Page 21 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 10

CULTURE

“Ashanti derives from the word ‘Asante’, which means The newly declared Asante union
‘Because of war’. This is because Asante was created as a king- then waged war against and defeat-
dom to fight the Denkyira kingdom. It only became known as ed the Denkyira. To this day, The
Golden Stool remains sacred to the
the Ashanti simply because the British heard it as ‘as-hanti’ – Asante as it is believed to contain
and the name remained.” (Source: changeforghana.org) the Sunsum (spirit or soul) of the
The word Asante is derived from the Twi words sa meaning Asante people. After this, Asante
c
grew in stature from being a state
"war" and nti meaning "because of". (Source: Wikipedia) into a kingdom and finally the
Asante Empire trading across Afrika
and internationally.
Before ever making contact with
he Akan people of Gha- to consolidate the Asante clans Europeans, the Asante enjoyed ro-
na make up roughly half into a loose confederation against bust trade with other Afrikan states
of the country’s popula- the Denkyira. When Osei Tutu I due to their wealth in gold. Trade
Ttion. The Twi-speaking became Asantehene in the late 17th with European states began with the
Akan people moved to the forest Century, he advanced this con- Portuguese in the 15th century AD
belt of the southern part of what is solidation politically and militarily and multiplied as the gold mines
now modern Ghana and established ultimately attaining a decisive victory in the Sahel were getting depleted.
numerous Akan states: Asante, over the Denkyira. The Asante When the gold mines in the Sahel
Brong-Ahafo, Assin-Denkyira-Fante people then became the dominant started to fade out, the Asanteman
Confederacy-Mankessim King- people amongst their kin. rose to prominence as the major
dom (present-day Central region), player in the gold trade.
Akyem-Akwamu-Akuapem-Kwahu Just how did they achieve this great
(present-day Eastern region and feat? Osei Tutu I and Okomfo Opoku Ware, Osei Tutu's successor,
Greater Accra), and Ahanta-Aow- Anokye, who was chief priest and continued expanding the kingdom
in-Sefwi-Wassa (present-day West- sage advisor to Osei Tutu I, created and by the early 19th century, their
ern region). Some Akan peoples are a powerfully unifying symbol and territory sprawled over nearly the
also said to live in the Ivory Coast narrative that helped them to suc- entirety of what is now present-day
and Togo. cessfully galvanize the support of Ghana, including the coast. The
the Asante clans. As legend would kingdom combined a strong mili-
Denkyira was a powerful nation of have it, one day, a meeting of all tary tradition, with great agricultural
Akan people that dominated their the Asante clan chiefs was called, productivity. Out of Asante spread
neighboring states in the 1600s, before declaring independence from a great trade network leading west
except for the Akwamu and the Denkyira. At this meeting, Okomfo across the Atlantic Ocean and
Akyem. The Denkyira controlled Anokye, commanded a Golden North across the Sahara, sending
the trade with Europeans in Western Stool to come down from the heav- out gold, slaves, ivory and kola nuts.
Ghana, while the Akwamu did the ens. The Golden Stool or sika 'dwa The Asante traded directly with
same in Eastern Ghana. The Asante floated down from the heavens in a the British, trading gold and slaves
paid tribute to the Denkyira until cloud of white dust and landed in (those captured in war or given
1701 when they defeated the Den- the lap of Asantehene Osei Tutu I. as tribute), in exchange for guns
kyira at the Battle of Feyiase and Okomfo Anokye declared the stool and other European goods. The
declared their independence under to be symbolic of the Asanteman Asanteman prospered, becoming
Asantehene Osei Tutu I. (Asante- (empire/confederacy), declaring known far and wide for their gold
hene: King) that its safety was their strength and brass craftsmanship, wood carv-
and unity. Allegiance was sworn ing, furniture, and brightly colored
Socially, the Asante were originally by all the heads to the stool and woven kente cloth.
structured as clans. Among these Osei Tutu I as the Asantehene. The
clans, were the Oyoko, who set up a stool, you see, traditionally indicated The word kente comes from the As-
centre at Kumasi around the 1600s clan leadership and so The Golden ante word kenten, which means bas-
after their first encounter with the Stool became their symbol of unity ket. The fabric was originally woven
Europeans. In the 17th Century, and the proof of legitimacy of the from raffia fibers in a pattern similar
their chief, Oti Akenten, started possessor. to that of basket weaving. Kente

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