In Asante, we highly believe that “Yɛde ahɔhoɔ na ɛkyekyere kuro”, to wit “We build towns with strangers”. Also, it is considered the deepest taboo and biggest crime to reveal the origin of someone or his/her ancestry, especially during an open confrontation or fight with the person. Especially someone who has done good to Asanteman. Yekyini kɔkɔkɔ….. in the olden days whoever does that will be put to death by sword or banished.
When Asante reached its peak as an empire, it embarked on a lot of wars, they lost some they won some. And as a sophisticated Kingdom, we have created a lot of friendships and alliances with some existing states and kingdoms. We created an alliance with the Dagbon Kingdom and the Wala Kingdom in the North. With the Fante State of Elmina on the Coast, the Akwamu Kingdom in the present Eastern Region, Anlo State in the Volta Region, and Nzema state in the Western Region.
Alliance is important in the formation of a kingdom if such a wants to expand in war and for territories. Our three biggest alliances were with Dagomba, Anlo and Nzema and this led to the creation of the axiom of “Dagomba Kotoko, Anlo Kotoko and Nzema Kotoko”.
These friendships led to the establishment of towns in Kumasi like Anloga by the Anlo People, Fante New Town, and Dakodwom by the Fante People of Elmina, Agric-Nzema by the Nzema people, Dagomba Line, Moshie Zongo, Asawase, etc all in Kumasi city. Today some of these settlements have really developed with plush buildings. And all these towns have chiefs who are part of the Asanteman Council.
That is why today we have some influential personalities who are from Kumasi without Akan names. Even though they have Dagomba, Kusasi, Ewe, and Fante names but they’ve stayed in Kumasi all their lives. With their names, they know they trace their ancestry from the North, Volta and Central and Western Regions but don’t know the exact town they hail from. Because their ancestry has been in Kumasi for over 150 years and counting. Example: Hon. Fatima Abubakar, Deputy Minister of Information, Hon. Muntaka, Asawasi MP, Martha Joyce Arthur (Actress), Ahafo Ano North MP.
Asante established friendships with neighbouring kingdoms like the Buganda Kingdom in present-day Uganda, and the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini), the Asante Kingdom struck relationships with most when Otumfuo Prempeh I was exiled to Seychelles Island. Most of these kings had also been exiled to the Island by the British. And a blood alliance with the Kingdom of Baoule who are the descendants of Queen Abela Pokou (Abena Pokua), etc.
Unity made us this way, it has sustained us.
Sikadwa Kofi Nkwaso!
Asantehene Nkwaso!
Asanteman Nkwaso!
Piawwwwwwwwww!!!!!
