Modern Ghana

History of the Fante
History of the Fante The Cronology of Leaders In 1868 Fante states join in a U.K.-sponsored Fanti Confederation (dissolved in 1873); the following are members according to the "constitution of Mankessim" of 1871, which gave the confederation its definitive organization:(1) Kingdoms Kings (signatories of the constitution) Mankessim Kwasi Edo Abura Anfo Oto Assin Kudmin Inhié and Tshibu Dhahon Ayan Kuo Yanfo Edgimaku Kudmin Mayua Inkosokoomper Esando Komminda Kudgse Okro(2) Chiefdoms Chiefs (signatories of the constitution) Abakrampa Kwasi Nakko Abbankrom Kwarsu Arkwayno Abuardi Kwa Amissa Ahiru Kwabina Bovada Akrofome Kwarsu Ansa Ampinafon Brelwi Arnun Luabina Sason Balhyn Kuo Sassan Bohhen Kwabina Odom Bokan Kwasi Bekki Dominassié Thomas Salomon Donassié James Simons Dongua Kwarsu Yarsu Impessidardi Kwasi Buargua Kwaman Luassié Larla Mankessim Kwabina Archwayo Odomana Kwamin Atta Saltpond Luabina Luagrene and Joseph Graham Tchafu Kwasi Imana Zuarko Kofi AdoobahPresidents 1868 - 1869 Kwasi Edo, Omanhene of Mankessim + Anfo Oto, Omanhene of Abura + Ortabil, Omanhene of Gomoa 1869 - 18 November 1871 Gyateh Kuma = R.J. Ghartey (b. c.1820 - d. 1897) 18 November 1871 - July 1872 Kwasi Edo, Omanhene of Mankessim + Anfo Oto, Omanhene of Abura July 1872 - 1873 Kwasi Edo, Omanhene of Mankessim Chairman of the Council and Chief Secretary 1868 - 1871 Geo Amissa Chairman of the Government 1871 - 1873 W.E. Davidson History of the Fante The Fante live around Cape Coast and Elmina and are one of the Akan peoples. The Fanei speak a Twi language, which is part of the Kwa group, and number about 1,170,000. Inheritance and succession to public office are determined mostly by matrilineal descent. According to their oral traditions, the Fanti arrived in their present habitat from the north by the 17th cent. They served as middlemen in the commerce between the interior and British and Dutch traders on the coast. In the early 18th cent. the Fanti formed a confederation, primarily as a means of protection against Ashanti incursions from the interior. Several Fanti-Ashanti wars followed. The Fanti were aided by the British, who, however, destroyed the strong Fanti confederation established between 1868 and 1872, believing it a threat to their hegemony on the coast. In 1874 a joint Fanti-British army defeated the Ashanti, and in the same year the Fanti became part of the British Gold Coast colony. The Asafo Warrior Clans The word `Asafo' is derived from 'sa' (meaning war) and 'fo' (meaning people). Warrior groups are active throughout the Akan area, but it is the Fante tribe which inhabit the coastal region of Ghana, that has developed a sophisticated and expressive community with a social and political organization based on martial principles, and elaborate traditions of visual art. It is certain that the local organization of warriors into units of fighting men was an established practice well before the arrival of Europeans. Nevertheless, the influence on - and the manipulation of - these groups to suit the trading and colonial ambitions of the foreigners has created many of the qualities of the Fante Asafo that continue to this day. The situation throughout the Fante region is fraught with political complexities, for there are twenty-four traditional states along an eighty- mile stretch of the Atlantic coast, and each state is independently ruled by a paramount chief or 'omanhen', supported by elders and a hierarchy of divisional, town and village chiefs. In any one state there may be from two to fourteen Asafo companies, with as many as seven active companies in a single town. There is a lack of political unity within the Fante culture as a whole, so that inter-company rivalries - as well as disagreements between the states - are, not surprisingly, endemic. When the Fante were not fighting together against a common enemy, these antagonisms often extended to open conflict among themselves. observers report that battles between Asafo companies in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries left many dead and wounded. By exploiting these

Original

Preview

Issue #13

Log In