Kofi Karikari

This article is about the Ashanti king. For the musician, see Jamiroquai § Members.

Kofi Karikari (c. 1837–c. 1884)^[1][2][3] was the tenth King of the Ashanti Empire, and grandnephew of Kwaku Dua I, whose sudden death in April 1867 sparked internal strife about the succession. Kofi Karikari was chosen by an electoral majority,^[4] reigning from 28 May 1867 until his forced abdication on 26 October 1874.^[5] Karikari was the son of Afua Kobi.^[6]

Kofi Karikari
Golden trophy head belonging to the treasury of Kofi Karikari
Asantehene of Asanteman
Reign	28 May 1867 – 26 October 1874 (1867-05-28 – 1874-10-26)
Predecessor	Kwaku Dua Panin
Successor	Mensa Bonsu
Born	Unknown date, c. 1837 Kumasi, Ashanti Empire
Died	Unknown date, c. 1884 (aged 47) Kumasi, Ashanti Empire
Names Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari
Mother	Afua Kobi

A notable achievement of Karikari was the intentional neglect of the armed forces, a step taken to avoid the escalation of war. A golden trophy head, owned by Karikari can be found at the Wallace Collection in London, acquired by Sir Richard Wallace in May 1874 for £500.^[7]

References

1. Cameron Duodu, "Obituary of Beryl Karikari", The Guardian, 5 March 2007.
2. "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
3. ADDO-FENING, R. (1973). "Asante Refugees in Akyem Abuakwa 1875-1912". Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana. 14 (1): 39–64. ISSN 0855-3246. JSTOR 41405838.
4. "Kofi Karikari (1937–1884)", in Harold E. Raugh, The Victorians at War, 1815–1914: An Encyclopedia of British Military History, ABC-CLIO, 2004, pp. 203–204.
5. T. C. McCaskie, State and Society in Pre-Colonial Asante, Cambridge University Press, 2003, pp. 69–70.
6. Kathleen E. Sheldon (2005). Historical Dictionary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810853317.
7. Wallace Collection, object record