Rulers of the Akan state of Asante
Encyclopedia
The Akan state of Asanteman (also known as the Empire of Ashanti or Ashanti Confederacy) comprised part of present-day southern Ghana
and portions of present-day eastern Côte d'Ivoire
.
The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. While today it is a strictly ceremonial role, it was once a position of great power as the leader of the Ashanti Empire
. The Asantehene is traditionally enthroned on a golden stool, known as Sika 'dwa
, and the office is sometimes referred to by this name.
The current Asantehene is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
, born Nana Kwaku Dua. He was one of seven descendants who were eligible for the position.
The Asantehene also holds the title of Asantehene, ruler of Kumasi
, the capital of the Ashanti region. However, the modern capital of Ghana is Accra
, which was the most important town of the confederacy of the Ga people
, and was historically under a different kingship.
protectorate in 1902. The office of Asantehene was discontinued. In 1926, the British permitted the repatriation of Prempeh I, and allowed him to adopt the title Kumasehene, but not Asantehene. However, in 1935, the British finally allowed the title of Asantehene to be revived.
On March 6, 1957, the Ashanti Protectorate, Northern Territories, Gold Coast Crown Colony, and British Mandate of Togoland were united to form the modern state of Ghana. The office of Asantehene is one of the sub-national traditional rulers of Ghana, and is protected by the Ghanaian constitution.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and portions of present-day eastern Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
.
The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. While today it is a strictly ceremonial role, it was once a position of great power as the leader of the Ashanti Empire
Ashanti Empire
The Ashanti Empire , also Asanteman was a West Africa state of the Ashanti people, the Akan people of the Ashanti Region, now in Ghana. The Ashanti or Asante are a major ethnic group in Ghana, a powerful, militaristic and highly disciplined people of West Africa...
. The Asantehene is traditionally enthroned on a golden stool, known as Sika 'dwa
Asante royal thrones
According to legend, Okomfo Anokye caused the famous Asante royal throne known as the Golden Stool to descend from the heavens and land on the lap of the first Asante king, Osei Tutu...
, and the office is sometimes referred to by this name.
The current Asantehene is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
King Otumfuo Osei Tutu, is the 16th Asantehene, King of the Ashanti. He ascended the Golden Stool on 26 April 1999. By name, he is in direct succession to the founder of the Empire of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I.-Family:...
, born Nana Kwaku Dua. He was one of seven descendants who were eligible for the position.
The Asantehene also holds the title of Asantehene, ruler of Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, the capital of the Ashanti region. However, the modern capital of Ghana is Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, which was the most important town of the confederacy of the Ga people
Ga people
The Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in the West African nation of Ghana. It is part of the Dangme ethnic group. The Ga people are grouped as part of theGa–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. They speak Kwa languages...
, and was historically under a different kingship.
Elections and regents
During the period between the death of an Asantehene and the election of a successor, the Mamponghene, the second most powerful ruler, acts as a regent. This rule was only changed during a time of civil war in the late nineteenth century, when the Kwasafomanhyiamu, or governing council itself ruled as regent. The succession is decided by a series of councils of local notables and other royal family members.History
The Ashanti Confederacy was made a BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
protectorate in 1902. The office of Asantehene was discontinued. In 1926, the British permitted the repatriation of Prempeh I, and allowed him to adopt the title Kumasehene, but not Asantehene. However, in 1935, the British finally allowed the title of Asantehene to be revived.
On March 6, 1957, the Ashanti Protectorate, Northern Territories, Gold Coast Crown Colony, and British Mandate of Togoland were united to form the modern state of Ghana. The office of Asantehene is one of the sub-national traditional rulers of Ghana, and is protected by the Ghanaian constitution.
List of rulers
Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asantehenes (Asante Ahenfo - Kings of Asante) | ||
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| Kwaaman | ||
| ante1600 | Foundation of Kwaaman state | |
| c.1570 to ? | Otumfuo Nana Twum, the Kwaamanhene | |
| ???? to c.1600 | Otumfuo Nana Antwi, the Kwaamanhene | |
| c.1600 to c.1630 | Otumfuo Nana Kobia Amamfi, the Kwaamanhene | |
| c.1630 to c.1640 | Otumfuo Nana Oti Akenten, the Kwaamanhene | |
| Kumaseman | State renamed | |
| c.1640 to c.1660 | Otumfuo Nana Oti Akenten, the Kumasehene | |
| c.1660 to 1680 | Otumfuo Nana Obiri Yeboa, the Kumasehene | Established Kumase as capital of Asante |
| 1675/1680 to 1701 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Opemsoo, the Kumasehene | Founder of Asanteman. Reign continues as Asantehene. |
| Asanteman Confederation | ||
| 1701 to 1717 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Opemsoo, the Asantehene | |
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 1717 to 1720 | Amaniampon, the Mamponghene | Regent |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 1720 to 1750 | Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware Katakyie Opoku Ware I Katakyie Opoku Ware I was an Oyoko king or Asantehene - the ruler of the Ashanti - in the now-disbanded Ashanti Confederacy which occupied parts of what is now Ghana... , the Asantehene (Opoku Tenten) |
|
| 1750 to 1764 | Otumfuo Nana Kusi Oboadum Kusi Obodom Kusi Obodom was the ruler of the Ashanti Confederacy from 1750 to 1764, during the Oyoko Abohyen dynasty. He held the title of Asantehene. Obodom was succeeded by Osei Kwadwo.... , the Asantehene |
Forced to abdicate |
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 1764 to 1764 | Safo Kantanka, the Mamponghene | Regent |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 1764 to 1777 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwadwo Okoawia, the Asantehene (Osei Kumaa Osei Kwadwo Osei Kwadwo was an Ashanti king who ruled from circa 1764 to 1777. He was succeeded by Osei Kwame Panyin.-References:Adu Boahen. A New Look at the History of Ghana. African Affairs, Vol. 65, No. 260 , pp. 212-222... ) |
|
| 1777 to 1803 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwame, the Asantehene | Forced to abdicate |
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 1777 to 1777 | Atakora Kwame, the Mamponghene | Regent |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 1777 to 1803 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwame Panyin Osei Kwame Panyin Osei Kwame Panyin was the ruler of the Ashanti Confederacy from 1777 to 1803, holding the title of Asantehene. In December 1803, he was succeeded by Osei Fofie.... , the Asantehene |
|
| December 1803 to March 1804 | Otumfuo Nana Opoku Fofie, the Asantehene | |
| 1804 to 1807 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba Osei Bonsu Osei Bonsu was the Asantehene . He reigned from 1804 to 1824. During his reign the Ashanti fought the Fante confederation and ended up dominating Gold Coast trade... , the Asantehene |
Added Bonsu to name in 1807 |
| 1807 to 21 January 1824 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba Bonsu, the Asantehene | |
| 1824 to 21 February 1834 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Yaw Akoto Osei Yaw Akoto Osei Yaw Akoto was the Asantehene from 1824 to 1834.... , the Asantehene |
|
| 25 August 1834 to 27 April 1867 | Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua I Kwaku Dua I Panyin Kwaku Dua I Panyin, or Barima Fredua Agyeman was the Asantehene from August 25, 1834 until his death in 1867.... , the Asantehene |
|
| 28 May 1867 to 26 October 1874 | Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari Kofi Karikari Kofi Karikari was the Asantehene from 1867 until his forced abdication on October 26, 1874. A notable achievement of his was the intentional neglect of the armed forces, a step taken to avoid the escalation of war.... , the Asantehene |
Forced to abdicate |
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 26 October 1874 to 1874 | Kwabena Dwomo, the Mamponghene | Regent |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 1874 to 8 March 1883 | Otumfuo Nana Mensa Bonsu Mensa Bonsu Mensa Bonsu was the Asantehene from 1874 until his forced abdication on March 8, 1883.Mensa Bonsu became Asantehene after his elder brother Kofi Kakari was deposed in September 1874. He tried to restore the fortunes of Kumasi after its destruction in the 1873-4 war... , the Asantehene |
Forced to abdicate |
| Asante Civil War | ||
| 1883 to 1888 | Civil War | |
| Kwasafomanhyiamu - Interim Council | ||
| 8 March 1883 to 28 April 1884 | Kwasafomanhyiamu | |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 28 April 1884 to 11 June 1884 | Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua II, the Asantehene | Died after short illness. |
| Kumasehyiamu - Interim Council | ||
| 11 June 1884 to November 1884 | Owusu Kofi, Chairman | |
| November 1884 to 1887 | Akyampon Panyin, Chairman | |
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 1887 to 26 March 1888 | Owusu Sekyere II, the Mamponghene | Regent. Asante Civil War ends |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 26 March 1888 to 12 May 1931 | Otumfuo Nana Prempeh I, the Asantehene | Original throne name: Kwaku Dua III Asamu |
| 22 June 1931 to 27 May 1970 | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II, the Asantehene | |
| 6 July 1970 to 25 February 1999 | Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II Opoku Ware II Otumfuo Opoku Ware II was the fifteenth King of the Ashanti people in Ghana.The future monarch was born under the name Jacob Matthew Poku in Kumasi, central Ghana, then still the British colony Gold Coast, in 1919 into the Ashanti royal family... , the Asantehene |
|
| Beretuo Dynasty | ||
| 25 February 1999 to 26 April 1999 | Osei Bonsu II Nana Osei Bonsu II Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, known in private life as Saint Oswald Gyimah-Kessie was in 1999 the regent of the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana, and is the Mamponghene , of the Beretuo clan.... , the Mamponghene |
Regent |
| Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty | ||
| 26 April 1999 to present | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene | |
See also
- Empire of Ashanti
- Rulers of GhanaRulers of Ghana-Colonial governors:*Governors-General of Ghana*Colonial Heads of Ghana *Colonial Heads of Danish Gold Coast*Colonial Heads of Dutch Gold Coast*Colonial Heads Of Ghana Silver Coast-Akan states:*Rulers of the Akan state of Adanse...
- Akan
- GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
- Gold CoastGold Coast (British colony)The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
- Lists of Incumbents
- Ashanti Confederacy