African Crowns Jewels and Regalia

Africa is home to over a thousand monarchies spread across the continent, majorly based on ethnic groups as per the situation before the colonisation of Africa. These monarchies have survived and are now known as subnational/traditional monarchies whereas Morocco, Lesotho and Eswatini are the only National monarchy countries. Crown jewels are symbols of power in all monarchies across the world. Some are in form of Jewellery while others are in form of cultural artefacts e.g

• Crowns and Tiaras, Turbans
• Spectres, Orbs, Swords. rings
• Regalia such as leopard and lion skins
• Royal Drums
• Royal Stools

These items have been passed down to generations while others are newly acquired for a new coronation/installation. Some have been modelled after the european style and in some african monarchies a late king is buried with his crown regalia.

Crowns of Ethiopia (Solomonic dynasty)

The Ethiopian empire has alot of crowns that have been used to crown the many empeorors of ethiopia. Traditionally most kings and lords wore lion mane crowns. Many were kept in churches after coronatons but the last Emperors crown are displayed at the museum in the National Jubilee Palace. In recent times, the Emperors were crowned also with Orb, plac of the order of Solomon’s Seal, field marshal’s baton, sword of state, diamong ring and a gold ivory sceptre

To see more visit – Ethiopian crown jewels

Photos; Prince Mohammed Alimirah

Kingdom of Kaffa crown, Ethiopia

Kingdom of Kaffa/Kafa, the birthplace of Coffee was akingdom that existed from 1390 aupto 1897 when it was annexed into the Ethiopian Eperor by Emperoro Menelik II. Its last King Tato Gaki Sherocho was arrested, brought to Menelik in silver chains forged from the looted treasury of Kaffa, imprisoned and died in 1919. During the raid, his royal silver crown was taken to Switzerland by Empeoro Menelik II for fear that the crown which was a symbol of power to the kingdom would encourage his descendants to revolt. Girma kidane Kesto, grandson of last Kafa king Gaki Sherocho wearing his father’s crown and robe.

Photos ; Courtesy

Lesotho Royal Crown and Regalia

Not much is known about the crown below but it was made in 1972 modelled after the basotho national hat called Mokorotlo but has never been used for any coronation. Lehlosi is a chiefly blanket made of wild animal hide. The King wears this blanket on special occasions. Normaly, a chief or a king holds a chiefly sceptre whilst wearing this blanket. His Majesty King Letsie III is seen wearing lehlosi and holding a sceptre on his coronation.

For more visit – Lesotho Tiaras

Buganda kingdom coronation crown, Uganda

The Kabaka of Buganda is the king of Buganda kingdom, Uganda. He is crowned twice, first traditionally using traditional rites and secondly using a gold crown done religiously by the bishop of the Anglican church of Uganda. This crown was first seen on late Kabaka Freddie Mutesa II and is said to be a gift from the british government made by Garrards Jewellers. Others say it was made in Saudi Arabia. Kabaka wears it during Buganda parliament (Lukiiko) proceedings. The king also beats royal drums knwn as Mujaguzo which are a symbol of authority

To see more about other crowns and queen tiaras visit – Buganda crowns and Tiaras

Kongo kingdom crown, DRC Congo

Back in the original days, the King/,Manikongo/Mwenekongo had a towered crown made of iron and cloth per the making of the black smiths of the day, the crown and scepter were lost at the battle of Mbwila in 1665 and sent back to Portugal. A new set of crowns were made and lost from that time till 1830s. There was an iron crown made from a portugese canon but it was destroyed during the Kongo civil war of 1857-59 in 1859/60. The first head it sat on was Pedro the V (VI) then from there nearly every Manikongo has worn it since besides 2 because of 2 short of a reign. The Crown is made of bronze and engraved like they use to be back in the day good craft skills. The Kings crown is missing but the crown commonly seen is the queens version. The Kings version worn on celebration days and on certain occasions was destroyed in the Angolan civil war. the battle of Mbanza Kongo with the fall of FNLA and Roberto Holdens forces the MPLA forces looted and destroyed much of the historical district of the city. Queen Dona Isabela de Gama therefore became regent from 1957 until 1975 and continued to wear it. She died in the 1990s.

see – Kingdom of Kongo

Obong of Calabar coronation crown, Efik people of Nigeria

The king of Efik people is usually crowned twice, traditionally and religiously under the Presbyterian Church his title defender of the Christian faith was given to previous kings  by the Europeans during colonial era. The crown, sword and bible used are said to be gifts from Queen Victoria of UK after a correspondence with a previous Obong. This led to the myth of the black King marrying the white queen after the Obong asked her to marry him so they can rule together. Their letters can be viewed at the national museum of Calabar

see – Obong of Calabar

Olu of Warri kingdom crown, Nigeria

The Olu has more the 70 crowns the ceremonial crowns. Of particular are the silver and gold crowns brought from Portugal in 1611 by Olu Ogiame Atuwatse I Dom Domingoes then crown prince when he was sent bu his father to study in Europe after an invitation from King Phillip of Portugal. The crowns were continuously used by successive kings until 2021 when the sons of late Olu Ogiame Ikenwoli I stole it before coronation of their cousin Olu Ogiame Atuwatse III. For the coronation, two new silver and gold crowns were created by the spiritual royal caster and today can be seen on the king. The king also wears other traditional crowns made from beads

To read more visit link – Warri Kingdom

Crown of Madagascar

The crown of the Malagasy sovereign was made in France for Ranavalona I. It is a large crown made from locally mined gold in c. 1890 and is very heavy. In its essential form it followed the pattern of crown associated with a sovereign in European heraldry and had four arches which intersected at the top of the crown, while the circlet was made of openwork and set with precious stones and from the circlet between the arches were triangular leaf-like ornaments which also were set with precious stones. One of the two most distinctive features of the crown was a large fan-like ornament generally described as a representation of seven spearheads of the traditional Malagasy warrior’s spear joined at the base, but in photographs and paintings it looks more like seven large feathers. The second distinctive feature is the representation of a falcon at the very top of the crown in the position a cross would occupy on the top of an orb in the traditional crown of a Christian sovereign. The falcon is a traditional symbol of the Malagasy sovereign. This crown and many other royal artifacts were saved when the Rova of Antananarivo (the royal palace and royal tomb complex) burned on November 6, 1995, and are now kept in the Andafiavaratra Palace museum nearby. The smaller queen’s crown last worn by Ranavalona III was taken with her into exile, first to Réunion and then later to Algiers, where she eventually died in 1917.

A different crown used as a canopy for the queens podium was returned to Madagascar in 2020 after many years in France stolen 123 years ago

Rwanda crowns – King and Queen mother

Rwanda was a kingdom from the 13th century unto 1961 whn a republic was declared. The Tutsi Tall Kings (Mwami) donned a unique crown made of white and black Imigingo patterns and white animal skin at the top. A similar cown was also worn by the Queen mother (Umugabekatsi). Traditionally the kings ruled alongside their mothers. These crowns can be seen today at the last residence of the king which is Nyanza royal palace/Kings museum in Nyanza, Rwanda.

see link – Rwanda Royal Family

Burundi Kings Crown and Drums

Burundi was a kingdom from the 15th century up to 1966. In precolonial Burundi, Royal Drum known as Karyenda was the symbol of the king/Mwami. Karyenda was seen as a sacred object and was used in royal ceremonies and stored in sanctuaries at the royal court. Rukinzo drum accompanied the king in his tours around the kingdom. A specific clan was responsible for being the drummers and the role was passed down to their descendants as today seen with the Royal drummers of Burundi. Today the drums can be seen at Gitega, the former royal capital. Other important aspects would be seen during the kings coronation such as his traditional robes and a modern crown. King Ntare V Charles Ndizeye wore this crown during his coronation in 1966

• Karyenda – royal drum
• icumu – spear
• Imbega – Mens traditional 2 piece attire

See link – Burundi Royal Family

Crown of King (Amanyanabo) of Kalabari kingdom, Nigeria

Crown of Kings of Lolan, Togo

Lolan kingdom is a traditional monarchy fomed by the Lawson family since 1821. They are ruled by Kings known as Togbe Ahuawoto who have rocked a crown since the 1930s. The European style crown has been handed down for generations and is a symbol of the kings

See link – Kings in Togo

Ashanti Golden Stool

The Ashanti/Asante sacred stool known as Sika’dwa is the symbol of power and authority of the Asantehene/King of Ashanti/Asante kingdom, Ghana. Legend has it that a high priest and two chief founders of the kingdom caused the stool to descend from the sky to land on the lap of the first Asantehene/King. It is said to house the spirit of the nation therefore must never touch the ground, it is placed on the kings left on the throne of its own. Similarly every paramount chief and their respective queen mothers have wooden stools at chiefdom level

Photo; National archives, Fair use image

Lion King of Leya people of Zambia, Ivory Crown

Lion King Mukuni of Leya people of Zambia and wife Nkwazi Queen Veronica Mukuni both wear lion crowns made of Ivory and a base made of beads

See link – Zambian Kings

Leopard skin

Leopard skin is a royal regalia in many african monarchies from South Africa, Uganda to Nigeria. The Leopard is associated with royalty, power and divinity and thus it is used in coronations to crown kings and adorned in various royal ceremonies including official portaits. It is also used as a carpet for the King. In Zulu kingdom, the kings queens and children also wear the leopard skin over their shoulders

Coral beads

Various kings from Benin kingdom, urhobo kingdoms and Esan kingdoms wear crowns made from Coral beads in various styles. Coral beads are common in the Benin kingdom

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