By tendai keith guvamombe
A bizarre and highly controversial land dispute is escalating in the Scottish Borders as a self-proclaimed royal family, the “Kingdom of Kubala,” refuses to vacate woodland near Jedburgh despite repeated eviction notices and warrants.
The group claims to be reoccupying land they believe was stolen from their African ancestors some 400 years ago.
The self-styled “tribe” is composed of just three people: Kofi Offeh, a Ghanaian man who calls himself King Atehene; his Zimbabwean wife, Jean Gasho, who is known as Queen Nandi; and their American “handmaiden,” Kaura Taylor (Asnat).
The trio has been camping in the area for weeks, asserting that they are the descendants of a “lost tribe of Hebrews” who once inhabited Scotland.
A Spiritual, Legal Standoff
The Kingdom of Kubala’s claims revolve around a belief that the land was unjustly taken from their ancestors when Queen Elizabeth I allegedly deported all black people from Scotland and England centuries ago.
They see their occupation not as illegal camping, but as a spiritual reclamation of their “Promised Land.”Scottish Borders Council has launched repeated legal action to remove the trio from the private and council-owned land they have occupied, but the group has remained defiant.
In a dramatic show of resistance, King Atehene and Queen Nandi even posted a TikTok video of themselves singing and dancing while being served with court papers.
Local Tension and Social Media Fame
The group’s presence has caused considerable friction with local residents, with reports of confrontations, shouted abuse, and even incidents where the group claims their camp was attacked with rocks.
Despite the controversy and lack of historical or legal basis for their claim, the Kingdom of Kubala has garnered a significant, and often bewildered, following online, documenting their simple life and their ongoing standoff with authorities.
The situation has turned a quiet Scottish town into the unlikely focal point of a unique international drama about sovereignty and land rights.
