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King Peggy

King of Otuam, Ghana; Co-Author of "King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village"

  Categories:
Diversity Speakers, Economy and Finance, Inspirational Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Motivation, University Speakers
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King Peggy Biography

Peggielene Bartels was born in Ghana in 1953 and moved to Washington, D.C., in her early twenties to work at Ghana's embassy. She became an American citizen in 1997. In 2008, she was chosen to be King of Otuam, a Ghanaian village of 7,000 souls on the west coast of Africa. A devout Christian, she lives in Silver Spring, MD, still works at the embassy, and spends several weeks each year in Ghana.

In 2008, Peggieliene Bartels received a phone call that would change her life. Working as a secretary at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, Peggy was told she had been chosen King of Otuam, a fishing village of 7,000 people in Ghana, half a world away.

Born in Ghana and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Bartels had never even lived in Otuam. She had visited relatives there from time to time, but she was not prepared for the news that she had been chosen to succeed her uncle, the late king. Going back for centuries, all of the kings had been men.

Upon arriving for her crowning ceremony, she discovered the dire reality: there was no running water, no doctor, and no high school, and many of the village elders were stealing the town's funds. To make matters worse, her uncle (the late king) was sitting in a morgue awaiting a proper funeral in the royal palace, which was in ruins. The longer she waited to bury him, the more she risked incurring the wrath of her ancestors.

As the first female ruler of Otuam, it was clear she had her work cut out for her. She soon began to suspect that they had chosen her specifically because she lived so far away –and, as a woman, she would be weak and not able to change the legacy of corruption.

What they got instead was a headstrong, decidedly modern female king.

She set to work using funds from her own modest salary to rebuild the palace for the proper funeral. She rejuvenated her royal council to include people she trusted and turned her attention to improving the lives of her community members.

She worked to raise funds and donors to bring a water system to Otuam, where children as young as 5 years old were having to walk miles to fetch fresh water. Land fees –which had for years gone uncollected or into the wrong hands - now go directly into an account in a rural bank opened in her village.

The next project is to build a high school for students who have finished ninth grade.

An important part of her mission as King of Otuam is to bring empowerment to women. Peggy says, "I truly believe that the future of Africa lies in the hands of its women. Women, who nurture the children and take care of resources for the entire family, must be educated to bring these gifts to their communities. In Africa, more and more women each year are entering university, politics, and business. I hope that more women will become kings like me."

She is Co-Author of a book about her story, called King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village.

She now juggles two lives — from the palace in Otuam and from Washington, D.C., where until recently, she still drove a 1992 Honda Accord.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on King Peggy and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK King Peggy
Speaking Topics

  • King Peggy: From Secretary to King

    Nana Amuah-Afenyi VI is Peggy Bartels' new title, but she is better known as King Peggy. This straight-talking powerhouse is the first woman in her fishing community of 7,000 people in Ghana's Central Region to be anointed a king, or "nana."

    The story of her journey from American secretary to leader of 7,000 people half a world away is not only astonishing, it's uplifting, empowering and not without humor. Peggy proves that real life challenges and triumphs are often stranger than fiction, and that it is possible to effect change• even in the most inflexible and demanding of circumstances.

    In changing Otuam, Peggy was herself transformed, from an ordinary secretary to the heart and hope of her community.

    King Peggy can speak with her co author, Eleanor Herman.

Videos
BOOK King Peggy
Books
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village

King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village

News
FAQs

  • HOW TO BOOK King Peggy?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like King Peggy for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for King Peggy, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for King Peggy or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK King Peggy?

    Speaking fees for King Peggy, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that King Peggy charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire King Peggy, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR King Peggy?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like King Peggy for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book King Peggy for your next private or corporate function.

  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent King Peggy or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for King Peggy or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

King Peggy

King of Otuam, Ghana; Co-Author of "King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village"

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Washington, DC, USA
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Categories:
Diversity Speakers, Economy and Finance, Inspirational Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Motivation, University Speakers

King Peggy Biography

Peggielene Bartels was born in Ghana in 1953 and moved to Washington, D.C., in her early twenties to work at Ghana's embassy. She became an American citizen in 1997. In 2008, she was chosen to be King of Otuam, a Ghanaian village of 7,000 souls on the west coast of Africa. A devout Christian, she lives in Silver Spring, MD, still works at the embassy, and spends several weeks each year in Ghana.

In 2008, Peggieliene Bartels received a phone call that would change her life. Working as a secretary at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, Peggy was told she had been chosen King of Otuam, a fishing village of 7,000 people in Ghana, half a world away.

Born in Ghana and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Bartels had never even lived in Otuam. She had visited relatives there from time to time, but she was not prepared for the news that she had been chosen to succeed her uncle, the late king. Going back for centuries, all of the kings had been men.

Upon arriving for her crowning ceremony, she discovered the dire reality: there was no running water, no doctor, and no high school, and many of the village elders were stealing the town's funds. To make matters worse, her uncle (the late king) was sitting in a morgue awaiting a proper funeral in the royal palace, which was in ruins. The longer she waited to bury him, the more she risked incurring the wrath of her ancestors.

As the first female ruler of Otuam, it was clear she had her work cut out for her. She soon began to suspect that they had chosen her specifically because she lived so far away –and, as a woman, she would be weak and not able to change the legacy of corruption.

What they got instead was a headstrong, decidedly modern female king.

She set to work using funds from her own modest salary to rebuild the palace for the proper funeral. She rejuvenated her royal council to include people she trusted and turned her attention to improving the lives of her community members.

She worked to raise funds and donors to bring a water system to Otuam, where children as young as 5 years old were having to walk miles to fetch fresh water. Land fees –which had for years gone uncollected or into the wrong hands - now go directly into an account in a rural bank opened in her village.

The next project is to build a high school for students who have finished ninth grade.

An important part of her mission as King of Otuam is to bring empowerment to women. Peggy says, "I truly believe that the future of Africa lies in the hands of its women. Women, who nurture the children and take care of resources for the entire family, must be educated to bring these gifts to their communities. In Africa, more and more women each year are entering university, politics, and business. I hope that more women will become kings like me."

She is Co-Author of a book about her story, called King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village.

She now juggles two lives — from the palace in Otuam and from Washington, D.C., where until recently, she still drove a 1992 Honda Accord.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on King Peggy and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK King Peggy

King Peggy Speaking Topics

  • King Peggy: From Secretary to King

    Nana Amuah-Afenyi VI is Peggy Bartels' new title, but she is better known as King Peggy. This straight-talking powerhouse is the first woman in her fishing community of 7,000 people in Ghana's Central Region to be anointed a king, or "nana."

    The story of her journey from American secretary to leader of 7,000 people half a world away is not only astonishing, it's uplifting, empowering and not without humor. Peggy proves that real life challenges and triumphs are often stranger than fiction, and that it is possible to effect change• even in the most inflexible and demanding of circumstances.

    In changing Otuam, Peggy was herself transformed, from an ordinary secretary to the heart and hope of her community.

    King Peggy can speak with her co author, Eleanor Herman.

King Peggy Videos

  • King Peggy of Otuam talks to #TheAfricanDream
    King Peggy of Otuam talks to #TheAfricanDream
See All Videos »

King Peggy Books

King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village

FAQs on booking King Peggy

  • How to book King Peggy?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like King Peggy for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for King Peggy, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for King Peggy or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • How much does it cost to book King Peggy?

    Speaking fees for King Peggy, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that King Peggy charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire King Peggy, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • Who is the agent for King Peggy?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like King Peggy for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book King Peggy for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent King Peggy or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for King Peggy or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

King Peggy is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as King Peggy: From Secretary to King. The estimated speaking fee range to book King Peggy for your event is available upon request. King Peggy generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kristie Kennedy, Sheila C. Johnson, Val McLeod, Malaak Compton and Rebecca Walker. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling King Peggy for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK King Peggy

King Peggy Speaking Topics

  • King Peggy: From Secretary to King

    Nana Amuah-Afenyi VI is Peggy Bartels' new title, but she is better known as King Peggy. This straight-talking powerhouse is the first woman in her fishing community of 7,000 people in Ghana's Central Region to be anointed a king, or "nana."

    The story of her journey from American secretary to leader of 7,000 people half a world away is not only astonishing, it's uplifting, empowering and not without humor. Peggy proves that real life challenges and triumphs are often stranger than fiction, and that it is possible to effect change• even in the most inflexible and demanding of circumstances.

    In changing Otuam, Peggy was herself transformed, from an ordinary secretary to the heart and hope of her community.

    King Peggy can speak with her co author, Eleanor Herman.

King Peggy Speaker Videos

  • King Peggy of Otuam talks to #TheAfricanDream
    King Peggy of Otuam talks to #TheAfricanDream
BOOK King Peggy

King Peggy News

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Speakers Similar to King Peggy

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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