From Secretary to King (The Story of the Lady King Peggy of Otuam)

Peggielene Bartels was a naturalized American citizen living in a one-bedroom condo in Silver Spring, Maryland when she got a call in 2008 that changed her life forever. She was chosen as King of the Ghanaian village of Otuam. This is her story – the story of King Peggy.

Most little girls dream of becoming a princess. However, for Peggielene Bartels, her fate destined her to be the King of her story. Bartel’s parents were immigrants from Ghana. As a child, her parents would take her to visit their hometown of Otuam, a quaint fishing village located along the Ghanaian coast.

At 55 years old, Bartels was a secretary at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington D.C. and living in a one bedroom condo in Maryland, driving to work in her 1992 Honda Accord.

The call that changed her life
Peggielene Bartels was awakened at 4 am in 2008 by her cousin who was calling from Otuam to tell her she was chosen King.

At first, she thought it was a joke, but it was later apparent that her cousin was telling her the truth. Bartels’ uncle was the ruler of the village and had died. From a list of 25 prospective candidates, elders performed ancient rituals to help divine the next ruler.

How they chose
To find the successor to the throne, the elders would pour alcohol into the ground as they said aloud each name of a possible candidate to determine their next ruler. For all the other names mentioned, the alcohol simply soaked the ground. However, when Peggielene’s name was called, the alcohol steamed. This was thought to be the sign the elders were looking for to determine their next leader.

Living a double life
The Lady Queen accepted the position but still works at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington. She uses her vacation leave to go to the village to attend to her duties as King. In her absence, her cousin acts as the regent. When in Ghana, Peggieliene dresses the part, replete with a golden crown and scepter. Her constituents bow to her to pay their respects and refer to her as “Nana”.

In America, she still lives in the same condo, drives the same car and has kept her job at the Embassy.

Achievements
Even if she is ruling from another continent away, this Lady King has done much good. King Peggy has established a nonprofit community development corporation to provide access to clean water to the village of 7,000 people. She also refurbished the royal palace and given Otuam its first and only ambulance. In the works are a free library, more schoolbooks for the students as well as improvements to a local clinic. She wants to give Otuam computers and toilets for the school.

Real life to reel life
This story is too amazing not to be told. Her life story is already in a biography by Eleanor Herman. Also, Will Smith just bought the rights to make this into a movie and it is said that Queen Latifah will play the lead role.

King Peggy’s story proves that you can do great things even if you come from humble beginnings.