17/05/2023
The Journey Of Fearless And Brave Warlords,The Bono-Dormaas And Their Akwamu Connection.
The people of Dormaa are of the Aduana Clan and were originally part of the Akwamu Kingdom around Asamankese in the Eastern Region of Ghana during the 16th century.
The Akwamu people currently live near the Volta River where the Akosombo Hydro-electric Dam is located.
History has it that around 1600(early 17th century), after the death of King Ansah Sasraku, the then King of Akwamu, a serious succession dispute occured over the election of his successor. Some kingmakers preferred the elderly twin prince to succeed him, however, the Queenmother and a section of the stool elders or kingmakers were in favour of the junior twin prince.
For sometime, it became very challenging and even impossible to enstool a new king. As a result, a civil war nearly broke out.
In attempt to shun any possible conflict, a section of the elders of the Adonten Division in consultation with the then Queenmother Kumi Daa Nana, Nana Aduanahene and many stool elders of the Akwamu Kingdom left Akwamu with the junior twin who was the Queenmother's favourite. A greater number of the people including some of the royals followed the Queenmother and Atta Kuma and carried along almost all the great stools of the Kingdom, the Black Stool was of no exception and left Atta Panyin behind in Akwamu.
The name "Do Mo Man/Dormaa" came into being when they decided not to fight and destroy their beautiful Akwamu State, since they are peace-loving people. "Do-Omanfo" which later became Dormaa. The peace-loving people decided to relocate instead of engaging in a civil war. The two twins were the sons of Eno Esi Duma.
They first settled in Nsawam. In the course of their migration, the people of Dormaa-Aboabo no4 today who were the sons of the then Akwamu by patrilineal side and matrilineal side was Aburi were occupying both positions of Adonten and Kronti divisions respectively till the Dormaa group met migrants from Denkyira (Mansens) at Suntreso led by Nana Adiko Wanm and formed alliance with them, then the kronti division/position was later given to the Denkyira group.
From Nsawam, the Dormaas had Kwahu Obo and Obomeng as their new homes. Truly, the name "Obo" originated from this group of Dormaa. From there, they headed further to Asantemaso(Asubin gya/Asumeja), again to Agogo and Dadiebehi/Kumi Daa Nana ama ma wu(now known as Kumawu). From Kumawu, they headed to Suntreso near Kwaman and founded Suntreso. Note that some of their subjects left behind in the aforementioned areas/towns later grew up in numbers and founded their own states.
They left Suntreso and founded Dormaa-Hwidiem which covered a very large area like Tepa, Bomaa/Bomaa-Hwidiem, Banso, Dente-Bepo, etc. In fact, it is said that Dormaa-Hwidiem then had about 77 settlements. The name Tepa has Dormaa origin.
It is said and believed that the first Tepahene was the son of Dormaahene, Nana Yeboah Kodie and till today traditionally, every Tepahene is Dormaahene's Piesie (first born) as customs demands.
At Bomaa, the Dormaa King built for himself and other royals "Aban" a storey building as a strategic post or self-defence against enemies. The name soon became "Abanpredease" closely related to "Aprede", a kind of traditional drum. It can be recalled that it was the King's pleasure, every evening to listen to the drums for enjoyment or pleasure. The throbbing of the "Aprede" was an attraction to summon the people of Bomaa and the villages around to the "Abban" and was the origin of the name "ABANPREDEASE". Abanpredease is today the official seat of Dormaahene(the King of Dormaa State) in Dormaa Ahenkro. Also, the chief of Asupra a town near Wamanafo in Dormaa East specifically is the "Apredehene"(chief in charge of Aprede drum) of Dormaa State.
With time, the Dormaas moved from Bomaa to places, then to Tanoso. After they had stayed at Tanoso for some time, they crossed the river Tano to settle at Abesim, Kyiraa/Chiraa, they went further to Banda and Gyaman areas and came back to Abesim.
At Abesim, the Mansen group agreed to first move on to a different location so that in case of any attacks or agressions from enemies, the Mansen group would be strategically a reinforcement body to the Dormaa State which finally led the Mansens to settle at "Wam" first.
During the journey from Akwamu, the Dormaas encountered many wars and gained upper over almost every war they faced which could be another topic for discussion especially with those of Suntreso and the most recent one which happened in (1881-1883) at Abesim between Dormaa and Asante (led by Asantehene, Mensa Bonsu). Fact-checks and further research reveals that the Dormaas were never defeated in the wars they encountered as perceived and distorted by a section of the general public.
In 1880, from Abesim, Nana Akosua Ansuaa I, led the Dormaa group to places then to Wam(Wamanafo Sabikrom) from there they finally settled at Wam-Pamu, now widely known as Dormaa Ahenkro.
In memory of the exodus of Dormaas from Akwamu, the Dormaa State Council, during the reign of the then reigning Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu I, built a magnificent palace called "Abanpredease" Palace. It was officially declared open by president Kwame Nkrumah in December, 1959.
Today, the people who believe to have been part of the Dormaa group which left Akwamu are the people of Kwahu Obo, Obomeng, Asumagya/Asumeja, Agogo, Kumawu, Bompata, Tepa, Kumasi Tafo, Nyinahini, a section of Bantama and Barekesse, Japekrom, Suma Ahenkro and the Nifa royals of Berek*m(Domfete, Benkasa, Amomaso) and history recalls that the first Berek*mhene (Nana Amankona Diawuo) was the biological son of then Dormaahene, Nana Sikafo Kyeremeh.
Though, the good people of Kumasi Tafo are Akwamu migrants, but, they now belong to the Agona Royal Family. Kokofu also asserts ancestry from Akwamu Anwamwenso. Their migration took them to places before they settled at Adansi. From Adansi to their current location. Kokofu belongs to Oyoko Royal Family though. The good people of Kumasi Asafo and Anum/Adum trace ancestry from Akwamu, however, they were not part of the Dormaa group that left Akwamu.
The following towns, Dormaa Ahenkro, Obo, Obomeng, Akwamu, Asumeja, Kumawu, Agogo, Bompata, Tepa, Suma Ahenkro, Japekrom, etc, are blood brothers and more related despite the fact that they find themselves in different jurisdictions today and they all belong to the large Aduana Royal Family.
Some of the Aduana towns in Ghana are Sefwi Bibiani, Boaman, Bompata, Dwenem, Drobo, Aburi,etc, and of course, the Aduana Family members are scattered across various Akan states in Ghana and la Côte d'Ivoire.
Another group which claims to have come from Dormaa Aboabo no4 is the Kronti Royal Family(Bisi Royals) of Seikwa Traditional Area who are next in authority to Seikwahene.
During the enstoolment of every Dormaahene and some other occasions, the royals of Asumeja, Kumawu, Agogo, etc all attend and vice versa, since they are one blood.
The modern day Dormaa Kingdom/State comprises, Dormaa East District, Dormaa Central Municipality, Dormaa West District, Abesim and its surrounding villages in the Sunyani East Municipality, Chiraa and its surrounding towns,villages and some settlements in the Sunyani West Municipality and Bomaa and its surrounding villages in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
The interpretation of A, B, C, D of present Dormaa State is as follow:
A: Abesim
B: Bomaa
C: Chiraa
D: Dormaa main
The current traditional ruler of the Dormaa State: Osagyefo Oseadeyo Dr. Agyeman Badu II(Aduana Piesie).
Appellation/Nickname: Fredua Agyemang.
Stool Name: Afari Sikadwa.
Official Seat: Abanpredease Palace.
Queenmother: Odeneho Akosua Fima Dwaben II(Dormaahemaa).
Current Akwamuhene: Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III.
Official Seat: Bogyawe Palace.
Queenmother: Nana Afrakoma II(Akwamuhemaa).
Current Bono Gyamanhene/Bonohene of la Côte d'Ivoire: His Royal Majesty, Nana Kwasi Agyemang who happens to be Dormaahene's uncle.
Note: the Akwamus trace root from Bono-Wam or migrated from Bono and the Bono Gyamanhene is their biological uncle.
Credit: Abanpredease Palace.
In our write-ups, we keep emphasizing that Akans at large are one people or family.
Word of the Day: Let us not plant evil seed against anyone, else you might end up hurting your own blood...✍️
