Nestled in the rolling green hills of Ghana’s Ashanti Region, just a short drive from Ejisu, lies the quiet village of Besease—a place steeped in royal legacy, cultural heritage, and historical resistance. While modest in size, Besease holds a powerful place in Ghana’s national memory as the birthplace and final resting place of Queen Yaa Asantewaa, the legendary warrior queen mother of the Ashanti Empire.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Besease was not only a spiritual and familial home for the royal house of Ejisu—it was also a vital center of political activity. From this village, Yaa Asantewaa rose to prominence, appointed by her brother, Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese, as Queen Mother of Ejisu. When British colonial authorities attempted to seize the sacred Golden Stool, Yaa Asantewaa rallied the chiefs and warriors of Ashanti from her base in Besease, sparking the historic War of the Golden Stool in 1900.
Her resistance marked the final armed struggle between the Ashanti and the British Empire. Though eventually captured and exiled to the Seychelles, her bravery galvanized future generations, making Besease a symbol of African resistance, matriarchal leadership, and national pride.
After her death in exile in 1921, Yaa Asantewaa’s remains were returned to Ghana in 1924, and she was given a royal burial in Besease, where she rests beneath a sacred tree. The site remains a pilgrimage destination for those who seek to honor her legacy.
Today, Besease retains its spiritual and historical importance, housing shrines, ancestral homes, and oral histories passed down through the generations. The Besease Shrine and traditional buildings reflect the architecture of the Ashanti court and the enduring values of unity, justice, and self-determination.
While modernization has reached parts of the region, Besease remains a village deeply connected to its roots. Local chiefs, historians, and cultural custodians work actively to preserve its intangible heritage, such as rituals, festivals, and storytelling traditions that keep the memory of Yaa Asantewaa alive.
In recent years, national and regional efforts have been launched to build a memorial cenotaph and heritage trail in Besease, connecting it more formally to the wider history of the Ashanti Kingdom and Ghana’s independence movement.
A visit to Besease is more than a stop on a historical map—it is a journey into the living soul of Ashanti identity. Whether you come to pay tribute to Yaa Asantewaa, explore royal shrines, or simply experience the resilience of a people who refused to be conquered, Besease offers a profound and personal connection to Ghana’s past.