Ghanaian national Kofi Offeh faces eviction order over ‘African Tribe’ encampment in Scotland
Ghanaian national Kofi Offeh, 36, and his partner Jean Gasho, 42, from Zimbabwe, have been ordered to vacate private land in the Scottish Borders after weeks of occupying woodland near Jedburgh.
The couple, who call themselves King Atehehe and Queen Nandi, declared the formation of the “Kingdom of Kubala” earlier this year. They were later joined by Texan Kaura Taylor, known as Asnat, who identified herself as their “handmaiden.” Together, the trio claimed they were reclaiming ancestral land allegedly taken from their forebears 400 years ago.
However, Sheriff Peter Paterson issued an immediate eviction order after the group ignored a previous directive to leave the site by Monday evening.
The case was brought forward by landowners David and Mary Palmer, who had already seen the group move from another hillside site near Jedburgh following a July eviction by the Scottish Borders Council.
Council deputy leader Scott Hamilton described the encampment as unlawful. “They have rebuffed every opportunity to engage with us. We can help them, but we won’t sit back and let them break the law,” he said, adding that the landowners had been left with no option but to turn to the courts.
Despite the ruling, Offeh told reporters at the campsite that they had no intention of leaving under pressure from the authorities.
“The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us, and we are not afraid of whatever the so-called court has granted,” he declared. Asked if they would relocate, he responded; “If the creator of the heavens and the earth wants us to move from this land, he shall find us a place to go.”
The self-proclaimed “Kingdom of Kubala” has gained significant attention online, amassing more than 100,000 followers across TikTok and Facebook.
But their presence in Jedburgh has sparked controversy, with locals expressing frustration over the encampment and the group’s allegations of prejudice against the community
