{{short description|African kingdom}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = | native_name = | native_name_lang = Royaume du Sanwi | flag = Kingdom_of_Sanwi_flag.svg | flag_caption = Flag of Sanwi | image = Royaumes_ci.jpg | image_caption = Pre-European kingdoms | total = 20,000 | total_year = <!-- year of total population --> | total_source = estimate | total_ref = <!-- references supporting total population --> | genealogy = | regions = Krindjabo, Africa | languages = Anyi language | philosophies = | religions = Akan religion and Christianity | related_groups = | footnotes = }}
The '''Kingdom of Sanwi''' is a traditional kingdom located in the south-east corner of the Republic of Ivory Coast in West Africa.
It was established in about 1740 by Anyi migrants from Ghana with its capital at Krindjabo. In 1843, the kingdom became a protectorate of France. In 1959, it merged with Ivory Coast.<ref name="Boone">{{cite book |last1=Boone |first1=Catherine |title=Political Topographies of the African State: Territorial Authority and Institutional Choice |url=https://archive.org/details/politicaltopogra0000boon |url-access=registration |date=October 17, 2003 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521532648 |page=[https://archive.org/details/politicaltopogra0000boon/page/232 232]}}</ref>
In the early 19th century, Sanwi was a vassal to the Asante Empire until this status was destroyed as a result of French colonial expansion in the region.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daddieh|first=Cyril K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_VptCwAAQBAJ&dq=bondoukou+Asante+Empire&pg=PA422|title= Historical Dictionary of Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast)|date=2016|pages=422–423|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9780810873896}}</ref>
The kingdom declared American singer Michael Jackson to be High Prince of the Sanwi in 1992.<ref name="Pflanz">{{cite news |last1=Pflanz |first1=Mike |title=Royal Ivory Coast funeral for tribe 'prince' Michael Jackson |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5965126/Royal-Ivory-Coast-funeral-for-tribe-prince-Michael-Jackson.html |access-date=7 February 2019 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> Reciprocal visits by Jackson and King Amon N'Douffou IV were made to Krindjabo and Los Angeles respectively. After Jackson's death in 2009, an elaborate two-day funeral was held in Sanwi. Jesse Jackson (no relation) was declared prince in August of that year when he was crowned Prince Nana by Amon N'Douffou V, and held the office until his death in 2026.<ref name="Jesse Jackson">{{cite news |title=Jesse Jackson named prince of African tribe |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/6022964/Jesse-Jackson-named-prince-of-African-tribe.html |access-date=7 February 2019 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=August 13, 2009}}</ref>
== List of monarchs ==
* Kouane Adinga II (1940-1942) * Amon N'Douffou III (1944-1979) * Kakou Andoh (1980-1985) * Amon N'Douffou IV (1985-2002) * vacant (2002-2005) * Amon N'Douffou V (2005-present)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Côte d'IvoireTraditional States |url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Cote_dIvorie_native.html |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://delegationroyaumesanwi.fr.gd European Delegation of Sanwi Kingdom] (in French)
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord missing|Ivory Coast}}
Category:1959 disestablishments in Ivory Coast