Kofi Offeh, who calls himself King Atehene and claims to rule a patch of land in Scotland he calls the Kingdom of Kubala, remains defiant in the face of a court order demanding his encampment be removed
The leader of a self-styled “African tribe” living in Scottish woods says he is “not afraid” of a court order saying his encampment should be removed.
Kofi Offeh, who describes himself as King Atehene of the Kingdom of Kubala, spoke to journalists after the order was issued at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
He said: “The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us. And we are not afraid of whatever the court – the so-called court – has granted.”
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It was put to him that the court order will soon lead to them being removed from the land. He said: “Let them do their worst.”
Responding to suggestions his “fantasy” is coming to an end, he said: “It is not a fantasy, it is a prophecy. We walk through prophecy and we live it as it comes.”
Asked if they planned to move elsewhere, he said: “If the creator of the heavens and the earth wants us to move from this land, he shall find us a place to go.”
Jean Gasho, who calls herself Queen Nandi, said the group are unafraid of jail, telling reporters: “We’ve already been to jail for loving our children, do you think chains frighten us?” The group later sang and chanted in the woodland.
The three members of the self-proclaimed “kingdom” have said they are reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago.
The civil action was brought after the group ignored a previous eviction notice, which instructed them to leave their encampment by 5pm on Monday September 8.
Asnat, the tribe’s handmaiden, was finally tracked down after being reported missing from her home in Texas.
Kaura Taylor, 21, fled Dallas, Texas, with her one-year-old daughter in May causing alarm among family and friends when she surfaced again as part of the “Kingdom of Kubala” in Scotland. She described how she had given up her old name, calling herself Asnat within the tribe.
Taylor, a high-school graduate who had formerly worked at a gas station and as a waitress, was described as a “church-going” child. She had apparently been messaging the self-proclaimed King and Queen for months before leaving her former life behind.
