A self-proclaimed African king who was deported from a woodland camp in the Scottish Borders has announced his intention to 'take over Ghana'. Kofi Offeh, 36, who styles himself as King Atehene of the Kingdom of Kubala, was evicted from a forest near Jedburgh in October after occupying the land with his wife and a 'handmaiden'. He claims the land was stolen from his ancestors.
Arrival in Ghana and Bold Claims
Offeh arrived at Accra International Airport on Tuesday and told local news station Kofi TV about his plans. The former opera singer declared: 'I have come to take over Ghana because I am the King of Kubala. Everywhere I land, I take dominion, where I establish my throne, so the time has come. Everyone will bow before me, whether chiefs, politicians or even the police are going to serve me.'
Background of the Kingdom of Kubala
Offeh and his wife, Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, arrived in Jedburgh in spring 2025. They claim to be descendants of Black Jacobites, Highlanders who lived in Scotland more than 400 years ago. According to the tribe, Queen Elizabeth I deported their ancestors, forcing them into exile. Kaura Taylor, 21, who later joined them, had been reported missing by her family in Texas. Her aunt expressed heartbreak over Taylor's new lifestyle as the king's second wife. Taylor responded in a video: 'To the UK authorities, obviously I am not missing. Leave me alone. I’m an adult, not a helpless child.'
Eviction and Legal Battles
The group's kingdom, which they called the 'Mambaza Woodlands', gained over 100,000 followers on TikTok before the account was deleted. They filmed rituals, bathing in the river, and living a 'simple life'. Council officials evicted them in July from a hillside site above Jedburgh, but they moved a mile further down. Landowners David and Mary Palmer obtained a court eviction order in September, which the tribe also defied. Officers then relocated them to a makeshift encampment, but they set up a new camp on council-owned land.
Arrest and Deportation
One of the group's final Facebook posts showed Offeh and Taylor being arrested by immigration officers in October, with Gasho filming. In the live-stream, Gasho told Taylor, who goes by Asnat, that she 'loves her', and told Offeh: 'I love you, my king… I’ll see you shortly.' The post caption read: 'We stand strong. Kubala… Kubala. We will not be defeated. We are powerful. Join us, stand with our community.'
Offeh previously stated in August last year: 'Many people do not have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. They see things and they judge without understanding. This includes the government of Great Britain, who say that culture and religion is tolerant in Great Britain, but the Kingdom of Kubala has suffered trials and tribulations at the hands of authorities, who do not understand or tolerate.'
