-12-04. en-US.