The Ashanti Kingdom

Ashanti is a region in the middle part of Ghana and its capital is Kumasi. History says that, the Ashantis migrated from Western Sudan to their present land. Their first settlement was at Takyiman in the Brong Ahafo region and later pushed northwards to settle in a place known as Lake Bosomtwe, the only natural Lake in Africa. Others also believe that, the Ashantis emerged from a hole near Asantamanso, a town in Ashanti region whiles others claimed to have descended from heaven. What seems to be certain about the origins of the Ashantis people is that, a nucleus of the Oyoko clan settled around Asantemanso in about the sixteenth century. Small states began to settle around the Oyoko clan including Kwaman (the present day Kumasi ) ,Bekwai, Asumamgya, Nsuta, Juabaen and Mampong. In due course these settlements developed to be separated but all under one lordship of Denkyira. Two factors encouraged them to come together. First, the desire to free themselves from the rules of the Denkyira, and secondly, to trade with Europeans without having to deal with Fantes as Middlemen. The foundation of this union was laid by two early rulers namely, Twum Antwi and Kosia Amanfi followed by Obiri Yeboah during whose reign, the king established his capital at Kwaman but was killed in an expedition against the DamanThe expansion of Asante Empire was due to two rulers, Osei Tutu and Opoku Ware 1. Osei Tutu`s mother remained childless for many years. Manu the only sister of Obiri Yeboa was sent to Akwamu to the removed priest Tutu Aban for help in having child. Luckily when she returns, she had a son and in appreciation of the priest's assistance the boy, Osei Kofi was named Osei Tutu . As a youth, Osei Tutu was sent to the court of king of Denkyira where he fell in love with the sister of the king and impregnated her. Iin order to save his life he ran away to Akwamu. In Akwamu, he became friend to a great priest Okomfo Anokye. On the death of Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu returned to Ashanti with Okomfo Anokye. He was then made a chief. By the help of his friend, he was able to unite all the state into one kingdom known to be Ashanti kingdom . To found a capital, Okomfo Anokye did a wonderful thing by planting three different trees in different area or places, namely Kwumawu, Kumase and Manpong but all the trees did not pull though only the one in Kumase. Therefore Kumase was made a capital of Ashanti. A second thing Okomfo Anokye did was to found a king for the Asante, by displaying his magical powers commanded a golden stool to descend from heaven that is (Sikagyua kofi) On the Stool, all the nails, hair of various chiefs were cut and burned to ashes and mixed with palms wine. All the chiefs drunk the wine from the same calabash. The stool was the soul and symbol of unity to all Asantes. Osei Tutu was made a paramount chief of Asante on the will of all the chiefs. With the guidance of Okomfo Anokye , Osei Tutu instituted a special annual festival Odwira now called Akwasidae Kessie to commemorate the coming of the golden stool which represents Ashanti Unity and its rich culture. This festival is usually celebrated every year. The recent one attrated so many tourist and was shown on the internet Alberta Amponsah Armed Forces Secondary College