03/05/2024
In Honour of ƆTUMFOƆ 25th Anniversary
Dr. Kofi Ellison
ASANTE YƐ ƆMAN
I will explain HOW Asante was formed. And How Otumfoɔ Asantehene became a member of the Anglican Communion.
Be informed that prior to the founding/formation of Asanteman in 1701, each of the Akan States: Dankyira; Akyem Abuakwa; Kwaaman; Adansi; Aowin; Asumegya; Kwawu; Wassa; Mankessim; Agona Nyaakrom; Kumawu, Manpɔn, etc, were all under the rule and governance of one Akan Abusua or Clan.
Kwaaman (later Kumase) was ruled by the Oyoko Abusua of Kwaaman. Dankyira was Agona; Adansi was Ɛkoɔna; Manpon was Bretuo; Asumegya and Akwamu were Aduana; Akyem Abuakwa was Asona; Nsuta and Agona Nyaakrom were Ɔyoko Adakɔ, etc.
Other than being of the same Abusua, none of the Chiefs of the AKAN States cooperated to further strengthen their Abusua connections by forming a union of say AGONA Abusua State. Dankyira for example did not bring in another non-Agona Abusua State as a constituent and equal member of the existing State.
None had the foresight, strategy, the sagacity, and Wisdom to think along the lines that later gave birth to Asanteman.
None, until the enstoolment of Ɔsɛe Tutu Kofi as Chief of Kwaaman in about 1685. He began his rule by strengthening and expanding his own State of Kwaaman through military conquests, and new administrative reforms, and institutional changes, in close collaboration with his Chief Priest; Ɔkomfo Anokye. Though a vassal of Dankyira, Ɔsɛe Tutu rose in stature, and began to see himself as equal to Bo Amponsem, and Ntim Gyakari, rulers of Dankyira.
Dankyira people who ran afoul of Dankyira Rulers, actually fled to Kwaaman to seek refuge under Ɔsɛe Tutu. That tells a lot about the stature of Ɔsɛe Tutu vis-à-vis Dankyira.
None of the vassal States of Dankyira contemplated fighting for their independence as one unit. Adansi, Twifo, Wassa, Sahwi, Assin, Aowin, and the Coastal States from Odwaa (Oguaa), Adina to Nsemaa did not unite to rid themselves of Dankyira rule. None of the vassal Chiefs thought about uniting to form a stronger Nation to challenge Dankyira. Wassa for example, existed as Three separate microstates. They were content existing as separate contending States of Amanfi, Mpɔho, and Fiease (Fiase).
Ɔsɛe Tutu Kofi of Kwaaman changed all that. He and Obiri Komfoɔ Anɔkye changed the mindset of the Chiefs of Nine of the States which were vassals of Dankyira. He made them believe that they could defeat Dankyira by uniting into a single fighting force.
These were the Nine States and their Chiefs: Kwaaman-- ruled by Ɔsɛe Tutu; Manpon-- Boahen Anantuo; Offinso-- Wiafe Akenten; Kokofu-- Agyeman Ampronfi; Asubenagya (Asumenya)-- Oduro Onomaɔpae (Onumapau); Bɛkwae-- Kofi Egu Ayɛboafo; Kumawu-- Tweneboa Kodua; Dwaben--- Adaakwaa Yiadom, Nsuta-- Oduro Panin.
The upshot was the defeat and subjugation of Dankyira at Feyiase in 1701.
Following the victory the Nine Chiefs with Ɔsofo Anokye as their Spiritual Leader, did not disband. Rather, they transformed the Confederacy, or the Military Coaltion of the Nine States that defeated Dankyira and its allies, into a new potent Political Union.... The Asanteman, the Federation of Asante States, the United States of Asante.
The birth of the Asante Nation in 1701, was underpinned with the SIKA DWA; and solidified by the new office called OTUMFOƆ ASANTEHENE. An unwritten Constitution of our Amanneyɔɔ (Amaneɛ) and Amanmra (Amanmerɛ), ensured a welcoming embrace of
non-Asantefoɔ. Other institutional reforms guaranteed Law, Order, and Accountability. Thus ensuring safety and a sense of belonging in the new Nation.
The ODWIRA Afahyɛ, observance of the Wukuada and the Kwasiada ADAEƐ, all helped to infuse and rekindle Asante Nationalism, Asante Pride, and Asante Strength and Unity. Asante grew stronger, and expanded to greater lengths.
The thirteenth Asantehene, Nana Agyeman Prempeh I, was deposed in a British Army coup d'etat, led by Brigadier General Robert Baden Powell, Captain Stewart, and troops shipped from England, supported by Gold Coast Colony Ethnic fighters; and Hausa and Yoruba fighters brought in from Nigeria.
Nana Prempeh spent 28 years 1896-1924 in exile, 24 of those years were spent in the Seychelles. In 1905, he joined the Anglican Church, as a strategy to placate the British. That is how Asanteman officially embraced the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church is the National Church or Bosom of England, and the Monarchs of England.
This is why Otumfoɔ Ɔsɛe Tutu, like Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, Opoku Ware II, were also baptized into the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church is the national Christian Church of Asanteman.
We still rever our own gallant Asante Ancestors (Nsaman Pa). We still worship our Asanteman Onyamekropɔn; through all our traditional intermediaries of our Onyame. We bow and rever them at ADAE.
And we have no problems bowing or kneeling at the Christian Pulpit in respect of the Christian God. We do that everyday for our own Asante Onyamekropɔn, and Our Ɔsɛe Tutu Nyamekɛseɛ.
The nature of the formation of Asante in 1701 explains how ALL are welcome into the Asante tapestry.
Far away in the British Colony of America, Seventy three years after the formation of the ASANTEMAN; other liberators formed a Coalition--- The Continental Congress in 1774, led by George Washington to fight to liberate their 13 States from the rule of King George III, of England. They succeeded. They also formed a Federation called UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with George Washington as President (Asantehene); they established Washington D.C. as the new Capital (Kumase); Congress (Asanteman Nhyiamu), and on, and on.
Our Ancestors actually sat down, and formed a Unified Nation. It had never been done. And, Nananom gave us a common Abusua Origin..... Asantemanso. And a new totemic animal KƆTƆKƆ for the new Asanteman Abusua, just as every Akan Abusua has a Totem.
Yɛn Ne Asantefoɔ. Asante yɛ Abusua. Asante yɛ Ɔdɔ.
ASANTE YƐ ƆMAN
