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    Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1
    Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1
    Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1
    Ebook62 pages1 hour

    Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1

    By Dennis Mensah

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    About this ebook

    This interesting research publication traces the origins of the Ashanti people, their historical links to the mining and trading of the precious mineral of gold and their migration into the Southern Forests of what is now the modern-day country of Ghana. This publication reveals the origins of trade relations with the European nations in the 15th Century, the truth about the role played by the Ashanti Kingdom in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and the reasons why it participated in supplying captives who were transported to the Americas to work on plantation fields. Chapter two covers other powerful Akan Kingdoms that existed before the Ashanti Empire and also how their histories overlapped with the emergence of a new imperial power. Chapter 3 will explain how a particular clan that originally settled in the small town of Kumase is directly linked to the formation and emergence of the Ashanti Kingdom and Empire. This Chapter also covers the important roles played by two Kings of Kumase before the formation of the Ashanti Kingdom. Chapter 3 also covers the story of the sacred ‘Golden Stool’ and explains how it emerged to become the important symbol of Asante Union. The author in Chapter 4, explains the important roles played by King Osei Tutu (1) and his Chief Adviser, Priest Okomfo Anokye, in building the powerful Ashanti Empire and the role played by the sacred ‘Golden Stool’. This chapter also explains how after the death of King Osei Tutu, the Ashanti Empire continued to expand rapidly in size throughout the 18th Century. Chapter 4 contrasts the reigns in the 18th Century, of dynamic ‘’warrior kings’’ such as King Osei Tutu (1) and King Opoku Ware (1) with King Kwadwo Okoawia who continued to expand the Empire but also introduced wide ranging reforms to improve the administration of Government.
    Unfortunately, the reign of King Kwadwo Okoawia is relatively unknown and the author highlights the point that his rule was just as effective as his more famous predecessors and led to economic prosperity. King Kwaku Dua (1) was also a more peaceful monarch and ruled in the 19th Century. The volumes of commercial trade with Britain ‘’boomed’’ during the reign of King Kwaku Dua (1) and this greatly benefited the economies within the Ashanti Empire. Unfortunately, the reigns of King Kwadwo Okoawia and King Kwaku Dua (1) remain largely unknown and therefore, the author highlights the positive contribution that they made to the history of the Ashanti Empire. Chapter 4 also covers all of the key events of the 18th and 19th Centuries including all of the major wars fought by the Ashanti National Army, Peace Treaties and the reigns of different Kings. The author also examines the organization and structure of the Ashanti National Army which was a formidable military force. In addition to this the author explains the Administration and Governance System of the Ashanti Empire and the important role of the ‘’Queen Mother’’ of Asante.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDennis Mensah
    Release dateMar 3, 2013
    ISBN9781301813254
    Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1
    Author

    Dennis Mensah

    I was born in the Summer period of 1965 in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital which was famous for being the only all female staffed Hospital in the United Kingdom. I was born in Belsize Park, North West London. However, I spent my entire childhood and early adult life growing up in South West London. I attended primary and secondary schools in Balham. I first developed a passion for writing at the age of 11 years old when I entered into a writing competition that was organized by the ‘News of the World Newspaper’. This Sunday Newspaper was the largest selling tabloid at the time and was read by millions of people. I won a cash prize and a reporter visited me at home to take my picture and write an article. The attention that this article received was amazing as my parent’s friends and relatives all seemed to have seen the article and wanted to congratulate me. However, at Secondary School it was bit different. The Head Teacher and the teachers were obviously proud of this achievement by one of their pupils but as for my friends (and other pupils) I was to be teased for at least a month. Looking back at those days now I think it was then that I realized that I did have some talent for writing stories and in later years I have linked it to research. I have worked in several different professional fields including Youth Work, Community Development Work with Non Governmental Organizations (Charities), Housing Management, Mental Health, Community Education, Grants Management (Administering a Grants Administration Programme in conjunction with the Department for Skills and Education) and a private company that provides management consultancy services for Non Governmental Organizations including Fundraising. I attended the University of Westminster (1994 to 1999) and obtained a BA Honours Degree in Housing Management and Development and MA Housing Practice (1999 to 2001). Participation at University enabled me to learn and develop useful research skills which I hope to demonstrate in my publications. I have developed a real passion for researching African and European History (and politics) and trying to uncover new details about key known and unknown events that occurred during the period that is being covered. My interest in politics comes from the fact that I am directly related to the late Mr. Krobo Edusei (younger brother of my Grand Mother) who was a key colleague of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. I am immensely proud of the fact that Mr. Krobo Edusei (my Grand Mother’s brother) along with others made a direct contribution to gaining independence for Ghana on the 6th March 1957. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence and this encouraged others to press for self-rule from the European colonial powers. I am also proud of the fact that my Grand Father and Great Grand Father are descendents of the Ashanti Royal Family. My interests are football, politics, history, current affairs, traveling and music. I am the proud father of two sons and also have a grand daughter.

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      Book preview

      Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1 - Dennis Mensah

      The Echoes of the Ashanti Empire (Part 1)

      Copyrights

      Echoes of the Ashanti Empire Part 1

      Dennis Yeboah-Mensah

      Copyright 2013 By Dennis Yeboah-Mensah

      Published at Smashwords

      *****Smashwords Edition*****

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents:

      Chapter 1: The Origins of the Ashanti Kingdom. Agriculture The Arrival of the Europeans and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

      Chapter 2: The Origins of the Ashanti Kingdom and Empire. The Akwamu Kingdom and Empire. The Empire of Akyem (Akim).

      Chapter 3: The ‘Oyoko’ Clan and the Origins of the Ashanti Kingdom and Empire.

      Chapter 4: The Ashanti Kingdom and Empire. The Asante-Fante Wars (1807, 1811 and 1816) The Ga-Fante War (1811) The Asante-Akim-Akwapim War (1814-1816) The First Anglo-Asante War (1824-1831) The ‘MacClean Peace Treaty 1831’ and the ‘Bond of 1844’,The 2nd Anglo-Ashanti War (1863-1864) The Asante (Ashanti) National Army The Administration and Governance of the Ashanti Empire The Administration and Governance: The ‘Asantehemaa’ (the Queen Mother of Asante).

      Conclusion

      The Bibliography of Reference Sources

      Acknowledgements

      Chapter 1: The Origins of the Ashanti Kingdom.

      The 9th Century, Arab Writer, Al Yaqubi, described Ancient Ghana (now Sudan), as one of the most organized Nations in the region (the others being Gao and Kanem in the Central Sudan). The rulers of Ancient Ghana were renowned for their wealth in Gold (and their Royal Courts), and their warrior-hunting skills. The Soninke Kingdom of Ancient Ghana was one of the most prominent. They were expert gold traders and this attracted merchants from North Africa to come to the Western Sudan. However, during the 11th Century, the Ancient Ghana Kingdom succumbed to attacks by its neighbours. The trans-Saharan trade that led to the expansion of Kingdoms in the Western Sudan also contributed to the development of commercial links with ethnic groups living in the Northern (Savannah Woodlands) and Southern Forests of modern-day Ghana. During the 13th Century, these commercial links were also established by the town of Jenna (part of the Mali Empire), which was the Headquarters of the Dyula (Muslim Traders), who conducted business with Akan traders. This growth of trade led to the migration of Akans, into the forest region of the Southern area of modern-day Ghana. However, the actual origins of the Asante people are not clear but oral history, suggests that their roots may have come from Bono Manso (a major town of the Bonoman State). It is generally accepted that the Bonoman (Bono) State which was founded in the 11th Century, was the first powerful Empire of the Akan people.

      J.K. Flynn, points out,………‘’There are about twenty-five Akan Kingdoms in Ghana, with a few others in Ivory Coast and Togo. Bono-Manso, the earliest among them, was founded in 1298’’ (Flynn, 1971, p.21).

      The Bonoman (Bono) State was located in the Brong Ahafo Region of modern-day Ghana and the Eastern areas of Ivory Coast. The Bono (Abron), are a sub-group of Akans who speak the 'Abron' (Bono) language. Bonoman State is from where sub-groups of Akans started to migrate from to create new States based on gold mining and agriculture (growing cash crops). Bono Manso (Bono Mansu) was a major town and trading area located between Savannah and Forests. The market town of Bono Manso was part of the ‘'Trans-Saharan’' trade route and the main goods were Kola Nuts, Salt, Leather and Gold. As early as the 12th Century, gold trading in the Bonoman State experienced a ‘'boom'’ and this was to be the catalyst for future wealth and power in the region of the Akan States. The market town of ‘Bonduku’ was another major trading area in the Bonoman (Bono) State which in 1450 became the Gyaman/Jamang State.

      According to oral history, important aspects of the Akan culture derive their origins from the Bonoman State. For example, the use of Umbrellas for Chiefs, Swords of the Nation, Stools, Kente Cloth Weaving, and the Craftsmanship of Gold Smiths and Black Smiths.

      While the modern-day country of Ghana was named after the Ancient Ghana Kingdom of Sudan, the Brong Ahafo Region (of modern-day Ghana), was named after the Bonoman (Bono) State.

      The migration of the

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