At first, "Ahebi easily quelled whatever resistance existed to her kingship" because of her British backing. Ahebi amassed wealth and power, but ultimately fell from grace when the extent of her multiple—gender and power—transgressions became too much for her community. She overreached in her ambition and violated traditions more by attending a spiritual masquerade ritual with her own mask. This ritual was only for men. The male elders and Ahebi went to court to settle the case and the British sided with the male elders, undermining Ahebi's rule.
