Laura Adorkor Kofi (surname variously spelled as Kofy, Koffey or Kofey) was born near Accra, Ghana, possibly into a royal family. A plaque at her gravesite gives the title "Princess", and 1893 as a birthdate; other sources put her birthdate much earlier.[1] Some versions of her early life also say that she experienced visions and voices which encouraged her to go abroad and teach Africans in America.[2] Her detractors in her last years spread rumors that she was born "Laura Champion" in Athens, Georgia; but religious history scholar Richard S. Newman compiled evidence to confirm that she was, in fact, Ghanaian by birth.[3]
Careeredit
St. Adorka's African Universal Church, founded by Laura Adorkor Kofi in 1929 in Belforest, a community in Daphne, Alabama.
Kofi moved to North America around 1918, and lived in Detroit for several years. She worked as national field director for Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, touring the deep South and attracting large crowds[4] as a "prophet" (in her own estimation), with her base in Jacksonville, Florida.[5] In 1927 she founded the African Universal Church, with herself as its head ("Warrior Mother of Africa's Warriors of the Most High God" was her self-chosen title).[1] Garvey soon decided that she was building too much of a following independent of his cause, and announced, "This woman is a fake and has no authority from me to speak."[6] He also encouraged his followers to have her arrested for fraud.[7]
In March 1928, Laura Adorkor Kofi was shot while speaking from the pulpit at a church in Miami. She died from the gunshot wound to her head; a Jamaican follower of Marcus Garvey, Maxwell Cook, presumed to be her assailant, was immediately beaten to death by the congregation who witnessed the attack.[3] Ten thousand people are said to have attended her funerals in several cities; her remains were dressed in robes of black, green and red, placed in a bronze casket, and entombed in a mausoleum in Jacksonville's Old City Cemetery.[6]
Her congregation called a new pastor from South Africa, Eli Nyombolo. They continued her work as the Missionary African Universal Church. In the 1940s, on the outskirts of Jacksonville, they built a small settlement they called "Adorkaville" after Mother Kofi.[8] (Most of Adorkaville was demolished by the city in the 1970s, after Nyombolo died and the church experienced infighting and schism.)[6]
There is a small collection of research materials related to Laura Adorkor Kofi at the New York Public Library.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abNathan Aaseng, ed., African-American Religious Leaders: A-Z of African Americans (Infobase Publishing 2014): 135-136. ISBN9781438107813
^"Jacksonville's Lost Princess" Metro Jacksonville (28 April 2014).
^ abRichard Newman, "'Warrior Mother of Africa's Warriors of the Most High God': Laura Adorkor Kofey and the African Universal Church" in Judith Weisenfeld and Richard Newman, eds., This Far by Faith: Readings in African-American Women's Religious Biography (Routledge 2014). ISBN9781136663581
^Natanya Keisha Duncan, "Princess Laura Kofey and the Reverse Atlantic Experience" in Brian Ward, Martyn Bone, and William A. Link, eds., American South and the Atlantic World (University Press of Florida 2013): 218-238. ISBN9780813044378
^Ben Brotemarkle, "Rise and Assassination of 'Mother Kofi'" Florida Frontiers (16 February 2016): 7A.
^ abcSteve Patterson, "After 85 years, slain minister's Jacksonville legacy lingers" Florida Times-Union (8 March 2013).
^Marcus Garvey, notice dated 10 October 1927, The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers, Vol. VI (University of California Press 1989): 599. ISBN9780520065680
^Barbara Bair, "'Ethiopia Shall Stretch Forth Her Hand Unto God': Laura Kofey and the Gendered Vision of Redemption in the Garvey Movement" in Susan Juster, ed., A Mighty Baptism: Race, Gender, and the Creation of American Protestantism (Cornell University Press 1996): 38-61. ISBN9780801482120
^ Laura Adorkor Kofey research collection (1926-1981), Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Archives and Manuscripts.
laura, adorkor, kofi, died, march, 1928, commonly, known, mother, kofi, ghanaian, minister, activist, associated, with, universal, negro, improvement, association, assassinated, while, preaching, miami, florida, contents, early, life, career, references, exter. Laura Adorkor Kofi died 8 March 1928 commonly known as Mother Kofi was a Ghanaian minister and activist associated with the Universal Negro Improvement Association She was assassinated while preaching in Miami Florida Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editLaura Adorkor Kofi surname variously spelled as Kofy Koffey or Kofey was born near Accra Ghana possibly into a royal family A plaque at her gravesite gives the title Princess and 1893 as a birthdate other sources put her birthdate much earlier 1 Some versions of her early life also say that she experienced visions and voices which encouraged her to go abroad and teach Africans in America 2 Her detractors in her last years spread rumors that she was born Laura Champion in Athens Georgia but religious history scholar Richard S Newman compiled evidence to confirm that she was in fact Ghanaian by birth 3 Career edit nbsp St Adorka s African Universal Church founded by Laura Adorkor Kofi in 1929 in Belforest a community in Daphne Alabama Kofi moved to North America around 1918 and lived in Detroit for several years She worked as national field director for Marcus Garvey s Universal Negro Improvement Association touring the deep South and attracting large crowds 4 as a prophet in her own estimation with her base in Jacksonville Florida 5 In 1927 she founded the African Universal Church with herself as its head Warrior Mother of Africa s Warriors of the Most High God was her self chosen title 1 Garvey soon decided that she was building too much of a following independent of his cause and announced This woman is a fake and has no authority from me to speak 6 He also encouraged his followers to have her arrested for fraud 7 In March 1928 Laura Adorkor Kofi was shot while speaking from the pulpit at a church in Miami She died from the gunshot wound to her head a Jamaican follower of Marcus Garvey Maxwell Cook presumed to be her assailant was immediately beaten to death by the congregation who witnessed the attack 3 Ten thousand people are said to have attended her funerals in several cities her remains were dressed in robes of black green and red placed in a bronze casket and entombed in a mausoleum in Jacksonville s Old City Cemetery 6 Her congregation called a new pastor from South Africa Eli Nyombolo They continued her work as the Missionary African Universal Church In the 1940s on the outskirts of Jacksonville they built a small settlement they called Adorkaville after Mother Kofi 8 Most of Adorkaville was demolished by the city in the 1970s after Nyombolo died and the church experienced infighting and schism 6 There is a small collection of research materials related to Laura Adorkor Kofi at the New York Public Library 9 References edit a b Nathan Aaseng ed African American Religious Leaders A Z of African Americans Infobase Publishing 2014 135 136 ISBN 9781438107813 Jacksonville s Lost Princess Metro Jacksonville 28 April 2014 a b Richard Newman Warrior Mother of Africa s Warriors of the Most High God Laura Adorkor Kofey and the African Universal Church in Judith Weisenfeld and Richard Newman eds This Far by Faith Readings in African American Women s Religious Biography Routledge 2014 ISBN 9781136663581 Natanya Keisha Duncan Princess Laura Kofey and the Reverse Atlantic Experience in Brian Ward Martyn Bone and William A Link eds American South and the Atlantic World University Press of Florida 2013 218 238 ISBN 9780813044378 Ben Brotemarkle Rise and Assassination of Mother Kofi Florida Frontiers 16 February 2016 7A a b c Steve Patterson After 85 years slain minister s Jacksonville legacy lingers Florida Times Union 8 March 2013 Marcus Garvey notice dated 10 October 1927 The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Vol VI University of California Press 1989 599 ISBN 9780520065680 Barbara Bair Ethiopia Shall Stretch Forth Her Hand Unto God Laura Kofey and the Gendered Vision of Redemption in the Garvey Movement in Susan Juster ed A Mighty Baptism Race Gender and the Creation of American Protestantism Cornell University Press 1996 38 61 ISBN 9780801482120 Laura Adorkor Kofey research collection 1926 1981 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture New York Public Library Archives and Manuscripts External links editLaura Adorkor Kofi at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laura Adorkor Kofi amp oldid 1171127062, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
