We've long suspected LisaRaye McCoy is royalty, so it's only right that she was officially crowned a queen.
The veteran actress was crowned a Queen Mother of Ghana on Sunday, a day before her birthday, according to iHeart Radio.
Over the weekend LisaRaye McCoy was crowned Queen Mother of Ghana!
She was awarded the honor at a ceremony in Los Angeles which was presided over by King Yahweh. Lisa was made a Queen Nana because of her humanitarian work in Ghana. Queen Mothers are lead… pic.twitter.com/ycPm7em0fv— CouleurMyWorld (@CouleurMyWorld) September 24, 2019
Eurweb reports McCoy received the designation during an enstoolment ceremony in Los Angeles. She will rule the West African nation’s Central Region. The Ashanti people started the ritual in the 17th Century. Each village and community is supposed to have a Chief and Queen Mother descended from their royal family. Queen Mothers are expected to look after the other women and children in their communities. They also possessed judicial and legislative powers. The tradition was interrupted after Ghana was colonized and Europeans preferred to interact with male chiefs.
There are approximately 10,000 queen mothers in Ghana. They want to modernize their position and reclaim their power.
"Now we are taking our place,’ Cape Coast's Nana Amba Eyiaba I told The Telegraph in 2015. "Our societies are male-dominated. We need women in our communities – to represent, listen and talk for the women of our country. We are powerful and people need us."
McCoy was chosen by the Paramount Chief of Agona Kwanyako and the Kyidom Traditional Divisional Councils for her philanthropy.
“This honor is beyond my wildest imagination,” McCoy said. “I plan to do all that I can by using my platform to bring positive attention to this region. I will serve humbly.”
The title is a source of validation for the Single Ladies star.
“Wow! African queen! I’m still trying to let that sink in!” McCoy declared. “I’ve had lots of accomplishments in my life, personally and professionally, but I didn’t get to this point alone. It’s taken a great team of people along the way. To have such an honor bestowed upon me by my own African people is a testament to my hard work and character. It’s like a dream coming true before my very eyes.”
McCoy is familiar with being a prominent leader. She used to be the first lady of Turks and Caicos through her marriage to former Chief Minister Michael Misick. The couple divorced in 2008.
