Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It is four o’clock in the morning. The city is Washington, DC in the United States. Almost everyone in the city is sleeping. The government buildings along the streets are quiet and empty. Few cars are on the roads. And the city is dark. In a home near the middle of the city, a telephone rings. A woman answers. The woman’s name is Peggeliene Bartels.
Voice 2
The man calling Bartels is a family member. He is from her family’s village of Otuam – in the country of Ghana. He is calling with some strange news. This telephone call will change Bartels’ life forever.
Voice 1
The man explains that the village of Otuam needs a new king. And he tells Bartels that local officials have chosen her. Bartels cannot believe it. She is tired. And she thinks it is a joke. But it is not. Today’s Spotlight is on King Peggeliene Bartels, or King Peggy.
Voice 2
Peggeliene Bartels was born in 1953, in Takoradi, Ghana. As a young adult, she studied in England. When she finished university, she moved to the United States. Bartels began working at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC. There, she is a secretary. She answers telephones. She types documents and e-mails. And she serves Embassy officials and visitors. Bartels enjoys her job. She has worked at the Embassy for more than 30 years. And in 1997, Bartels became a United States citizen.
Voice 1
While Bartels lived and worked in Washington, DC, her uncle was king of Otuam. Her mother’s brother ruled the village for many years. But in 2008, the king died. And leaders in the village had to choose a new king. The leaders suggested names of people that might replace the king. One person suggested Bartels. This was an unusual suggestion. Past kings had all been men.
Voice 2
The village leaders performed a ritual to choose the new leader. This religious tradition involved pouring liquid on the ground and then saying the name of each possible king. If the liquid quickly evaporated after one of the names, the leaders would choose that person to be king. The ritual confirmed that Bartels should be king. The village leaders were not sure about choosing a woman to be king. So, they performed the ritual three times to be sure. Finally, the leaders agreed. They would offer the king’s position to Bartels.
Voice 1
When Bartels’ family member called, he told her that her uncle had always wanted her to be the next king. Bartels never knew that. And she was not sure if she should accept this new job. She had a job in the United States. And as king she would be responsible for Otuam’s 7000 villagers. Bartels thought about the offer for many days. Soon, she felt like God was telling her to take it. She told the news organization NPR:
Voice 3
“When they told me, I was a little afraid to accept it. It comes with responsibilities. And I have a job as a secretary in the United States! I have my own responsibilities and bills to pay! And to become king, you have to be really rich. But then, it was like someone was talking to me. A voice said, ‘Accept it. This is what you are supposed to do. You will have help so you can help your people.’”
Voice 1
So Peggy Bartels accepted the job of king. People usually only use the term “king” for male leaders. “Queen” is the word for female rulers. But Bartels did not want her people to call her “Queen Peggy.” She wanted them to call her “king”. She told the news organization, CNN:
Voice 3
“Most of the time, a king is the one who has all the power to do things. The queen has power over children’s issues. And the queen reports to the king.”
Voice 2
Bartels knew that the term “king” would communicate power. So having this title was important for her. When Bartels told the men she wanted to be called king, they were surprised. She told NPR:
Voice 3
“When I said this, all the men stood up. They said, ‘A woman is speaking like this?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am serious. Treat me like a man because I am a man… Do not look at me as a woman. If you understand me as a man, then we can move forward. But if you think I am a woman, we are not going to be able to work together.’”
Voice 1
Today, the people of her village respect King Peggy. And she is beginning to change minds. She told NPR:
Voice 3
“They are beginning to accept me for who I am. The women are trying to understand me. They see that as a woman, you can do a lot. You do not have to sit down and wait for a man to succeed in life. If I am a woman and I am doing this, they can also do it.”
Voice 1
King Peggy has worked hard to improve the lives of people in her village. Since becoming king, she has raised money for the village. This money has helped send children to school. It has helped buy computers for the school classrooms. The village now even has an emergency vehicle!
Voice 2
King Peggy still lives in the United States. And she still works as a secretary at the Embassy. But she remains connected to her people. She visits Ghana for one month each year. And every day at 1:00 in the morning, she calls her representative in Otuam. This family member tells her everything that is happening in the village. And he tells the villagers what she says. King Peggy hopes to move back to Otuam when she retires from her job at the Embassy.
Voice 1
King Peggy did not expect to become King of Otuam. But now, she believes it is her calling. She has faith that God meant for her to be king. And she believes God gives her strength to lead her people. She told CNN:
Voice 3
“I recognize that we all have a calling. We have to be ready to accept it. Helping my people has really helped me. I know that I can really touch and change their lives. I would have really regretted not accepting this calling.”
Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Dianna Anderson. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called “King Peggy: A Woman Leader.”
Voice 1
You can leave your comments on our website. And find us on Facebook – just search for Spotlight Radio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Read about more famous people in our Biographies Playlist
Question:
What is the best way to choose a leader? How do you choose leaders in your community, region, or country? Write your answer below.
I love it
I like this story.
In my countryleaders usually choose by voting
In my country leaders are selected by voting
i think the best way to chooses leader is the person who is to have responsibility honestly.
why there is no sound ?
I love this story!
To choose leader you have to choose person how has power to solve all the problems with less losses, and he fair with all the people he life in his country.
To be king, president or even simple goverenment official, you have to be know that is responsibility front of many people and front of God. You have to be strong to manage things and conflicts. You must to bring Justice and safety to people. You have to be wise like “Queen Sheba” and no matter if you man or women.
Sadly, ln my contry who have the pwoer and weapon he is who control of power.
The story is wonderfull, she is a lider of the comunity, I am so happy for the women!!!
At first I like the story, and secondly for me I will chose the one who has responsibility and has accept from popular
I like a story
In my own community leader is choose if he
or she has the quality of leadership which are integrity, honestly, management of people and he or she is ready to stand up and depends the community that he or she is govern in all circumstances
Leadership is a phenomenon of inevitable discussion in psychology and community intervention, yet research on this construct is scarce. This work aimed to make an approach to its state of the art through a documentary design and content analysis. The results show that community leadership has two levels: leadership by the community and leadership of the community. The first refers to the presence of leaders or leaders representing the community whose characteristics and challenges are described, while the second refers to the social capital accumulated in pursuit of change for the community. Intervention strategies used for both levels are described, concluding that it is essential to consider them as complementary actions.
I think the best way is to see the attitude and behavior of the person, so we could choose him.
We pick him by vote and whoever has the most votes wins and he’s the president.
I don’t heard any story like this ago
It is beautiful story
I love this story
In my country the ruling family choess the now king and also the last king can choess the now king Before his death, and if the king have children may he choess one of his sons.
I like this strong woman
I loved what I listen ❤️❤️❤️
It given me a passion
When we study or work, surely We will connect to many people. At least two people or even a group. In my view, the best way to choose a good leader base on the features following:
First of all, this is a person who has the ability to lead. I think it is a skill very important because when we become a team leader, we must manage too many people. Even with the many levels in our company like the senior, the junior or even fresher. Second, a leader must people has an extensive view. The factor is called intelligence. Third, decision-making skills are quite important.
In my state leadership just of the royal family i think this right but if was any woman strong and she can do it is good but i think the is best the man
Actually I prefer countries more then villages and regions cuz counties are more developed and thier lifestyle is better and the education and every thing you can imagine
I think the best way to choose a leader is by voting. it’s fair for all candidates, and in my country they choose a leader by ? in my country we have only one family that can one of them to be leader and the leader must to be a men we called him a king
I think the best waw to do it is by sagregation.
In that way.