Many people know the story of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, and the voice behind many worldwide hit songs in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
However, few people know that the late singer is actual royalty, not just in the creative sense.
He is also know as Prince Michael Jackson Amalaman Anoh, veritably a king-in-waiting among the Sanwi people of southeastern Côte d’Ivoire.
The story began in early February 1992, during a goodwill tour of Africa.
Of all his engagements during that trip, ranging from meeting Tanzania’s president, to speaking on wildlife conservation and visiting hospitals and orphanages, the most remarkable was when he landed in Abidjan, greeted by massive crowds and his subsequent journey to Krindjabo, the capital of the Kingdom of Sanwi, an Agni community established in the mid-18th century in Ivory Coast.
Based on mystic readings and possible DNA tests suggesting royal lineage, a tribal chief invited Jackson to be crowned king-in-waiting.
It was a joyous affair with Agni drumming, while tribal elders chanted and villagers danced, women performed amid ritualistic fervor, honoring ancestral powers.
The coronation ceremony took place under a sacred tree, where Jackson donned a vibrant traditional toga-like robe and was seated upon a golden throne.
Local chiefs placed a golden crown upon his head and pronounced him “King of Sanwi,” or Prince Amalaman Anoh.
Following this, Jackson delivered heartfelt thanks in both French and English, signed official documents to formalise the title, and embraced the gravity of the moment.
In Sanwi tradition, this ceremony signified Jackson’s adoption as the spiritual son of King Nana Amon N’Douffou IV.
In reciprocation, Jackson welcomed the king to Los Angeles in 1995, hosting him and Lisa Marie Presley for several days, including a visit to Universal Studios, and further honoring their cultural ties.
When Jackson passed away unexpectedly in 2009, aged 50, Krindjabo mourned deeply.
The village orchestrated an elaborate two-day royal funeral, complete with dancers, impersonators, and vibrant traditional rituals.
Elders formally requested the return of Jackson’s body for an African burial, though the request was ultimately declined. The ancestral rites proceeded symbolically and with solemn respect.
To carry forward his legacy, local leaders conduct annual remembrance ceremonies every June 25, the anniversary of his passing, to remember their late king-in-waiting.
Watch the video of his coronation below:
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Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below:
