Women in History · Head-to-head
Liliuokalani vs Yaa Asantewaa
Yes — based on their recorded years, Liliuokalani (1838–1917) and Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840–1921) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Liliuokalani
The last sovereign monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, overthrown in an 1893 coup, and a talented composer remembered for the song 'Aloha Oe'.
Key achievements
- Became the first and only queen to rule the Kingdom of Hawaii in her own right, from 1891
- Attempted to restore powers to the Hawaiian monarchy through a new constitution
- Was overthrown in 1893 by a coup led by American and European business interests
- Composed numerous songs, including the widely known 'Aloha Oe'
Fast fact
Liliuokalani composed the beloved song 'Aloha Oe' and wrote her autobiography while imprisoned in Iolani Palace following the overthrow of her kingdom.
Full profile of Liliuokalani →Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa was a queen mother of the Ashanti Empire who led the War of the Golden Stool in 1900, one of the last major uprisings against British colonial rule in West Africa.
Key achievements
- Served as queen mother of Ejisu within the Ashanti Empire.
- Rallied and led Ashanti forces in the War of the Golden Stool against British colonial rule in 1900.
- Commanded thousands of fighters in a siege of the British fort at Kumasi.
- Was ultimately captured and exiled to the Seychelles, where she died in 1921.
Fast fact
Yaa Asantewaa led the 1900 War of the Golden Stool after British colonial officials demanded to sit on the Golden Stool, the sacred symbol of Ashanti sovereignty, an act that provoked fierce resistance.
Full profile of Yaa Asantewaa →Who lived first, Liliuokalani or Yaa Asantewaa?
Liliuokalani (1838–1917) lived first, before Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840–1921), based on their recorded years.
Were Liliuokalani and Yaa Asantewaa contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Liliuokalani (1838–1917) and Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840–1921) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Liliuokalani and Yaa Asantewaa have in common?
Both Liliuokalani and Yaa Asantewaa are grouped among our Women in History figures and lived during the Modern Era.