THE JOURNEY FROM MAIDEN TO QUEEN
In the Dipo Season of 2014, Mensima Clerk - then a postgraduate researcher studying African female puberty rites - traveled to her homeland in GaDangme to witness the dipo rites. Much like the ancient dipo goddess Nana Klowɛki, Mensima sojourned to Kroboland and took residence at Adjikpo, Yilo Krobo where in her first season, she observed and studied the dipo custom. As a “mature maiden” she was embraced by the dipo custodians, priestesses and wise-women, who not only hosted and educated her about the custom, they opened their hearts to her and shared their burdens, challenges and concerns. Mensima was deeply moved by the Elders convictions about dipo and personally impacted by their commitment to its performance, so much so that she forged a partnership with the priestesses, and committed to using her knowledge, skills and resources to assist them.
In April of 2015, during her second dipo season, Mensima performed her dipo rites and was initiated at Adjikpo Donor Dipo Wem. She emerged from this experience with intimate knowledge of dipo, and well-formed personal convictions about dipo as a solid foundation for womanhood. She believed that dipo could play a larger role in the life a of a modern girl and, like Nana Klowɛki before her, took it upon herself to repackage the dipo rites and re-tool it to address the issues facing young girls of this time. Having been fully initiated into the custom, Mensima was given a place among the priestesses and immediately began teaching the dipoyi (girls undergoing dipo initiation). She created a platform for the dipoyi to ask questions and express their concerns about dipo, and also gain a better understanding of the "process" of womanhood. Mensima also began supporting the dipo houses with food and materials needed to host the dipoyi during each performance; she began with her own house at Adjikpo Donor and soon began teaching and supporting all the dipo houses in Yilo Krobo.
In April of 2016, Mensima returned to Kroboland for her third dipo season, during which she was visited by the dipo Elders, who came to witness her teaching and donation programs. They informed her that they have been observing her from afar and were aware of all her efforts towards dipo; including her discussion of dipo on radio programs; her focus on dipo in her scholarship and that she has carried dipo culture to distant lands. They also informed her that alongside her work, they have also been doing their own traditional work, to raise the dipo custom and return the rites to prominence. They explained that three years ago they were told through kusum, that a Stool must be erected for dipo - as the Stool is the highest seat for a human being - and through it a new female leader, with the knowledge of a priestess and grace of a goddess, will be revealed. The Elders continued to explain that after three years of waiting, they had received confirmation and came to tell Mensima that Dipo Stool had chosen her for its seat; that once they enstool her, the dipo custom and all its kusum will be vested in her and she will be the first Dipo and Kusum Maŋnyɛ (Queenmother). The Elders assembled the dipotsɛmɛi (dipo elders council) to prepare Mensima for her enstoolment ceremony; where she was to receive the mission of her Stool, be given her Stool name, and seated on her Stool for life; as Maŋnyɛ.
On the morning of April 11, 2016, Mensima Clerk was enstooled, by the dipotsɛmɛi, with the Stool Name: Klo Dodue Nana Korlekour Amanfu Totroku I. As they proclaimed her new Stool name, the dipotsɛmɛi offered the following edict:
"You will now be addressed as Nana and Maŋnyɛ because you have now become a mother through custom and will be called upon - by GaDangme children - for generations to come … We are giving you the name Korlekour Amanfu because you were born into the Clerk Family as the second daughter, and from this day, you are now a family-head for GaDangme; one who gathers and is surrounded by many people … We are also giving giving you the name Totroku, which comes from our sacred rock the Tɛkpɛtɛ; as you unite our people, follow the sacred rock ... you will know your people by this rock, and also be a rock to your people ... Embrace all your people as a mother, and also lead them as a queen; so that when anyone calls you "Maŋnyɛ" you will honor you title with your essence ... You and your title must be one ..."
Maŋnyɛ Mensima honors her title in private life while maintaining both her Stool duties and professional commitments.
