Her name was Houekode, and the epithet "Yaya", an affectionate term meaning "old woman" is thought to refer to her mother.
[1] Migansi held the position of Na Daho, "eldest princess", one of the two chief offices within the royal family along with the Alodokponugan, the oldest brother of the king.
When her father died in 1889, Migansi's brother Béhanzin succeeded to the throne but fled in 1892 after the French invaded and burnt the capital, Abomey.
Migansi and the Alodokponugan were involved in negotiations with the French, during which one of them said that she: "a woman of mature age, of a remarkable intelligence, appeared to exercise a real influence on her brothers".
Agreement was reached, and Yagansi performed the installation of the new king, Béhanzin's brother, who took the regnal name of Agoli-agbo, on 15 January 1894.