March 5, 2021

Heroines Week Yaa Asantewaa (3-5-2021)

by Chompers

Background show artwork for Chompers

Tonight on Chompers we're learning about the warrior queen who fought for the Ashanti Kingdom: Yaa Asantewaa.

Where to Listen

Transcript

>> Rachel: Get your toothbrush ready because it's time for Chompers, your morning and night toothbrushing show. 


Start brushing on the top of your mouth, and make little circles with your brush around each tooth


>> KIDS: 3, 2, 1 brush! 


>> Rachel: It’s Heroines Week, where every day we talk about heroic women who changed history. Tonight, we have the story of the Warrior Queen, Yaa Asantewaa


Yaa Asantewaa was a part of the royal family that ruled over the Ashanti Kingdom ... in an African country that today is called Ghana.  The Ashanti people had many riches, but there was one thing that was more special than anything else: A chair made of solid gold, called the Golden Stool.


Switch to the other side of the top of your mouth, and brush all the way to the molars in the back.


[Switch Bell]


>> Rachel: All was well in the Ashanti Kingdom until one day they were invaded by the British. They wanted to take the land and its riches. The British soldiers captured the king, and sent him to live alone on a faraway island. They told the Ashanti people that the Golden Stool was theirs now, and they even tried to sit in it, something even the KING of the Ashanti Kingdom wasn’t allowed to do. This made Yaa Asantewaa angry, and she decided to do something about it. 


Switch to the bottom of your mouth, and brush the inside, outside and chewing side of each tooth.


[Switch Bell]


>> Rachel: Yaa Asantewaa told the Ashanti soldiers that they HAD to fight the invaders! But the men were afraid. The British soldiers had better weapons, and they had taken their king! So Yaa Asantewaa figured if the men were too cowardly to fight, then the Ashanti WOMEN would fight! The Ashanti women were inspired by Yaa and joined to fight with her.  The courage of the women  encouraged the men to join the women, and Yaa led the Ashanti people into battle.


Switch to the other side of the bottom of your mouth, and brush your front teeth too.


[Switch Bell]


>> Rachel: The battle was long and fierce. Sadly, after a long fight, Yaa Asantewaa was captured and sent to the same faraway island as the King. But the people of Ghana never forgot her courage, and today Yaa Asantewaa is known as the Warrior Queen who fearlessly lead her people into battle. Because her bravery and leadership, she is today’s Chompers heroine!


That’s it for Chompers tonight, but we’ll be back with more tomorrow. Until then, 


>> KIDS: 3, 2, 1 spit!