African tribe claiming Scottish woodland clash with locals trying to destroy camp

Officials have called for an end to the ‘mob mentality’ as tensions rise between a so-called African tribe and its neighbours in Scottish woodlands.

The ‘Kingdom of Kubala’ was set up in a forest in Jedburgh by founders Queen Nandi and King Atehene in an attempt to reclaim land they say was stolen from their ancestors in the Highlands centuries ago.

But the situation has escalated in recent weeks, with Queen Nandi suggesting locals had thrown bricks and rocks and shouted racial slurs at them.

A recent video shared on their TikTok account showed people trying to take down one of their tents, while the person holding the camera called on them not to touch her.

Queen Nandi, who was born Jean Gasho, is a mum of seven who lives with her husband King Atehene, known as Kofi Offeh, and their ‘handmaiden’, previously known as Kaura Taylor but now known as Asnat, in the ‘tribe’.

They claim they are descendants of black Jacobites – black Highlanders living in Scotland more than 400 years ago.

They say Queen Elizabeth I deported their ancestors, forcing them into exile, and they are now returning to reclaim land stolen from their ancestors.

Speaking at the scene on Tuesday, Queen Nandi said: ‘The Kingdom of Kubala suffers violence – this was said 2,000 years ago, that the kingdom will suffer violence.

‘This is not the first time we have experienced something like this. We experienced this on a very large scale in Stockton in 2024 – abuse all the time, people threatening to burn us alive.

‘This is not something new to Kubala – we have experienced it before. In Jedburgh, it is just beginning.

‘It is always traumatic to experience something like that, but we have faith in something that is bigger than the physical.

‘We know that we do not have the help of the system – they will not rush to protect us, so we always remain steadfast in our God.

‘We pray while this is happening and we chant and sing to get us through. That’s what gets us through it.’

Police were called to the scene, with officers asking the group if they had been ‘hurt in any way’ or if anyone had ‘destroyed their property’.

Now a Scottish Borders council member has called for calm and insisted the ‘Kingdom’ won’t be moved by a ‘mob mentality’.

Scott Hamilton, who represents Jedburgh on the council, said ‘illegal campers’ had camped on a piece of land which belonged to the council ‘a number of months ago’, but following the eviction process the group moved to privately owned land.

He added: ‘Gauging by my email inbox and phone calls I have received – it is clear there has been an escalation in the relationship between these campers and residents in the town.

‘Footage was shared with me which showed an unholy inappropriate situation: where violence was threatened, where accusations were made and where tensions were on the rise.

‘That will achieve nothing.

‘This group will leave Jedburgh by lawful means – but they are the only means that this will take place, not with mob mentality or threats or violence.

‘Yes, the group may upset us with some of their ludicrous accusations of heritage and history, and quite frankly you don’t need even a primary school education to tell you their accusations are false, but we must rise above it.

‘Whilst our history is very important to us, it’s about how our community responds – that will define us as a community.’

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