Ohemaa
/oʊˈheɪ.mɑː/noun
An Akan title or name meaning a queen, female ruler, or queen mother.
Did you know?In Akan traditional governance, an Ohemaa could be a powerful political authority who helped select, advise, or even remove a chief—not merely a royal wife.
Etymological Timeline
Early Akan
Akan
ohene
“Chief, king, or traditional ruler”
Early Akan
Akan
maa
“Woman or mother; a feminine element”
Precolonial Ghana
Akan
ohemaa
“Female chief or queen”
18th–19th Century
Twi
ohemaa
“Queen or queen mother within Akan states”
Modern English
English
Ohemaa
“A title or personal name referring to an Akan queen or queen mother”