Adjua Gyapiaba (c. 1820-1880), also known as Ajua Japiaba, Api-jaba and Afi Jaba, was a woman from
Elmina
Elmina, also known as Edina by the local Fante people, Fante, is a town and the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District, Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District on the south coast of Ghana in the Central Region, Ghana, Centra ...
in contemporary
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, who after a heated argument with a fellow Elminan was expelled by the
Dutch colonial authorities to Suriname, where she eventually acquired fame as a herbalist and diviner.
Biography
Little is known about the early life of Adjua Gyapiaba other than that she was born in
Elmina
Elmina, also known as Edina by the local Fante people, Fante, is a town and the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District, Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District on the south coast of Ghana in the Central Region, Ghana, Centra ...
to Kwabena Gyapia. While she was working as a trader in the
Asante capital of
Kumasi
Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie or Coomassie, usually spelled Kumase in Twi) is a city in the Ashanti Region, and is among the largest metropolitan areas in Ghana. Kumasi is located in a rain forest region near Lake Bosomtwe, and is the ...
, she became embroiled in an argument with the wife of Elmina trader Kwamena Ankwanda that grew so heated that both women called each other ''donko'', meaning "slave". When Kwamena Ankwanda tried to intervene on behalf of his wife, Gyapiaba allegedly swore an oath on the
Asantehene
The is the title for the monarch of the historical Ashanti Empire as well as the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. The Ashanti royal house traces its line to the Oyoko (an ''Abusua'', or "clan") Abohyen Dynasty of Nana Twum and t ...
that all Elminese were slaves of Asante, as were the inhabitants of
Cape Coast
Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea ...
. This caused great controversy among the Elminese in Kumasi, as she effectively called into question the legitimacy of the Elmina government.
Swearing an oath was a serious affair in the Gold Coast society of the day, and since she had sworn an oath on the Asantehene, Gyapiaba was indicted before an Asante court, which fined her 1-pound 14 Engels. As Gyapiaba's oath was favourable to the Asante, she was presented with the money by Poku, a spokesman of Asantehene
Kwaku Dua I
Kwaku Dua Panin (born Fredua Agyeman; – 27 April 1867) was the eighth Asantehene of the Ashanti Empire from 25 August 1834 until his death.
Early life
Prince Kwaku Dua took part in the fighting against the Gyaman, a state north of Kum ...
.
In Elmina, Gyapiaba's oath was taken much more seriously, however. Two envoys, one representing the native Elmina government and one representing the Dutch colonial government, were sent to Kumasi, urging the Asantehene to send Gyapiaba back to Elmina. After protracted negotiations, Gyapiaba was sent back to Elmina and immediately put in prison. The Dutch
procurator fiscal W.G.F. Derx was reluctant to try Gyapiaba, but eventually succumbed to pressure by the Elmina government, which held that if there had not been a Dutch fort, Gyapiaba would have been burned at the stake.
A year after the argument in Kumasi had taken place, on 7 November 1849, Governor
Anthony van der Eb
Anthony van der Eb (born 3 January 1813 – 21 September 1852) was a Dutch civil servant, who made a career in the administration on the Dutch Gold Coast.
Biography
Van der Eb was born in Rotterdam on 3 January 1813 to Hendrik van der Eb and ...
sentenced Gyapiaba "in accordance with African laws and local customs, suitably amended," to lifelong banishment in the East or West Indies for "serious calumnies and diatribes against the Dutch Government, the Elminese African government and the whole population of this place."
Banishment to Suriname
Execution of the verdict took until early 1851 to materialize, as a suitable vessel had to be found that could take Gyapiaba into exile. Finally, on 15 March 1851, Gyapiaba arrived in Suriname. Although banishments had not been uncommon in the days of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the arrival of Gyapiaba three decades after the end of the slave trade posed the colonial authorities with some difficulties. It proved hard to find an
Akan interpreter for Gyapiaba's deposition, and when this interpreter was eventually found, Gyapiaba stated that she did not know why she was exiled. The Governor of Suriname requested the Minister of the Colonies that for future cases "no deportees from the Coast of Guinea be sent to his colony, as they refused to work and had to be supported at the cost of the colony."
In February 1859, the Governor reported that Gyapiaba had been earning a living as a tradeswoman for a long time and that she was not supported by the government any longer. In 1862, she was given use of a yard on the Gemenelandsweg in Paramaribo where she was charged low rent, on account of indigence. In March 1869, she was allowed to inhabit the land free of charge, on account of her ill health.
In 1868, she petitioned King
William III of the Netherlands
William III (Dutch: ''Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk''; English: ''William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis''; 19 February 1817 – 23 November 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1849 until his death in 18 ...
to let her return to Elmina, but despite the fact that the governors of both Suriname and the Gold Coast had no objections to this, no decision was taken. Meanwhile, Gyapiaba had acquired fame in Suriname as a herbalist and diviner. There were rumours she was a princess in her native country and her services were highly sought after by all layers of society. She is said to have been on friendly terms with Governor , and frequently organized dance parties where she attracted attention with her African, non-Creole dance.
Others recollect that she rode through
Frimangron
Centrum is a resort in Suriname, located in the Paramaribo District. Its population at the 2012 census was 20,631. The historical centre of Paramaribo is located within the resort. The city centre is mainly in original condition, contains 291 lis ...
on a goat while offering her services.

Gyapiaba died in Paramaribo on 18 November 1880.
Legacy
In 2007, the Surinamese government decided to rename the Nepveustraat in Paramaribo, which was named after a colonial governor of Suriname, to Afi Jabastraat.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gyapiaba, Adjua
1820s births
1880 deaths
Dutch Gold Coast people
Surinamese people
People from Elmina