King Peggy
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Two societies One Grate King
What comes first, paying your bills or giving a corrupt village money for water? Peggielene Bartels takes this question head-on. When she accepted her kingship of Otuam she was living in American and was struggling to pay her bills. She was able to give some of her own money. She also got help form some Americans. King Peggy is influenced by both American and Ghanaian societies. She uses both societies to be come a hero of Otuam. King Peggy is not just American or Ghanaian; she simply is “both” (more on page 159). The ancestors, America, and Otuam influence how King Peggy’s identity develops from a secretary to an influential King. Overall, she is considered a hero because she brought water, education, and a steady government to Otuam.
Specifically the ancestors helped develop King Peggy identity. When Peggy grew up in Ghana she learned about the ancestors, the ancestors were past relatives who have died that are watching down on the people of Ghana. Often she would pour libations, “Pouring libations was a way of showing respect to God and honoring the dead” (more on page
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10). When Kwame Lumpopo first told her that the ancestors picked her to be king she didn’t know what she would do. She told him that she would call him back with an answer. The next day in her car on the way to work she heard a voice, it said “Nana, kofa wara wodzea […] Nana, go for it; it’s yours.” (More on page 29). The ancestors were trying to tell her that she should accept the kingship. The next day on her way to work she heard the voice again, this time it said “Its your destiny (more on page 36). Not all human beings are born to be kings or queens”. The voice repeated the message until Peggy got it and said, “okay […] I’ll go for it” (more on page 36). Without the words from her ancestors Peggy might not have accepted the kingship.
In addition America also affected King Peggy’s identity as a king. When living in America
Two societies One Grate King
What comes first, paying your bills or giving a corrupt village money for water? Peggielene Bartels takes this question head-on. When she accepted her kingship of Otuam she was living in American and was struggling to pay her bills. She was able to give some of her own money. She also got help form some Americans. King Peggy is influenced by both American and Ghanaian societies. She uses both societies to be come a hero of Otuam. King Peggy is not just American or Ghanaian; she simply is “both” (more on page 159). The ancestors, America, and Otuam influence how King Peggy’s identity develops from a secretary to an influential King. Overall, she is considered a hero because she brought water, education, and a steady government to Otuam.
Specifically the ancestors helped develop King Peggy identity. When Peggy grew up in Ghana she learned about the ancestors, the ancestors were past relatives who have died that are watching down on the people of Ghana. Often she would pour libations, “Pouring libations was a way of showing respect to God and honoring the dead” (more on page
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10). When Kwame Lumpopo first told her that the ancestors picked her to be king she didn’t know what she would do. She told him that she would call him back with an answer. The next day in her car on the way to work she heard a voice, it said “Nana, kofa wara wodzea […] Nana, go for it; it’s yours.” (More on page 29). The ancestors were trying to tell her that she should accept the kingship. The next day on her way to work she heard the voice again, this time it said “Its your destiny (more on page 36). Not all human beings are born to be kings or queens”. The voice repeated the message until Peggy got it and said, “okay […] I’ll go for it” (more on page 36). Without the words from her ancestors Peggy might not have accepted the kingship.
In addition America also affected King Peggy’s identity as a king. When living in America