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The Ashanti Tribe of Ghana.
By Yaw Boateng
Ghana, in the west coast of Africa, attained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957. It was then called Gold Coast but the name of the newly independent country was changed to Ghana. Ghana was one of the kingdoms in the western part of Africa before the advent of white colonists. The others being Mali and Songhai. The Ashanti tribe is the predominant tribe in Ghana, located in central Ghana in the forest region. They are part of the larger AKAN ethnic group that includes Akuapims. Akyems and Fantes. The capital of the "Ashanti Region" is Kumasi (Ghana is currently divided into 10 regions). There is an interesting history concerning the name "Kumasi". It is said that when Ashanti nation wanted to find a place for a capital, Okomfo Anokye, the powerful fetish priest of Ashanti had two "kum" trees planted in two choice locations. One tree grew and that place was called "Kum-ase" (under the kum tree) and the other tree died and that place was called "Kum-awu" (kum died). Kumase was built up and became the capital of the Ashanti nation. In time Kumase became Kumasi. The word "Ashanti" is a British corruption of the word "Asante" and so the name of the tribe is properly called Asante. The Asante tribe has some interesting practices. Even up till now, polygamy is sometimes practiced among men in the tribe. When a man marries a second wife, he must appease the first wife, often with a chicken or a sheep or goat depending on his financial status. In some cases the husband and the wives may live in the same house but often the different wives live in their own family houses. Another interesting practice of the Ashanti tribe is matrilineal inheritance. Here the woman is more important and maternal uncles may assume more importance than a father in a relationship. Years ago it was not uncommon for a man to take care of his nephews and nieces rather than his own children. But the practice seems to be losing favor. However, it still remains because of chieftancy. Among the Ashantis- like many other tribes in Ghana- most villages and towns have a "chief". When this chief dies, he is not succeeded by his son or daughter but by his nephew. This form of inheritance seems to be unique to the Akan people in Ghana. The Asantehene is the King of all Ashantis and all Ashanti chiefs swear allegiance to him. Even when the Asantehene dies he is succeeded by one of his nephews and not one of his sons or daughters. When there is a need to replace the Asantehene a list of all eligible nephews is gathered and a group of "kingmakers", including the mother of the Asantehene, chooses one of them to be the new king. The Ashanti tribe is still a great force in Ghana politics today and the loyalty of all Ashantis to the Asantehene makes him a force in Ghana politics as well.
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I never new about the matrilineal inheritance custom. That is most extraordinary and I'm finding it difficult to wrap my head around it. Thank you for this intel!
 | | nick Nov 26, 2009 23:26 | |
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This intel was contributed by yabbiz
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