The Ashanti People

By: Yaw Britwum

Who are the Ashanti People?

• They are Akan people who live predominantly in central Ghana.

• They make up over 10 million of Ghana’s population.

• The language that they speak is called Twi.

Religion

• The religion of the Ashanti people are:

• Christianity• Islam• Ashanti traditional

beliefs• Other

History of the Ashanti People: The Golden Stool

• The Ashanti became tributaries of another Akan state, Denkyira.

• In the mid-17th century the Oyoko under Chief Oti Akenten started consolidating the Ashanti clans into a loose confederation against the Denkyira.

• Osei Tutu, military leader and head of the Oyoko clan, founded the Ashanti kingdom in the 1670s.

• The legend of 'Golden Stool' (sika 'dwa) actually tells of the birth of the Ashanti kingdom itself.

• In order for the Ashanti to win their independence from Denkyira, a meeting of all the clan heads of each of the Ashanti settlements was called.

•In this meeting, the Golden Stool was commanded down from the heavens by Okomfo Anokye, the Priest, or sage advisor, to the very first Asantehene (Ashanti king), Osei Tutu I. •The Golden Stool floated down from the heavens straight into the lap of Osei Tutu I.

•Okomfo Anokye declared the stool to be the symbol of the new Ashanti union ('Asanteman'), and allegiance was sworn to the Golden Stool and to Osei Tutu as the Asantehene.

•The newly founded Ashanti union went to war with Denkyira and defeated it.

The Power of the Golden Stool

• The Golden Stool is sacred to the Ashanti, as it is believed that it contains the 'Sunsum' — spirit or soul of the Ashanti people.

• Just as man cannot live without a soul, so the Ashanti would cease to exist if the Golden Stool were to be taken from them.

• The Golden Stool is not just sacred; it is a symbol of nationhood, a symbol that binds or unifies all Ashanti.

Occupation

• The Ashanti people are mostly farmer.

• The plants cultivated include cocoa, plantains, yams, cassava, corn, sweet potatoes, millet, beans, onions, peanuts, tomatoes, and many fruits

• Some are gold miners while others are skillful traders.

Clothing

• The main cloth of the Ashanti is the kente cloth, known locally as nwentoma.

• It is a fabric made of interwoven cloth strips of silk and cotton.

Traditional Dish: Fufu and Soup

Ashanti Army

• The Ashanti army served the empire well, supporting its long period of expansion and subsequent resistance to European colonization.

• Total potential strength was some 80,000 to 200,000 making the Ashanti army bigger than the better known Zulu, comparable to Africa's largest- the legions of Ethiopia.

• The Ashanti army was described as a fierce organized one whose king could "bring 200,000 men into the field and whose warriors were evidently not cowed by Snider rifles and 7-pounder guns.”

• This force was to expand the entire substantially and continually for over a century, and defeated the British in several encounters.

Conclusion

• The Ashanti people make up 19% of Ghana’s population.

• Their economy mainly specializes in gold and cocoa trading.

• Their kingdom is highly organized with kings and possesses military strength.

Workcited

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Empire

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_people#Ashanti_Kingdom